Fangfang Chen wins the 2026 Solange-Chalvin award

The news. Quebec's agriculture ministry (MAPAQ) has confirmed the province's first case of raccoon rabies in a cow since the outbreak began in 2024. According to its November 6 news release (in French), the animal was a young unvaccinated heifer kept in a pasture in Coaticook, in the Eastern Townships. Signs of the disease began on October 30 and the animal died the same day. The positive result was confirmed on November 4. The owner and their vet took the necessary steps on the farm, with MAPAQ's support.

Why it matters. Rabies is a viral disease that can affect all mammals, including farm animals and humans. It spreads mainly through the saliva of an infected animal, for example through a bite. Until now, the focus was mostly on raccoons, skunks and pets: this summer, three cats in Montérégie tested positive, the ministry notes.

Help for farmers. Quebec offers financial aid to vaccinate farm animals against rabies. It is for registered farms in Montérégie, the Eastern Townships and some municipalities in Centre-du-Québec that raise cattle, goats, sheep or outdoor pigs. It covers vaccinations given by a vet since May 15, 2026: the vet's travel, fees, supplies and the cost of the vaccines. The measure is voluntary. The ministry also reminds farmers to apply biosecurity measures to limit contact between farm animals and wild animals.

If you have a pet. Have it vaccinated and supervise it outdoors, or keep it inside. If you're worried it was bitten by an animal that could be infected, or had another risky contact, call your vet: they can assess the situation and recommend treatment.

After a bite or scratch. Avoid touching wild animals, dead animals or animals that seem sick. If an animal bites or scratches you, or its saliva touches a wound, your eyes, mouth or nose, wash the wound right away with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes, even if it looks minor, then quickly call Info-Santé 811. Don't wait for symptoms: steps taken right after contact can prevent the disease.

Reporting a suspicious animal. If you live in the Eastern Townships, Montérégie or Centre-du-Québec, report raccoons, skunks or foxes that are dead, injured, disoriented, paralyzed or unusually aggressive. Call the Environment Ministry at 1-877-346-6763, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or fill out the form on the raccoon rabies surveillance page at any time.

The background. In October, the Environment Ministry ran an operation to trap and vaccinate raccoons in Montérégie, which we covered in our October 9 article. The Rabies in animals page gathers the official information on the disease and prevention.

Good to know for newcomers. In Quebec you'll see raccoons even in cities, and they often seem used to people. Don't feed them or go near them. If you adopt a dog or cat, our guide to pets in Quebec explains how to find a vet and what vaccines cost.

Related links:

• Raccoon rabies: first confirmed case in a cow in Quebec (MAPAQ news release, in French) ↗
• Rabies in animals, on Québec.ca ↗
• Raccoon rabies surveillance operations ↗

What was just published. On October 15, 2026, the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS), the body that handles complaints about phone, Internet and TV services free of charge, released its early figures for 2025-26. It received 53,195 complaints, 79% more than the year before. It accepted 41,235, 74% more. The CCTS calls the demand “unprecedented.”

Two numbers not to mix up. The first counts every complaint received. The second counts the ones the CCTS accepted, meaning the ones it took on. If you see a different total elsewhere, check which of the two it is.

What it means if you complain now. The CCTS says it still resolves most complaints early in its process, and its global resolution rate is 87.2% for concluded complaints. But files that need conciliation or an investigation are taking longer than usual, and processing times may stay longer as long as demand stays this high.

Who gets the most complaints. The breakdown by company for 2025-26 is not known yet: it will be in the full annual report, which the CCTS will publish on January 13, 2027. The last full report covers August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025. In it, the four national groups accounted for 95% of accepted complaints:

• Rogers: 38%
• TELUS: 27%
• Bell: 23%
• Vidéotron: 7%

How to read this ranking. These are shares of all complaints, not complaints per customer: a company with many customers will get more complaints. Each group also includes its other brands. In the report, Fizz and Freedom Mobile count with Vidéotron, Virgin Plus and Lucky Mobile with Bell, Fido and Chatr with Rogers, Koodo and Public Mobile with TELUS.

Before you file a complaint. The CCTS requires you to first give your provider a reasonable chance to fix the problem. It advises you to explain the problem and the solution you want clearly, keep your bills, contracts, chat transcripts and reference numbers, and note the dates of your calls and the names or employee numbers of the representatives. If nothing is resolved, and the problem falls within its mandate, you can then file a complaint.

Good to know for newcomers. The CCTS service is free. Keep a written record of every exchange with your provider from the first problem on: that is what you will be asked for if you need to go further. To choose a provider and understand contracts, see our guides on home Internet and TV and on choosing a phone plan.

What was announced. On October 28, 2026, Justice Minister Marie-Claude Sarrazin said she wants the next time change to be Quebec's last. This is an intention, not yet a rule: according to the Quebec government's news release on ending the time change (in French only), a bill will be tabled to make it happen. The announcement came four days before the return to standard time on November 1 at 2 a.m.

Why Quebec makes the call. In Canada, official time is usually set by each province and territory, explains the National Research Council of Canada's page on time zones and daylight saving time. So it is up to the Quebec government to change its own rules. It is relying on a survey carried out by the previous justice minister: 91% of respondents wanted to stop changing the clocks.

What is still to be decided. The government has not yet chosen between two options. The first is to keep daylight time all year, in other words summer time. The second is to keep standard time all year, the winter time. Before deciding, it wants to hear from experts, the public and the opposition parties in short consultations. These will start in the coming months, once parliamentary work resumes.

Where the bill stands. At the time of publication, it has not been tabled yet. On the National Assembly's list of bills, the most recent session ended on August 27, 2026, and no new session appears there yet. The release does not give a date for the change to take effect either. The bill will have to be tabled, studied and passed before anything changes.

What stays the same for now. Until a law is passed, the current rules apply. According to the National Research Council, clocks move forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday of November. For the practical side of the latest switch back to standard time, see our article on the fall time change.

Good to know for newcomers. Two terms come up again and again in this debate: “daylight time” (heure avancée in French), also called summer time, and “standard time” (heure normale), the winter time. The government says everyone concerned will be able to give their opinion, but it has not yet explained how to take part. If the issue matters to you, watch for the consultations to be announced in the coming months.