Daniel J. Rowe
CTVNewsMontreal.ca Digital Reporter
Updated May 7, 2022
The Montreal police (SPVM) arson squad is investigating after a fire at a former federal cabinet minister's residence destroyed two vehicles.
The possible arson may be the act of anarchists.
Police confirmed that a 911 call at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4 reported an explosion on Chester Ave. in the affluent suburban Town of Mont Royal (TMR).
Police spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant said a Jaguar and Land Rover were destroyed in the fire, but no residences were damaged, and there were no injuries.
Police have looked at surveillance footage and the charred carcasses of the luxury vehicles are being analyzed.
"At this point, we're still gathering some information," said Brabant.
ANARCHIST ACT
An anonymous letter sent to the anarchist website Montreal Counter-info said the act was directed at the former Conservative cabinet minister under Stephen Harper, Michael Fortier.
It was done, the letter reads, "in the spirit of vengeance" in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en land defenders and "all those who fight the extractive industry."
Wet’suwet’an land defenders could not immediately be reached for comment.
Fortier is currently vice-chairman of RBC Capital Markets. He left politics in 2008.
The authors of the anonymous letter say RBC's involvement in the controversial pipeline in northern BC was the reason for the alleged arson.
"Tucked away in his big house in the Town of Mount-Royal (a wealthy Montreal neighbourhood separated by a long wall from the poor and exploited), Mr. Fortier no doubt feels at ease with his employer’s decision to continue funding the Coastal GasLink pipeline (or any other disgusting project financed by RBC)," the letter reads.
"As glaciers melt and drought, fire and famine spread, Mr. Fortier may think that his money and connections will protect him, his children and his grandchildren. But the ecologically dispossessed will know the names of those responsible. He must understand that no one is safe amid this storm."
The letter says that an incendiary device spread to "the engine block of his Jaguar, parked in front of his home."
Police say, after interviewing the residents of the home where the vehicles were parked, that there were no threats made, no letters sent and no conflicts before the fire.
The SPVM is taking the anonymous letter seriously.
"We're going to look into it, but we're still trying to clarify what the reason is for the arson," said Brabant.
Christopher Nardi - Tuesday
National Post
© Provided by National Post
OTTAWA – Montreal police are investigating if anti-pipeline anarchists are behind a fire that destroyed two luxury vehicles at the home of former Conservative Minister and current RBC executive Michael Fortier.
The incident is just the latest of a rash of attacks against Royal Bank of Canada and its executives’ properties over the last few months by anarchists opposed to the organization’s funding of the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline in British Columbia.
They claim to be acting in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en land defenders, who oppose the project.
Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) confirmed they were investigating how a Jaguar and a Land Rover caught fire during the night last Wednesday. On Tuesday, police spokesperson Gabriella Youakim said police sent both vehicles to a specialized garage for analysis to determine if they were destroyed by arson.
She also confirmed that police were analyzing both surveillance footage from the property as well as at least one video she said was circulating online involving the incident.
“As of now, I can’t confirm that it’s criminal because they have to look at the cars and the videos, so we’re just waiting on that. It may take some time for the cars, maybe a bit less (time) for the videos, but I think they’re waiting to see something concrete to be able to say yes, it’s an arson,” Youakim said.
RBC CEO defends pipeline funding, calls for net-zero incentives
But according to an “anonymous submission” on anarchist website MTL Counter-info , the fires were started by a group of anarchists “acting in the spirit of vengeance” using an “incendiary device” on the engine block of Fortier’s Jaguar parked in front of his home.
“As glaciers melt and drought, fire and famine spread, Mr. Fortier may think that his money and connections will protect him, his children and his grandchildren. But the ecologically dispossessed will know the names of those responsible. He must understand that no one is safe amid this storm,” reads the communiqué.
“This act is in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en land defenders and all those who fight the extractive industry.”
Fortier did not respond to a voice mail left at his Montreal home.
In a statement, RBC said it was relieved that no one was hurt by this “act of violence.” Spokesperson Rafael Ruffolo would not say if the bank was concerned about more similar attacks on bank or employees’ property.
“The safety of our employees and our communities is our primary concern and top priority. This act of violence could have put anyone at risk and we are grateful no one was harmed,” Ruffolo said by email.
Ian Brodie, former chief of staff to Stephen Harper, denounced the “appalling political violence” against Fortier, adding that it was a “miracle” that neither Fortier nor his family was injured in the process.
But the project has received strong opposition from both environmental groups and Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs. The latter recently travelled to Toronto to express their opposition to RBC’s financing of the project during the bank’s latest annual shareholder meeting.
Videos posted on various websites show Montreal “anarchists” smashing windows and spraying paint on five RBC branches on the night of Oct. 26.
“It’s easy: a well-masked crew or individual emerges from an alley, takes a look around to make sure that the coast is clear, then dedicates under 30 seconds to throwing rocks through the windows before disappearing,” reads the video caption.
In April, anti-Coastal GasLink activists proudly announced that they had “a good time vandalizing” the home of RBC Quebec President Nadine Renaud-Tinker using a paint-filled fire extinguisher, according to another post on MLT Counter-info .
The same month, a group of Montreal anarchists shared a video of them sneaking into downtown RBC offices and spray painting anti-pipeline messages and putting stickers on the walls. The video also shows them unfurling a banner that reads, “RBC divest from CGL.”