The Corner Booth

Mommy, it’s not over: Just for Laughs is back from the dead.

It was a tumultuous 2024 for the city’s premier comedy fest. In March of that year, the fest was abruptly and shockingly cancelled and the old ownership group sought protection from its creditors. Later, it was saved by Quebec City’s ComediHa!, who delivered a small but mighty version of the fest to laugh-starved Montrealers.

A year later, Just for Laughs’ owner Sylvain Parent-Bédard and program director Nick Brazao, who joined hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand on this week’s episode of The Corner Booth at Snowdon Deli, are bringing a star-studded lineup to Montreal this July 16-27.

Jean Charest has worn many hats in his political career, from Quebec premier to leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party.

These days as a member of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s council on Canada-U.S. relations, Charest is focused on American President Donald Trump. Made up of leaders in business, innovation and policy, the council is tasked with advising the prime minister and his cabinet during this sensitive time in international relations.

Fresh from Trump’s latest tariff threats that risk devastating Quebec’s economy, Charest joined hosts Aaron Rand and Bill Brownstein on the latest episode of The Corner Booth at Snowdon Deli to discuss his latest, and perhaps most critical, political battle yet.

Royalmount is getting ready to turn one. But has the mega-mall succeeded in winning over the hearts and minds of discerning local shoppers accustomed to hitting the high-end stores downtown? And will the next phases of developing offices and housing come to fruition?Carbonleo CEO Andrew Lutfy talked about the ups and downs of year one on this week’s episode of The Corner Booth at Snowdon Deli with hosts Aaron Rand and Bill Brownstein.

Pablo Rodriguez is the new leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, but is he the right man for the job?

Political strategist Jennifer Crane, founder of Connexion Quebec Public Affairs, and political analyst Raphaël Melançon, founder of Trafalgar Stratégies, join hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand on this week’s episode of The Corner Booth at Snowdon Deli to break down Rodriguez’s closer-than-expected leadership win, and whether he can bring Quebecers back to the party in time for the 2026 election.

Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand chat with Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal, and Andrew Torriani, CEO and General Manager of Ritz-Carlton Montreal.

Quebec Liberals will choose a new leader on June 14 in Quebec City. A late entry into the contest is Karl Blackburn, former MNA for Roberval from 2003 to 2007, and a chief organizer for the party. Blackburn also served as the president and CEO of the Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ), the province’s largest employers’ group. The Quebec Liberal leadership candidate joined hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand on this week’s episode of The Corner Booth at Snowdon Deli to lay out his vision for uniting the Liberal base in Montreal with the vote-rich regions of the province.

Quebec retailers are bracing themselves for sweeping new French-language rules that take effect on June 1. Michel Rochette, Quebec president of the Retail Council of Canada, and Matt Coburn, regional district manager at music retailer Long & McQuade, joined this week’s episode of The Corner Booth with hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand at Snowdon Deli.

Doctors in Quebec say they’re already stretched beyond their limits. Now, as Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé is tabling Bill 106, our province’s physicians are once again sounding the alarm over the disconnect between the CAQ government and those on the front lines on how to improve access to health care in this province.Family physicians Laura Sang and Christina Bianchini joined The Corner Booth with hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand to talk about why doctors are worried about the bill.

The Michelin Guide has finally arrived in Quebec and Montrealers reacted with shock to see only three restaurants get stars. Even Quebec City received more stars, with four one-star selections and the only two-star restaurant in the province.Who better to react to the controversial Michelin list than Dustin Gilman, the man known on the internet as Food Guy Montreal? He joined hosts hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand for a spicy episode of The Corner Booth at the Snowdon Deli.

Former Montreal Canadiens star Chris Nilan Knucks joined this week’s episode of The Corner Booth with hosts Aaron Rand and Bill Brownstein at Snowdon Deli to talk about his theatre debut in Knuckles: The Chris Nilan Story and what compelled him to lay bare his mental and physical struggles in such an intimate setting.