Local 514

Municipal elections are far more ephemeral than elections at other jurisdictions. At the municipal level parties often pop up as brief vehicles for mayoral campaigns, or borough specific parties like Courage - équipe Sue Montgomery, Mouvement Montreal, and Futur Montreal to name some recent examples.Jason Louissaint was a city councillor candidate for Transition Montreal in the last municipal elections held in October 2025. Despite losing, he is still very much active in his community. We at Local 514 have run into Jason at other protests like the one in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield against the expansion of the General Dynamics facility. Jason has a moral motor that’s kept him active outside of the elections.This summer he’s been active in putting on community strengthening events in Saint-Michel to bring together neighbours  in an otherwise ignored borough. He’s also been a vocal opponent, as other Transition candidates have like Parc-ex city councillor candidate Abdul Khan, or Transition’s mayoral candidate and leader, Craig Sauvé, against the proposed expansion of Tennis Canada’s facilities which could risk taking up a third of the entire park.Jason Louissaint joins host Kalden Dhatsnepa in studio for Local 514 to share his thoughts on the Jarry Park privatisation, as well as his perspectives on municipal issues in Saint-Michel.

Zach Jutras sits down with Zev Saltiel, spokesperson for Montreal Anti-Apartheid, to discuss a motion passed at City Hall.On August 24th, city council was scheduled to vote on a motion brought forward by Projet Montreal to pause institutional ties with Israel, and recognize the genocide in Gaza.Governing party Ensemble Montreal proposed an amended motion that ended up passing, in the place of the original.Saltiel says his organization supported the version brought forward by Projet Montreal, however it did not include every demand they asked for. The version passed by Ensemble Montreal is one that does not make sense to Montreal Anti-Apartheid. Make sure to follow Local 514 & CUTV on social media to stay up to date with new episode and more content:Local 514Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/local514montreal/CUTVInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cutv.community/Website: https://www.cutvmontreal.org/

Ensemble Montreal City Councillor Claude Pinard has announced a new plan to revitalize Montreal’s Chinatown, including the possible development of affordable housing on the vacant lot at Saint-Laurent and René-Lévesque. But what kind of affordable housing does the neighbourhood actually need? Local 514 speaks with researcher and community organizer Wawa Li about Chinatown’s rooming houses, one of the city’s few remaining sources of deeply affordable, low-barrier housing. We discuss who depends on them, why they are disappearing, and how Montreal can improve living conditions without displacing tenants into homelessness.

As Montréal celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Olympics, the Games are being remembered as a defining moment in the city’s history. But Montréal ’76 was also shaped by major political struggles that Local 514 is spotlighting for a special two-part series.One of the most significant was the African-led boycott of the Games, sparked by the International Olympic Committee’s refusal to sanction New Zealand after its rugby team toured apartheid South Africa. More than two dozen African countries ultimately withdrew from the Olympics in protest.For this episode of Local 514, we speak with former Olympian, scholar and anti-apartheid activist Bruce Kidd about the political organizing surrounding Montréal ’76 and why this history deserves a more prominent place in how the Games are remembered.

As Montréal celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Olympics, the Games are being remembered as a defining moment in the city’s history. But Montréal ’76 was also shaped by major political struggles that Local 514 is spotlighting for a special two-part series.One of the most significant was the African-led boycott of the Games, sparked by the International Olympic Committee’s refusal to sanction New Zealand after its rugby team toured apartheid South Africa. More than two dozen African countries ultimately withdrew from the Olympics in protest.For this episode of Local 514, we speak with former Olympian, scholar and anti-apartheid activist Bruce Kidd about the political organizing surrounding Montréal ’76 and why this history deserves a more prominent place in how the Games are remembered.

As Montréal approaches the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Olympics, much of the city’s attention is turning back to the Games’ legacy, in a surprisingly positive light. Much of the conversation in the decades since has centred on the Games’ enormous cost, but the lead-up to Montréal ’76 also included an aggressive social campaign to “clean up” the city for an international audience.In the years before the Olympics, police intensified raids on gay bars, bathhouses and other queer spaces, part of a wider crackdown on communities seen as undesirable or embarrassing to the city’s image. These raids caused a critical shift in the queer community. People rallied together to resist the violence of police by mobilizing like they never had before.For this episode of Local 514, we speak with longtime activist and historian Ross Higgins about that history, the queer resistance it helped galvanize for decades that led to the shift in social opinion, and what Montréal leaves out when it remembers the Olympics of 1976.

For its second iteration, Wild Pride is aiming high. This year’s festival spans over two weeks and features more than 120 different events co-created with members of Montréal’s queer community.Wild Pride started in 2025 in fierce opposition to Fierté’s corporatization and refusal to take a stance on the genocide in Palestine. Politics are central to how Wild Pride operates.This grows especially evident as host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks to Wild Pride team members Ayla and Kamâmik. Both were attendees last year and felt compelled to be on the team this year.Listen to the full conversation to hear more about the work they are doing behind the scenes to deliver a bigger and better festival.To learn more about Wild Pride:https://www.wildpride.ca/about-us/https://www.instagram.com/wildpridemontreal

According to a new report published by the Breach. Deportations across Canada are increasing, with more than half of the country’s deportations happening in Québec. The Montreal Customs and Border Service Agency sees around 200 deportations a week according to Mostafa Henaway, an organizer with Immigrant Workers Centre. Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa sat down with Saima Desai who co-authored the report to discuss what policy shifts are causing this and to what degree people are feeling this acceleration of border enforcement.

Zach Jutras sits down with Bérengère Fouqueray, research analyst from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB), to discuss their latest research into where small businesses employ temporary foreign workers, as well as Canadian youth.The research found that temporary foreign workers are filling in the gaps for small businesses when Canadian youth are unwilling or unable to do a job. Fouqueray says that small businesses require temporary foreign workers to remain operational and continue hiring Canadians. The CFIB recommended to the federal government ways to improve the Temporary Foreign Workers Program, increase access for small businesses, and support youth hiring.Make sure to follow Local 514 & CUTV on social media to stay up to date with new episodes and more content:Local 514Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/local514montreal/CUTVInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cutv.community/Website: https://www.cutvmontreal.org/

One month after the deadly Côte-des-Neiges shooting, some questions remain about the “ideology” that allegedly motivated the attack. Initially, it was reported that the shooter was tied to far-left tendencies, that he was even enacting some anti-zionist terror. But those were quickly debunked. A screed linked to the shooter has set some of those speculations aside. What’s known is that the shooter, a 25-year-old man, left Lethbridge, Alberta, to drive to Montreal to kill the CEO of PornHub. The text, while verbose, is best described by writer Nora Loreto as “a dog’s breakfast” of a mixed and incoherent ideology. Central to the text are threads about male loneliness. This tragedy has reignited conversations about incel culture, misogyny and the growing number of violent attacks connected to online communities built around resentment and isolation.In this episode, Kalden is joined by Spencer, better known online as Social Dynamics Nerd. Spencer is a Montrealer familiar with male loneliness. She’s worked at Real Social Dynamics, self-marketed as the world’s largest pickup artist company in the 2010s. Many who were online back then might recall the momentum that the manosphere was gaining. That is the umbrella term given to the subculture of online pickup artists, men’s rights activists, and, central to this story, incels. Spencer doesn’t work for Real Social Dynamics anymore. Even her handle is a remnant of that time. She still gives some advice to men who wander the social wilderness. Spencer is careful not to call it life coaching when asked about titles we might assign her for the conversation. “Special interest” is the term Spencer uses, but for the sake of this episode and my editor’s peace of mind, let’s call Spencer a social connection specialist.Spencer joins Local 514 to unpack the death of social connection at the center of the shooter’s long-winded essay. It should go without saying that the male dimension of loneliness and isolation begets public violence like no other. Spencer and Kalden recall Elliot Roger, Polytechnique, and the 2018 Toronto van attack. The question at the heart of this conversation is: If loneliness and isolation can produce such events of public mass violence, what responsibilities do we hold in our communities and civic institutions to address loneliness and isolation?If you liked the episode make sure to follow Spencer on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialdynamicsnerd/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@socialdynamicsnerd

Where are we in the housing crisis? This week on Local 514, housing policy expert Gavin Armitage Ackerman joins us to break down some of the latest housing news. Quebec is investing $1 billion in water infrastructure to support new housing. Montreal has 25,000 vacant units. At the same time, landlords resist lowering rents, and housing activists are pushing for stronger government action on affordability. We take a look at the latest headlines and ask what they tell us about the state of the housing crisis.New housing coalition debuts at July 1st protest video: https://youtu.be/5XMsKiShzxY

Zach Jutras sits down with Eva Ludvig, president of Talking Advocating Living in Quebec (TALQ) to speak about the lack of an English language debate for Quebec’s provincial election, and why one is needed.TALQ sent letters to leaders of the Quebec provincial parties explaining the importance of speaking with English Quebecers. 3 out of 5 provincial parties declined to participate in an English debate. Only Quebec Solidaire and the Conservative Party of Quebec had agreed. Due to a lack of participation, no debate will be held. Voters will go to the polls on October 5th, and 3 French debates will be held ahead of election night.

Who gets to celebrate publicly in Montréal?After Morocco’s victory over Canada in the FIFA World Cup on July 4, thousands of people gathered in Petit Maghreb to celebrate. But instead of simply directing traffic or managing crowds, the SPVM deployed dozens of officers in riot gear, alongside mounted police, into the heart of the North African neighbourhood near the Saint-Michel metro station.In this episode of Local 514, host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks with Moroccan-Pakistani community educator, researcher, and Habibti Please host Nashwa Lina Khan, who was present during the celebrations. She describes witnessing police corralling supporters, ordering people to disperse, and maintaining an overwhelming presence even though the festivities remained largely peaceful.Together, they examine what happened that night and explore the larger questions it raises about policing, belonging, and public space in Québec. Why are some communities’ celebrations treated as a public safety concern while others are embraced? How does anti-Muslim racism shape law enforcement methods? And who ultimately has the right to celebrate—and take up space—in Montréal’s streets?Nashwa describes what she saw, and questions how islamophobia in quebec extends into the limitation of celebration by muslims. Who has the right to the city?  Who is allowed to celebrate? and who does the police not want out in the streets to express joy?

Federal inmates in Quebec are about to lose a key program that aids in their rehabilitation. For almost as long as CEGEPs have existed in Québec, they have been providing educational opportunities to inmates in federal institutions’ prisons across the province. This program has supported rehabilitation for thousands over 52 years. However, Correctional Service Canada announced in February 2026 that it would end its funding, causing concerns that the program’s loss could damage rehabilitation efforts.Samuel Rochette, a psychology teacher who has taught in Quebec’s federal prisons, is among those pushing back against the decision. He joins Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa to explain what the program’s closure could mean for incarcerated students.Funding has been extended through September, beyond the program’s original June 30 end date, to allow some incarcerated students to finish their diplomas. But Rochette says the credential is only one part of what students stand to lose. He argues that the routine, responsibility, and sense of direction that come with post-secondary study are just as important, citing research linking prison education to lower reoffending rates. He says he’s seen those changes firsthand in the classroom.Without the program, Rochette says many of his students are uncertain about what comes next. Some have told him they expect to return to drug use simply to pass the time, while others say the classroom was one of the few places in prison where they felt treated as human beings. Those accounts show what could be lost if a long-standing pathway to rehabilitation were to disappear.

Zach Jutras sits down with Alyssa Cloutier from Regroupement des Maisons pour Femmes Victimes de Violence Conjugale to speak about the Protecting Victims Act (Bill C-16) that was passed into law on June 18th.Cloutier and her organization welcome the bill and criminalization of coercive control, something groups like hers have been asking for. However, Cloutier believes that collaboration and training are needed between the judicial system and domestic violence support groups until the law is fully implemented in 18 months.

Opposition party Projet Montréal is pushing a motion that would call on the City of Montreal to sever its institutional ties with Israel. The motion also calls on the city to recognize and denounce the genocide against Palestinians, as well as recognize and denounce the apartheid regime imposed on Palestinians.The motion was introduced at the June 15 city council meeting, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside City Hall in support of what they call a “historic” motion. However, the vote was postponed until the council’s next meeting in August.Many Palestinian solidarity activists see the motion as a significant step forward. Others, however, have questioned why Projet Montréal did not bring forward a similar proposal while it was in government.In this episode of Local 514, host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks with Alex Norris, Projet Montréal city councillor for the Jeanne-Mance district in Le Plateau–Mont-Royal and one of the motion’s seconders. They discuss what the motion would actually do, why Projet Montréal is advancing it now, and what role municipalities should play in international issues.Cities such as Barcelona have already suspended institutional ties with Israel, while others, including Hayward, California, have adopted procurement policies targeting goods and services linked to Israeli settlements. Could Montreal become the first Canadian municipality to formally suspend its institutional ties with Israel?

An entire 16-person municipal police unit from Montreal-Nord’s station 39 has been dismantled after internal reports have alleged that officers from the night patrol unit were repeatedly carrying out serious discriminatory acts against black and arab residents. Some of the most disturbing allegations include ripping locs off of detainees’ heads. On this episode of Local 514, host Kalden Dhatsenpa sits down with Christopher Curtis, editor-in-chief of The Rover, to discuss the SPVM’s history of police brutality, systemic violence in Montreal, and the unprecedented nature of this disciplinary action. What does it mean for the SPVM? And what does it mean for Montrealers who are not surprised at this news?

Quebec’s far-right landscape is changing. According to a report published by Montréal Antifasciste in May 2026, many ideas and narratives once associated with fringe far-right movements have increasingly found expression in mainstream political discourse. Islamophobia, anti-immigration sentiments, and ethno-nationalism are a few of the ideas that have gained more space in the mainstream since. The report argues that far-right organizing in Quebec has evolved along with the global far-right, with activists adopting new strategies, organizations and public-facing images while continuing to promote exclusionary and nationalist politics.In this episode of Local 514, host Kalden Dhatsenpa sits down with “Andy,” a pseudonym used by a member of Montréal Antifasciste. Andy discusses the report’s findings on far-right activity in Quebec, details and names many formations and spokespeople, and explains why the collective believes these movements are increasingly seeking to influence public debate through more polished and institutional channels.While Andy argues that these organizations remain relatively small, he contends that they are far from marginal in their political influence. If ideas once confined to the fringes ten years ago can become mainstream, what ideas being promoted today could shape public discourse a decade from now? and what can be done to resist them?

There is a long history of South Asian diaspora organizing here in Montreal. On today’s episode, host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks to Lily Paul, a member of the South Asian Diaspora Action Collective, also known as SADAC. SADAC’s work entails multiple prongs of action. As Lily Paul describes, they are involved in migrant justice, community education events, solidarity actions, awareness campaigns on human rights abuses in India, and, critically, in shedding light on the Hindu far-right. The latter of these has caught the attention of the Hindu far right in Montreal, and they have even gone so far as to intimidate SADAC organizers and event participants.

The US Army is gearing up for a massive $682 million upgrade to the General Dynamics facility in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. The upgrade is set to increase production capacity from 6 to 16 million pounds of munitions and ordnance. This facility is of great importance as it is the sole supplier of the M31A2 propellant used in 155mm artillery ammunition. Investigations have revealed this propellant to have been actively used in Gaza by Israel.On this episode of Local 514, host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks with two activists organizing against this planned expansion. The #StopGDExpansion campaign is organizing a protest in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield this coming Saturday, May 30th, in conjunction with concerned residents who believe the expansion will negatively affect their health, the environment around Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, and who have qualms about the end use of the facility’s output.Articles mentioned:https://therover.ca/quebec-munitions-expansion-raises-questions-over-supply-chains-linked-to-the-idf/https://www.readthemaple.com/quebeckers-fight-u-s-backed-expansion-of-arms-plant/https://www.readthemaple.com/canadas-arms-to-israel-scandal-explained/Reports mentioned:https://armsembargonow.ca/Campaigns mentioned:https://www.instagram.com/genocide_dienamics/

As of April 15, 2026, it has been three years of devastating war in Sudan. In its fourth year, the war and the organizing efforts that have emerged in response across Montreal and the diaspora. Despite being the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, many are still unaware of the scale and devastation of the war in Sudan. Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks with Duha Elmardi about the escalating humanitarian crisis amid ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This includes mass displacement, famine, attacks on civilians, and reports of ethnic cleansing in Darfur and Al-Fashir. She outlines the collapse of healthcare and education systems, the widespread use of sexual violence against women and girls, and the dangers faced by activists, journalists, and humanitarian workers on the ground. It is a layered crisis beyond the comprehension of many, as is evident in the weak analyses in The Atlantic’s piece “The war about nothing,” which has since been renamed.Duha shares with us the realities facing Sudanese refugees and diaspora communities in Canada, from immigration delays and family reunification struggles to the emotional toll of witnessing ongoing violence from afar. Duha speaks about grassroots solidarity efforts led by the Sudan Solidarity Collective and highlights inspiring collaborations with Black, Palestinian, and migrant justice movements across Canada. At the same time, she points to areas where stronger solidarity is still needed, including campaigns targeting the UAE’s role in the war and demands for accountability over Canadian-made weapons found in Sudan. Throughout the interview, Duha emphasizes the importance of sustained public engagement, collective action, and international solidarity.Articles mentioned:https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/09/sudan-civil-war-humanitarian-crisis/683563/https://breachmedia.ca/in-the-genocide-in-sudan-canada-has-a-hand-in-the-violence/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/sudan-rsf-massacres-canadian-rifles-sterling-cross-9.6969856https://continent.substack.com/p/is-the-sudan-war-really-about-nothingOrganizations mentioned:https://www.sudansolidarity.comhttps://www.instagram.com/mtl4sudan/

With the Stanley Cup playoffs underway in Montreal, the excitement is everywhere and the SPVM is deploying to contain it, but some say they are overacting.Alex MacMillan who started the Spark Solidarity page has been weighing in on what he considers excess brutality towards Habs fans by the Montreal Police. In this interview Alex details the long history of police interventions against hockey riots, the laws that changed how the police in montreal react, as well as the contrasting styles of big game crowd control used in places like Toronto that are much more peaceful than in Montreal.With the Habs continuing on in the playoffs one question remains, should public funds be used for beating up fans of the Montreal Canadiens who have not broken any laws?

Muslim prisoners in Quebec face a compounded type of discrimination. There is the usual deprivation of life and freedom that the public expects prisoners to face. However, there is a rigidity of prison life that is wholly unaccommodating to the Muslim faith, and some are saying it is becoming even worse with budget cuts from both federal and provincial governments that take away educational opportunities from prisoners.Two community organizers are taking things into their own hands with the Eid Card writing initiative for incarcerated Muslims. Local 514 host, Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks to the organizers, Nashwa and Nabeela who have taken on efforts to spread awareness and raise funds for this unspoken issue.They talk about Islamophobia in Québec’s institutions, the broader global uses of prisons to stifle racialized and Indigenous communities, as well as the reception of their initiative by these prisoners.

Should university staff at McGill be allowed to demand students identify themselves on campus? Montreal’s McGill University’s board of governors has voted in favour of a controversial new policy. It’s called the Identification Policy for Access to Properties Owned, Occupied, or Used by the University.This policy was proposed by Professor Fabrice Labeau on January 14, 2026 and it received quick criticism for the power it gives to McGill security and staff to demand identification from anyone on campus grounds.The concerns raised about the policy point to its timing after the pro-palestine encampments. Critics of the policy are concerned about how the policy might be used against protestors trying to protect their privacy, women wearing a veil for religious reasons, and those who wear the mask for medical purposes.To learn more about the policy and the concerns around it, Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks to student from McGill that helped organize an open letter of opposition to the policy back in the winter.

The National Post recently published a column by Terry Newman that referred to an event organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement Montreal as “pro-terror.” The event was intended to share the experiences of former Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons. As Ali Salman explains, PYM aimed to shed light on stories that are often hidden from public view.This framing is nothing new to organizers and activists who are familiar with the narratives that have long been used against Palestinians. What is new, however, is what the article reveals about a Montreal lawyer named Neil Oberman, who wrote to two federal ministers as well as the community centre where the event was held. Oberman’s letter includes many of the usual accusations against PYM, such as calling it “pro-terror” and “hate-promoting.” The most striking passage is where he asks that Minister Lena Diab “ensure that any foreign nationals scheduled to speak at or participate in this event, in particular any individuals described as ‘released political prisoners,’ are denied entry to Canada or refused the issuance of any visa or travel authorization.”This reflects a broader tactic that has emerged in efforts against supporters of the Palestinian movement: the politicized use of the Canadian border. Similar cases have involved the Irish band Kneecap, French parliamentarian Rima Hassan, and representatives from the Palestinian Football Association. In this instance, the same approach was attempted against speakers at a Montreal event, even though they appeared by video rather than in person.Local 514 speaks with Ali Salman to get the full context of the event and to hear his perspective on these efforts to use border controls as a tool against Palestinians and their allies.

In this episode, Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa sits down withvenue owner and former municipal political candidate Sergio Da Silva to discuss his recent criticism of Montreal’s new nightlife policy.Sergio acknowledges that the policy brings some positive developments—particularly for venues that have put in the work to earn special designation allowing them to stay open later. However, he raises concerns about the broader tone of the administration, pointing out that referring to music as “noise” reveals who these policies are really designed to serve.Ultimately, Sergio argues that if Montreal truly wants to support and grow its cultural scene, the most impactful step isn’t regulation—it’s addressing affordability. Lowering the cost of living, he says, is key to sustaining the artists, communities, and spaces that make the city’s nightlife thrive.

In a recent tweet, border scholar Harsha Walia described Bill C-12 as “absolutely horrific,” warning that it could become “the country’s largest machinery of deportation.” As the bill moves from the Senate to the House of Commons, concerns about its potential impact are growing.In this episode, Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks with Mostafa Henaway of the Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal to unpack what’s at stake with Bill C12. A leading organizer and expert on migrant labour in Canada, Mostafa brings critical insight into the broader implications of the bill.Mostafa and Kalden discuss the dangers posed by Bill C-12, the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment, and how some companies in Montreal are exploiting migrant workers who are increasingly pushed into precarity. These stories of exploited migrant workers might become more common if the bill receives royal assent.

Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa is joined by journalist Katia Lo Innes for a look at the stories making headlines in Montreal this month.The OQLF is planning on unleashing “secret shoppers” across Quebec but more than half of the visits will be in Montreal. The secret shoppers will report back to the OQLF on how often french is used by service staff. The operation will be carried out by a private firm at a cost estimated at up to $350,000.The mayor of Montreal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada is fulfilling one of her campaign promises of cutting 1,000 jobs over 4 years all while mainting a hiring freeze. the union representing the city’s administrative workers decry the move saying it will affect services given by the city.Cheese curds in quebec could soon receive be “protected” so as to maintain authenticity. This move lobbied by the quebec dairy industry aims to secure a geographical indication similar to that for wines from Champagne and Bordeaux. Kalden and Katia discuss the standardization of culture and the stasis it promotes.The episode also touches on a Supreme Court challenge to Quebec’s secularism law, and a recent housing tribunal decision that could make it harder for landlords to enforce no-pet clauses in leases. The two also discuss Montreal’s role in upcoming international defence bank negotiations.

In 2026, 7 women have been killed in and around Montréal. Ruba Ghazal, co-spokesperson of Quebec Solidaire claims that the CAQ government is contributing by underfunding prevention and support systems for women in danger. During a previous femicide spike in 2021 the CAQ promised to expand shelters and funding for services but currently at the time of writing the provincial government is short 33% of its targets.To learn more about the roots of this violence Local 514 host, Kalden Dhatsenpa, spoke to Shennel Hunte and Alham Mahmod, two representatives from Women AWARE, a survivor-led group offering peer-support for people who are and have experienced intimate partner violence.Shennel and Alham detail the work their org is doing as well as their opinion that this rise in femicides….might not be a new trend at all, but rather a crisis that has long gone under-recognized.To learn more tune in for the full discussion.If this discussion resonates with you, support is available. Here are places you can reach out to for support. You are not alone.Women AWAREHotline: 514-489-1110Email: [email protected] resources: https://www.womenaware.ca/en/servicesCAVAC (Crime Victims Assistance Centre)Phone: 514-842-4780Toll-free: 1-866-532-2822Website: cavac.qc.ca/en/SOS violence conjugalePhone (Montreal): 514-873-9010Toll-free: 1-800-363-9010Text: 438-601-1211Email: [email protected]

Islamophobia has long been a recurring instrument in Québec’s political landscape. From the Parti Québécois’s proposed Charter of Values in 2013, which sought to bar public servants from wearing religious symbols, to the passage of Bill 94 in 2010, Muslim communities have repeatedly been cast as scapegoats in a broader culture war. This discourse often amplifies fears around so-called threats to laïcité, despite the tenuousness of those claims.To better understand the current moment in this ongoing trajectory, Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks with journalist Zaineb Karkachi about Bill 94 and the ways it is already reshaping the lives of Muslim people who work—or once hoped to work—in Québec’s public education system.

On this episode of Local 514 we delve into a provocative legal case that has sparked widespread debate across Canada.The case centers around Alexe Frédéric Migneault, a non-binary individual who received $500 in damages from a hair salon after they faced discrimination in booking an appointment. At the center of this story and the wave of angry misinterpretations is the right to accommodation.Lawyers Geneviève Grey and Max Silverman join host Kalden Dhatsenpa to discuss the case details, legal principles, media reactions, and broader implications for human rights and reasonable accommodation.

As much as professional sports tries to distance itself from the political world, politics always finds sports. Recently FBI director Kash Patel and president Donald Trump embroiled themselves in scandal for their ugly gold medal celebrations with the US mens national hockey team. Some of which had to return to their local Canadian teams and answer for their soft support of these authoritarian figures. Even outside of international tensions, policy decisions around sports arenas, recreational centres, and funding for young talent make up many chains of political choices. If it wasn’t clear already sports are tied up with identity, culture, territory, and power in ways we do not always talk about.In Montreal especially, hockey is more than just a game. It is connected to language politics, nationalism, class, and community identity. Governments help fund arenas. Taxpayers pay for transit, infrastructure, and policing around games. National anthems and military displays are also a regular part of the spectacle.In this episode, we talk with Andrew Berkshire, president of the Game Over Network and former managing editor of Habs Eye on the Prize. After years covering hockey and the NHL, he has also spent a lot of time thinking about the politics surrounding the sport.We talk about toxic masculinity, public money in sports, culture wars, and the power structures behind the NHL, and ask a simple question. Are sports are recognized as a public good? and if so should they be administered like one?

So far in 2026 US  Immigration and Customs enforcement, also known as ICE, have killed at least 9 people according to reporting by Al-Jazeera. Two of those were the high-profile killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both Minneapolis residents. Today on Local 514, host Kalden Dhatsenpa, interviews Michael Lipset, who is originally from the Twin cities area where these high-profile killings took place. Michael spoke to us about the motivations behind co-organizing the ICE OUT protest in Montréal.Tune in for the full conversation.

On this episode of Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks to CSU campaigns coordinator Julianna Smith about a 5-day curriculum called Anti-Capitalist week. Julianna describes some of the workshops as well as how the campaign evolved from prior Anti-Consumerism campaigns. Tune in to listen to the full conversation.

AI is everywhere, but can it really fix Montreal? From city permits to urban planning, municipal leaders are betting on artificial intelligence to solve local problems. In this episode of Local 514, Kalden Dhatsenpa talks with tech critic Paris Marx about the hype, the limits, and the hidden social consequences of Montreal’s AI push.

From scandals in the Liberal Party of Québec to an increasingly domineering attitude from the Parti Québecois, to a massive projected crash from the governing Coalition Avenir Quebec this moment marks a tumultuous point in Québec politics where much is uncertain. Editor-in-chief of the Rover, Christopher Curtis joins Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa to make sense of this political mess.

“We are one of the white races with fewest children!” - Lucien BouchardToday’s episode of Local 514 explores the renewed relevance of sovereignty in Quebec at the 1995 referendum’s 30th anniversary. How did that pivotal moment change Quebec and has the sovereignty movement changed as well? One expert suggests a fundamental issue within the movement, whiteness. Tune in for the full discussion.

As Quebec approaches the 2026 provincial election, the government has introduced Bill 9, a legislation that would restrict public prayer in certain settings. Officials say the measure is meant to reinforce state secularism, while civil liberties groups argue it disproportionately affects Muslim communities. To better understand the legal implications and the broader context, Local 514 spoke with Stephen Brown from the National Council of Canadian Muslims. Here’s what Bill 9 proposes, why it’s generating debate, and how it fits into Quebec’s ongoing discussions around secularism.

Nashwa Lina Khan of Habibti Please joins Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa to unpack the recent visit of the Swedish royal couple. They were not here to inaugurate a new Ikea but instead to lobby on behalf of the infamous Swedish defence giant Saab. Tune in to learn more about this shady company and how they want to set up base in Montreal.

Shi Tao Zhang joins host Kalden Dhatsenpa on Local 514 to talk about Chinatown community organizing in Montréal. The neighborhood has a long history of fighting gentrification and racism and unfortunately not much has changed. Shi Tao Zhang details the organizing done by the Resistance Chinatown Mobilization project and their multi-pronged campaign fighting for social justice in the last Chinatown in Quebec.

Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa is joined by regular guest, Katia Lo Innes to help viewers and listeners familiarize themselves with the different options available to them at the ballot box for the 2025 Montréal municipal elections. With new parties, and new mayoral hopefuls what is there to know before casting a vote November 2nd? Tune in to learn more about the different parties vying for your vote!

Sergio Da Silva is one of  Transition Montréal’s star candidates this municipal election. Host Kalden Dhatsenpa sits down with the city councillor candidate for Saint-Jacques to discuss nightlight, expropriation, and some tweets of his that have bothered right-wingers. Listen now to hear the full conversation.

On this episode of Local 514, host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks to Projet MTL ‘s candidate Logan Littlefield who is running to become borough councillor in the Champlain—L’Île-des-Soeurs district of Verdun. Logan Littlefield is a landscape architect with a vision for Verdun’s future. Can he defend the Projet administration? Tune in to find out.

In this episode of Local 514, host Kalden Dhatsenpa and filmmaker and professor Nicolas Renaud discusses the afterlives of Quebec’s Bill 97, a controversial forestry law prioritizing industrial access over conservation and Indigenous rights. Despite being removed off the table Dhatsenpa and Renaud reflect on land defenders, ecological collapse, and the colonial logic of “Crown land.” Renaud critiques how consultation processes exclude Indigenous authority, turning collaboration into performance while forests, waters, and caribou disappear. The bill exposes the human, cultural, and environmental costs of what Renaud calls “radical capitalism” in Québec.

In this episode of Metropolis, host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks with Ted Rutland, associate professor at Concordia University, about the resurgence of racist narratives linking immigration and crime in Quebec politics. Following Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s recent comments tying demographic change to rising crime, Rutland traces the long history of such fearmongering in political and media discourse. Together, they unpack how these ideas—once fringe—have entered the mainstream, fueling white supremacist rhetoric, police power, and public fear in Québec.

Montreal’s housing crisis is frequently characterized by simplistic villains and quick solutions. Today’s episode of METROPOLIS, Host Kalden Dhatsenpa is joined by Montréal-based urban planning researcher and housing policy analyst Gavin Armitage-Ackerman to debunk some of the most persistent misconceptions and assumptions of the housing crisis.To set the scene, asking rents in montreal have surged by 71% since 2019, and vacancy rates remain at a worrisome 1%. Consequently, public frustration is palpable. Nevertheless, Gavin contends that much of the prevailing public discourse is misguided.We commence by examining the notion that homeowners benefit from the crisis. In reality, many are heavily indebted: only 23% of Canadians own their homes debt-free, and one in five mortgages at major banks are subject to negative amortization. The “homeowners vs. renters” narrative, Gavin observes, serves as a political wedge rather than a viable solution.Next, we address the claim that foreigners, whether buyers or immigrants, are responsible for the crisis. Non-residents accounted for only 4.9% of purchases in 2019. Blaming them obscures systemic issues and diverts attention from domestic speculation.Government programs designed for first-time homebuyers, Gavin argues, often exacerbate demand in an inefficient market, leading individuals into deeper debt without concomitantly reducing prices. Incentives for developers, such as Montreal’s “20-20-20” plan, exhibit similar flaws. Gentrification and loopholes can erode affordability, as exemplified in Vancouver’s Woodward’s Building project.Finally, we conclude by emphasizing that rezoning alone is not a panacea. It can engender land banking, and supply growth does not necessarily reach the unhoused or low-income populations.Gavin concludes by urging listeners to transcend scapegoats and simplistic remedies. Instead, they should advocate for structural and political transformations that recognize housing as a public responsibility rather than a mere market commodity.

On this episode of Metropolis, host Kalden Dhatsenpa interviews Rose, a housing rights organizer with the Comité de Logement de La Petite-Patrie, about a practical new resource she co-authored: “How to Investigate Your Landlord.“The guide aims to equip tenants with the tools to research landlords before signing leases, empowering them to recognize potential red flags and avoid harmful situations.Rose explains that in housing justice work, it is common to encounter landlords who use deceptive tactics to force tenants out or justify steep rent increases. These abuses often go unpunished due to weak enforcement mechanisms, leaving tenants vulnerable The current rental market in Montréal is a sort of wild west where bad actors operate with relative impunity.A 2020 study by the Comité found that 85% of renovation projects involving repossession or eviction were never completed—suggesting that many landlords use renovations as a pretext for removing tenants. Such findings highlight the scale of fraudulent practices and the lack of consequences for those responsible.Rose argues that part of the solution lies in tenant education and proactive investigation. By understanding their legal rights and researching a landlord’s history—such as past disputes, code violations, or patterns of eviction—tenants can make informed decisions and reduce the risk of exploitation. The guide outlines methods for gathering this information and stresses that awareness is a key defense against abuse. Such information scraping can make for strong arguments if disagreements with your landlord ever escalates to the TAL (Tribunal Administrative du Logement).Ultimately, Rose’s message is clear: tenant empowerment begins with knowledge, and knowing a landlord’s track record can be as important as understanding the terms of a lease.

In this episode of Metropolis, host Kalden Dhatsenpa sits down with journalist Perle-Merode to explore the experiences of the Congolese diaspora in Montreal and the ongoing humanitarian and political crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The conversation centers around Réseau Mayele, a grassroots community organization founded to empower Congolese youth, bridge generational gaps, and foster a stronger sense of identity and solidarity within the diaspora.Pearl shares how many young Congolese in Canada feel disconnected from their heritage due to systemic erasure, lack of representation, and the trauma of displacement. Réseau Mayele works to address this disconnection through cultural education, political awareness, and youth-led initiatives that emphasize community building and activism.Kalden and Pearl also discuss the importance of understanding the DRC’s historical context, especially the colonial legacies and resource exploitation that continue to shape the country’s struggles today. They highlight how this awareness is essential not only for Congolese youth but also for allies who want to stand in solidarity.The conversation underscores that youth are not only the future, they are already leading change. From organizing protests to building safe, affirming spaces, young people are playing a vital role in resisting oppression both locally and globally.Réseau Mayele’s work is rooted in intergenerational collaboration, recognizing the wisdom of elders while championing the energy and vision of youth. Pearl and Kalden stress the need for allyship, political education, and continued engagement to build a stronger, more informed movement that can support justice for the Congolese people, here in Montreal and beyond.

On this episode of Metropolis, we cover some significant developments, including Québec’sQuébec’s controversial Bill 97, Carney’s Bill C-2, and the anti-immigrant sentiment in Montreal, as well as the major strike by STM maintenance workers. Today, host Kalden Dhatsenpa is joined by guest host Nashwa Lina Khan, a community educator and cultural commentator on Habibti Please, a Substack and podcast.Bill 97 has been receiving fierce pushback from Indigenous leaders, conservationists as well as unions. The bill aims to divide all of Québec’s forests into three distinct zones. One zone will be dedicated to conservation, another to timber production, and a third to multiple uses.Nashwa and Kalden point out the larger context of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s drive to turn Canada into an “energy superpower.” This resource drive has empowered provincial governments and extractive industries to walk all over Indigenous land rights. Kalden and Nashwa relay this indigenous resistance as essential to fighting climate change.Anti-immigration policy has led to massive protests across the United States. Notably, the resistance in Los Angeles has caught a lot of attention for its organization and for the volume of resistance reached. Nashwa and Kalden discuss the trajectory of Canada’s anti-immigration policy and the ways that such policies could play out. Nashwa, for one, does not believe the level of resistance in Canada would be the same.It was the first STM strike in 18 years, and it has been incredibly disruptive. Two thousand four hundred of Montreal’s maintenance staff are going on strike from June 9-17, 2025. Employees are fighting for a better work-life balance, stronger safety protocols, and improved wages.Nashwa and Kalden talk about how impactful the strike has been and why we should support these workers despite the inconvenience faced by Montrealers. Especially with metro and bus drivers from the STM looking to strike, the need for solidarity will be tested more.

On today’s instalment of Metropolis, host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks to CUTV video journalist, Aude Simon, about the murder of Abisay Cruz by Montréal police and specifically how it’s been affecting community workers. Aude begins the segment with a clip of her interview with community worker Stephanie Germain. Stephanie shares the profound challenges of building trust with youth in Montreal’s predominantly black and latinx neighbourhoods following the high-profile murder of Abisay Cruz by SPVM on March 30th in Saint-Michel.Aude and Kalden explore how this violent event has intensified existing challenges faced by marginalized communities, deepening skepticism towards the police and other public institutions. For many youth, Cruz’s death underscores a painful history of systemic neglect and mistrust, making efforts to foster meaningful engagement and institutional trust even more difficult. The two speak at length about other cases of black or latino men in and around Montréal who were experiencing mental health crises but were met by the SPVM with deadly force, rather than the health support they needed.Aude highlights a reflection of Stephanie Germain who asserts that we must see police violence, not as a public safety issue, but one about public health. If health crises are met with institutional force then treatment and rehabilitation and paths towards healing will be delayed and even neglected entirely. By shifting the narrative from policing as security to policing as public health, some community workers believe there is potential to rebuild relationships, create safer environments, and foster genuine trust. This discussion stresses that achieving this requires systemic change, investment in community-led initiatives, and a reimagining of how society supports its most vulnerable members. Ultimately, the murder of Abisay Cruz serves as a catalyst for urgent conversations about justice, safety, and healing in Montreal’s Black and Latino communities.