On June 7th during one of the busiest nights of the year, uniformed fire prevention officers from the City of Montreal ordered several restaurants with packed outdoor seating areas on Peel Street to shut down at around 9 p.m. This decision came as a shock to both restaurant owners and city officials, leading to an investigation being launched by the city’s executive committee president, Luc Rabouin.
The sudden closure of these patios during the Grand Prix weekend was deemed “unacceptable” by Rabouin, who expressed disappointment at the fire prevention officers’ actions. He informed reporters on June 10th that an internal investigation had been initiated and one employee from the fire department has been suspended pending its conclusion. The officer found that the tents covering the patios were placed too close to the buildings, but admitted that the inspection should have occurred at a different time.
This incident led to widespread criticism after Montrealer Sandra Ferreira posted a tearful video on social media describing how fire prevention officers ordered her to clear the outdoor seating area of her family’s Ferreira Café due to non-compliance with municipal bylaws. In the video, Ms. Ferreira mentioned that there had been some back and forth regarding patio placements and tent covers prior to the Montreal Formula One race. However, she believed that her setup had been approved.
City hall opposition Ensemble Montreal called for fire officials to be questioned in front of council so that the public can get answers on the “monumental fiasco” that has tarnished the city’s reputation. Julien Hénault-Ratelle, the party’s economic development critic, blamed the incident on a lack of coordination and communication between the fire prevention team and the borough administration led by Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.
Alain Creton, the owner of Chez Alexandre et fils restaurant, said he and another affected restaurateur are still too upset to know exactly what action they want the city to take. He mentioned that he does not intend to take legal action but would like measures taken to ensure such an event does not occur again for any business in Montreal.
In response to this incident, Mr. Rabouin said the city will take 24 hours to come up with proposals that allow restaurant owners to safely operate their covered patios. However, Mr. Creton remains unsure about whether he wants to put a tent back up at his establishment.