City councillors in Gatineau, Que., voted 16-3 Tuesday for a nine-month pilot project allowing downtown bars to stay open until 3 a.m., temporarily reversing a change made in the 1990s. Starting this Thursday night, closing time can be changed from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. It could last until February 2020, although some councillors promised to stop the project if it isn't working for the island's residents. Jocelyn Blondin said Hull residents have little to gain with the pilot, adding it's not the right way to revitalize the city core. Hull bars argued the dynamic is different now that 20 years have passed, and that their area has been at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the city and the province, where bars can stay open until 3 a.m.

Source: CBC News May 15, 2019 12:22 UTC