Let there be dance: Montreal nightclub owners to protest Quebec’s dancing ban
Shuttered since March 2020, Montreal nightclubs have arguably been the worst hit businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and now owners are taking to the streets to demand they finally be allowed to welcome people back onto the dancefloor.
While restaurants and bars were rejoicing Thursday when the Quebec government unexpectedly announced that those businesses will be able to operate at 100 per cent capacity as of Nov. 1, nightclubs were snubbed from the soon-to-be relaxed health measures.
As of that date, bars will also be allowed to stay open until 3 a.m. instead of 2 a.m., however, dancing and karaoke are still banned under the current regulations.
Owners like Tommy Piscardelli, who owns Stereo, a landmark venue in Montreal nightlife for 23 years, say it was a slap in the face, particularly because of the controversy last weekend where thousands of maskless fans were seen dancing inside the Bell Centre at a Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias concert.
“It just made me even angrier because it's, like, now they've really singled [us out],” he said in an interview with CTV News on Friday.
“We are literally the last business to open in the whole city of Montreal.”
He said the last blow was the loss of the federal government subsidies, such as the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), which are due to expire on Oct. 23. That’s the same day Piscardelli and other bar owners have chosen to hold a large demonstration in Montreal.
The “Droit de danser” demonstration will look more like a parade, according to Piscardelli. Sound trucks will blast music as the crowd makes its way down Park Avenue starting at 2 p.m. and ending at 8 p.m., according to a Facebook event.
“We are not anti-virus, we are not anti-government, anti-vaccine, anti-anything — we're pro everything,” Piscardeli said.
“It's a festive parade. It's not — it's nothing negative. It's just to make some noise, to let people know we're here.”
Piscardelli said he would gladly enforce the vaccine passport at the door, and would even welcome an indoor masking policy if public health recommended it, as long as it means he can open his doors again.
The head of the bars association of Quebec is standing behind nightclub venues as well.
Jean-Jacques Beauchamp, president of the Quebec bars association, CPBBTQ, said he was also disappointed by the province’s announcement on Thursday.
“Why is there still no dancing and no karaoke in a bar?” he said Thursday, adding that he intends to take up the issues with Quebec officials next week.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services did not immediately respond to a request from CTV News about when dancing and karaoke would be permitted.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.