Quebec bar suspends building owner facing charges in fatal 2023 Old Montreal fire
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $1.44 a week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $5.77 plus GST every four weeks. After 52 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
MONTREAL – Quebec’s bar association has suspended the law licence of the owner of an Old Montreal building who is facing manslaughter charges in the deaths of seven people who died there in a 2023 fire.
The notice on the Barreau du Québec’s website says Emile Benamor’s suspension went into effect on Thursday.
Benamor was arrested in March and faces seven manslaughter charges as well as several counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
Police have said that the allegations against Benamor are related to the state of the building and how it was being managed, and that he is not accused of starting the fire or asking someone else to do so.
The allegations have not been tested in court.
The heritage building was allegedly hosting illegal short-term rentals as well as longtime tenants when it went up in flames in what police say was a deliberately-set fire on March 16, 2023.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2026.