creton said the day grew out of the idea the city’s restaurants and bars are “slowly turning into museums.”
the event comes the same week montreal mayor valérie plante called on the provincial government to allow the city’s bars and restaurants
.
plante’s remarks led to quebec health minister christian dubé urging caution and saying it’s still too early to fix a date, given the
covid-19 transmission
levels in the province.
for pierre lévêque, owner of chez lévêque on laurier ave., the back-and-forth between the two politicians did little to ease his concerns.
after the year restaurants have endured, lévêque said the least the government could do is give them a date to work with in order to prepare.
“the most frustrating part is that we have no guidance. we don’t know where we’re going or how to proceed with employees,” lévêque said.
“they keep asking me when they’ll have work again, but i tell them: ‘call mr. legault, because we have no idea.’ ”
though he plans on celebrating 50 years of business next year, lévêque said something will need to give soon in order to make it there.
business has been down 90 per cent since the pandemic struck, he said, and a lot is hinging on having a successful summer.