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MONTREAL — French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal used his visit to Quebec this week to express strong support for the province's model of state secularism even as he claimed to abstain from weighing in on debates over the controversial policy.

MONTREAL — When Matias Coccaro left his last team, the fans cried. Now the 26-year-old striker from Uruguay may be destined to become equally popular at CF Montreal after joining in the off-season from Argentine club CA Huracan.

LONGUEUIL, Que. — A former Canadian Space Agency engineer was acquitted Friday on a breach of trust charge over his dealings with a Chinese aerospace company while in the federal agency's employ.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens have signed defenceman Lane Hutson to a three-year entry-level contract, the NHL team announced Friday. The 20-year-old from Holland, Mich.

MONTREAL — MTY Food Group Inc. reported its first-quarter profit fell compared with a year earlier as its revenue also declined.

Montreal Canadiens (30-36-13, eighth in the Atlantic Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (35-40-4, seventh in the Atlantic Division) Ottawa, Ontario; Saturday, 7 p.m.

FC Cincinnati (3-1-3, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. CF Montreal (2-3-1, 11th in the Eastern Conference) Montreal, Quebec; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK : LINE Montreal +149, FC Cincinnati +170, Draw +231; over/under is 2.

MONTREAL — Quebec and France are united by their shared language, culture and values, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told the province's legislature as he addressed members during a speech on Thursday.

MONTREAL — Déborah De Braekeleer knew she would have to face her fear of bugs when she volunteered to be marooned on a remote island in the Philippines. But perhaps her greatest challenge awaited her when she returned home to Quebec.

MONTREAL — Quebec's justice minister says he intends to defend the province's secularism law to the very end, after the English Montreal School Board said it would seek permission to appeal a decision upholding the law to the Supreme Court of Canada.