Real Estate Talk:
Montreal roads

If this province were to reach its potential, it could be the most prosperous in Canada

By Joseph Marovitch

March 20, 2025

When we drive across the border from Quebec to Ontario, our pot-holed and cracked grey roads suddenly become blue, smooth and beautiful. Why is that?

Quebec is one the most beautiful provinces in Canada and certainly has the most untapped potential. Montreal is the most international city in the province of Quebec but also has tremendous untapped potential. If this province were to reach its potential, it could be the most prosperous in Canada.

When national and international citizens consider living in Quebec, they have many issues to consider and contend with if they decide to proceed. Many of these issues have solutions. If these solutions were implemented, our economy, real estate market, tourist industry and more would prosper significantly. There is so much to work with.

‘When national and international citizens consider living in Quebec, they have many issues to consider and contend with if they decide to proceed. Many of these issues have solutions.’

One of the major issues, among many others, such as the health system, education, infrastructure, and more, is the roads. Quebec’s roads are a deterrent, along with all the other issues to be rectified. All these issues, if resolved would allow Quebec to be the most prosperous province in Canada.

The biggest factor hampering Quebec from reaching a plateau of prosperity is politics. For reasons that are incredibly difficult for those outside the province to fathom considering the state of the world currently, are money being taken from health, education and infrastructure so that Quebec can spend millions on delegation offices around the world, soccer stadiums for Americans to play one game, faulty REM transport systems, language police (no other country, state, or province has language police), and cutting off access to Mount Royal so that elderly and infirm are banned and traffic and pollution increased.

In any society, leaders should consider the welfare of the people first. Healthy, educated and far less stressed people make a prosperous society. Address the needs of the people first, aesthetics second, and the rest put to a vote by the people.

Priorities are health, education and infrastructure. Hospitals must have ample funds to pay doctors and nurses and sufficient resources. Schools should be properly staffed and have all the necessary tools to create productive citizens. Quebec should not have roads made from cheap materials to embarrass the province and wreck every vehicle on the road.

Why are the people of Quebec being sacrificed so language can be monitored, delegation offices of no use placed around the globe, and businesses destroyed so roads can be wider and bike paths placed in the downtown core? Grandparents and the handicapped do not ride bikes and are just as important.

Quebec should not have roads made from cheap materials to embarrass the province and wreck every vehicle on the road.

Quebec can live with two languages, in harmony, without a minority of politicians crying every day. A province does not require a delegation office in another country. Leaders with more thought-out ideas and compassion can spend less money on ridiculous infrastructure ideas when hospital waiting rooms are above capacity as doctors run to other provinces. Education systems in French and English can provide better-educated bilingual students, than removing funds from English schools and offering grants to foreign students just because they come from francophone countries.

If all these divisive barriers were removed, real estate, the economy and the people would thrive beyond all expectations. The only thing stopping Quebec from reaching complete self-actualization is a lack of self-sacrifice, meaning putting the needs of the many before individual wants.

This article was inspired by a drive around Montreal.

Should you have questions or comments, please refer to the comments section at the bottom of the page. As well, to view past articles, click here.

Next article: Expectations in a summer market

State of the market

As the trade war threats escalate home sales and new listings are beginning to decline according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). The threat of more and increased tariffs is causing tremendous uncertainty among buyers and sellers. The uncertainty causes buyers and sellers to hold off entering the market. Rates are currently low with the Bank of Canada rate at 2.75%.

‘As the trade war threats escalate home sales and new listings are beginning to decline according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).’

The fear is that if prolonged and increased tariffs remain, the effect would be rising prices of goods and services. The effect of rising inflation is higher interest rates to combat the inflation. Many homeowners obtained variable mortgages. This means if rates rise, variable mortgage rates rise. Therefore, those homeowners with variable rates must contend with higher monthly payments and carrying costs such as insurance, electricity and maintenance.

Markets require stability otherwise the economy slows down. As stated in past articles, there are ways to combat rising inflation and interest rates such as purchasing a property in a corporation or trust. There are also opportunities for investors if the carrying costs can be managed, to purchase property at discount prices from those that must sell and then hold the income property or home in a trust or corporation to alleviate the carrying costs. Eventually when the market turns around and optimism rises, either keeping the property in a portfolio and/or selling the home at a premium.

Have a great week!

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WestmountMag.ca or its publishers.

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Feature image: Marc-Olivier Jodoin – Unsplash

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