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U.S. firm plans private hospital in Griffintown Jason Magder Montreal Gazette Wednesday, February 06, 2008 An American company that specializes in medical tourism is planning to set up a private hospital at the southeast end of Griffintown. The company is hoping to occupy at least 24 stories of office space as part of a construction project planned for the area bordered by the Peel Basin and the Bonaventure Expressway. Roland Hakim, one of the developers, wouldn't reveal the name of the medical tourism company, but said the health complex would serve mostly people travelling to undergo medical procedures, such as knee and hip replacements, but could also serve people from this country. The hospital would have the same comforts as a four-star or five-star hotel, Hakim said. He added medical tourism is becoming very popular. People travel to undergo medical procedures, either because it's usually less expensive than doing it in their own countries, or they want to schedule a vacation around their recovery period. It would be part of a 2.8 hectare project that includes an intermodal station, for a planned tramway into Griffintown, as well as a train that is planned to link Montreal with the South Shore. The project also calls for a heli-port at the top of one of the towers where several helicopters can land. There would be a movie theater, shops, restaurants, conference rooms, office towers and a hotel. "It would be the first thing people see when they come to Montreal and we want it to be something nice," Hakim said. He said the first phase of the project, which includes the hospital, could be built in three years. However, Pierre Varadi, Hakim's partner in this project, and the president of Canvar, said nothing can be built before the Bonaventure Expressway is torn down and rebuilt at street level, a project still in the planning phase. "They say they will do it within four years, but I don't know if they will do it that quickly," he said. The development is one of many being planned for the area. Canada Lands is expected to present a proposal later this year to redevelop the defunct Canada Post sorting station. The massive project would cover about 11 hectares of land and would be built just east of the 10.2 hectare project proposed in November by the company Devimco. Hakim said development of Griffintown is inevitable. "The downtown core has to expand and the only place it can expand is further south," he said. "This will become the new downtown core."

Montreal urged to attract more skilled migrants 27 September 2007 • Media Center » Video Immigration News Montreal International (MI), an organization devoted to promoted the economic well-being of the Montreal, Canada, presented a paper recommending that measures be implemented aimed at attracting and retaining skilled migrants from abroad. The paper was presented as part of the National Assembly's Committee in Culture on planning immigration levels between 2008 and 2010. "The presence of skilled, talented and creative workers is the primary success factor for urban centres with knowledge-based economies, and these workers allow a region like Greater Montréal to increase its competitiveness and ability to attract foreign companies and investment," said Pierre Brunet, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Montreal International. "Given the intensified global competition and the resulting challenges in attracting 'brains,' it is imperative for our current and future prosperity that governments adopt measures that encourage the most qualified candidates to move, work and live here," he added. Latest news To facilitate this goal, MI proposed a series of initiatives to attract and retain skilled foreign labor in the Metropolitan Montreal region. The region has a particular need for high-technology workers, including people skilled in Information and Communications Technology, Aerospace, and Life Sciences. The initiatives include simplifying procedures in obtaining work permits, getting help from the government of Quebec in recruiting overseas workers, and promoting permanent residency over temporary migration. They would also like to see Quebec simplify its selection procedures for temporary workers. Currently, candidates from abroad are asked to hand in the same documents as candidates who live in Quebec, even if they have already handed in the documents required to obtain a work permit. MI also proposed an immigration agreement with France to promote maintaining the "francophone nature of Quebec". It suggested that the Quebec and Canadian governments initiate dialog with the French government to reach an agreement on the free movement of professionals.

Les procédures de saisies de logements aux États-Unis ont reflué de 12% en septembre par rapport à août, après deux mois consécutifs d'augmentation, a indiqué jeudi le cabinet spécialisé RealtyTrac. Pour en lire plus...

(Courtesy of The Globe and Mail)

C'est le taux le plus élevé depuis janvier 2005. Et sur un an, le nombre de procédures est en hausse de 48%. Pour en lire plus...

Les récalcitrants poursuivis en Cour supérieure André Beauvais Le Journal de Montréal 05/02/2007 08h30 Montréal poursuivra en Cour supérieure une douzaine de propriétaires de stationnements illégaux du centre-ville, en vertu de la Loi du Québec sur l'aménagement du territoire et l'urbanisme. La nouvelle a été confirmée par le maire de Ville-Marie, Benoit Labonté. «C'est une première à Montréal. Jamais de telles procédures judiciaires n'ont été engagées mais nous voulons démontrer clairement le sérieux avec lequel nous voulons faire entendre raisons aux récalcitrants», a déclaré le maire. Il y a deux semaines, 24 stationnements illégaux du centre-ville étaient sommés de fermer «immédiatement». Deux contestations Depuis, six terrains ont été fermés volontairement, deux propriétaires ont entrepris des procédures pour contester le geste de l'arrondissement et quatre sont en pourparlers avec les autorités pour «établir des modalités de fermeture», a précisé Benoit Labonté. «Il y a donc une douzaine de propriétaires qui n'ont donné aucun suite à la mise en demeure et aucun signal de leur intention de cesser l'exploitation. «Nos inspecteurs leur ont remis des avis d'infraction, explique le maire, en vertu du règlement municipal, mais ils ne pourront profiter des longs délais de comparution à la Cour municipale puisque les avocats de la Ville vont les poursuivre en Cour supérieure.» Le conseil d'arrondissement, qui se réunira demain, adoptera une résolution pour autoriser ces poursuites.

Le conseil d'administration du Fonds monétaire international a adopté vendredi une réforme des procédures des prêts d'urgence aux pays victimes de crises nées hors de leurs frontières. Pour en lire plus...

Quelque 3,1 millions de procédures de saisies immobilières ont été engagées ou ont abouti en 2008 aux États-Unis, ce qui a concerné un ménage américain sur 54. Pour en lire plus...