Listen to our most recent episode with guest Coco on McGill's new identification policy and its risks of discrimination and violence.

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 AWARE

Hotline: 514-489-1110

Email: info@womenaware.ca

More resources: https://www.womenaware.ca/en/services

CAVAC (Crime Victims Assistance Centre)

Phone: 514-842-4780

Toll-free: 1-866-532-2822

Website: cavac.qc.ca/en/

SOS violence conjugale

Phone (Montreal): 514-873-9010

Toll-free: 1-800-363-9010

Text: 438-601-1211

Email: sos@sosviolenceconjugale.ca

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.