In late October, the city of Montreal declared what some considered a war on the bagel. Jean-François Parenteau, a member of the city’s executive committee whose responsibilities include the environment, said that wood-burning businesses unable to meet emissions bylaw requirements would be forced to switch to gas or electric. The decision, which came a few weeks after a bylaw banning the burning of wood in homes took effect, would affect approximately 70 businesses, including Italian pizzerias, Portuguese chicken joints and bagel bakeries. Bagel-shop owners have invested in various filters and chimney scrubbers – one claims to have spent more than a quarter of a million dollars – but they haven’t been able to sufficiently decrease emission levels. Mr. Parenteau indicated there weren’t any remaining options and the city would move fast.
When I heard the news, I blew a gasket. Wouldn’t this mean the death of the Montreal bagel? In a fit of fury, I logged onto Facebook and declared that I would stop voting for Mayor Valérie Plante’s Projet Montréal – one of the most progressive municipal governments in North America – because of this one issue alone.
The declaration started a virtual neighbourhood war. My community usually agrees on hot-button issues – Syrian refugees, Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, even Bill 101 – but the fate of Montreal bagels tore us apart.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: The Globe And Mail
