Local 514

The CAQ is in the lead by a lot. But how well did the party do at leading the province for the last four years – especially during a global pandemic?

Local 514 looks into Quebec’s crumbling healthcare system, austerity measures enforced since the 1980’s, and imposing French language laws on Indigenous communities.

This episode digs into the top five parties ahead of the upcoming 2022 provincial election.

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Inflation has reached almost 10%, price increases among many goods – notably gas and food. Both of these commodities are to blame for Canada's cost of living increasing at the fastest rate in decades.

Montrealers are facing the effects, as more are turning towards food banks, but little surplus in stores leave food banks with less products to offer to those in need.

Quebecers will notice another increase on food, as of September 1, with milk facing a 2.5% price hike for the second time this year. This follows an 8% increase last February.

Inflation and the issues with supply chain are major drivers for price increases for many commodities, but corporations are also taking advantage of inflation. Farmers describe fertilizer corporations as “fertilizer cartels" for increasing feed by 220% within a year.

Local 514 speaks to Montrealers to understand how Canada’s food system can move away from international complications by going local and how this is essential in stabilizing our food system and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Montreal is going carbon neutral by 2050. But some climate change studies suggest the global temperature will reach 1.5ºC by 2040 or even as soon as 2030 – making these efforts too late. Once the planet meets 1.5ºC, the world will go into a zone of dangerous climate change. Global warming is predicted to reach 4°C by the end of the century.

The City of Montreal told Local 514 that, “Achieving carbon neutrality requires balancing the sources and sinks of GHG emissions. For this balance to be possible, a rapid and unprecedented transition is needed in all sectors of the economy: [including] transportation, buildings, industry, energy, waste materials, agriculture, forestry, and land use.”

So what does this plan look like? Local 514 investigates…

Amazon workers at the Lachine warehouse in Montreal are trying to unionize, but are experiencing union-busting methods from Amazon. This is taking the form of advertising, text messages sent out to workers and threats.

Amazon workers at this facility are experiencing below industry wages, scrutiny from upper management and dangerous work conditions. Amazon worker Manuel Tapial is trying to change this. Tapial is spearheading the campaign, he has been the Coordinator of The Montreal Amazon Workers’ Union (MAWU) dating back to the start of the movement earlier this year. The motivation came after observing the treatment his colleagues received when requesting paid sick leave and for their unfair dismissal.

Tapial said MAWU has not yet met their quota of members to form a union, but the efforts continue.

Transit prices are on the rise again. Off-island riders in Laval and the South Shore looking to commute on the island, will now be paying $5.25 instead of $3.50, as of July 1. Opus cards also faced hikes – rising from $90.50 a month to $94.

Mayor Valerie Plante promised reduced fares for the working class, among other big promises for transit in her 2017 election campaign, but did her administration deliver? Local 514 investigates this and Montreal’s transit…

In the last municipal election, housing was a concern for 60% of voters 35 and under. So has Valerie Plante's government addressed the issue of housing in the city? 

The average rent for a one bedroom unfurnished apartment rose by $75 from June to July in Montreal, steeper than hikes in Toronto and Vancouver during the same period, while 2020 and 2021 saw a 50% increase in Montreal tenants forced out of their apartments. Projet Montreal says that a new landlord registry will come into effect by 2027, but with the situation changing rapidly, will it actually hold landlords accountable? 

On this episode Local 514 speaks to tenants who say they are being neglected by their landlords, exploring how tenants have mobilized together for better conditions in their Milton Parc apartment owned by property management group COGIR.

On June 21st Canada celebrates Indigenous People’s Day, but reconciliation may be miles away in Montreal, as efforts have been blocked by Bill 96 – now Law 96. This law enacts French language reform laws across Quebec. Local 514 looks into how Law 96 has affected Kahnawake since the community ended communication with the Quebec government in response to Law 96.

Kahnawake residents can still operate their services in their language of preference, but those seeking education in CEGEPs on the Island of Montreal or elsewhere in Quebec will be required to take extra French language courses starting in 2024.

Other services, such as healthcare, will only be accessible in French. Residents of Kahnawake say this hinders reconciliation efforts.

Local 514 investigates, inviting post-secondary distance counselor at the Kahnawake Education Center Bethany Douglas, Indigenous rights activist Kenneth Deer, a member of the Mohawk Council of Chiefs, Michael Delisle, and Kahnawake resident Ranikonhriio Lazare to share their thoughts.

Airbnb has become an increasingly attractive option for landlords and property owners because it’s so much more profitable to collect money from nightly stays than to collect monthly rent.

Municipal and provincial governments have attempted to put in place regulations to limit unlicensed Airbnbs, but is it enough?

On a new Local 514 host Savanna Craig welcomes Front D’action Populaire en Réaménagement Urbain (FRAPRU) and Regroupement des comités logement et associations du Quebec (RCLAQ) to analyze how Airbnb is affecting long-term property rentals in Montreal.

Find out more about FRAPRU's organizing work at https://www.frapru.qc.ca/

Find out more about Le Comité Logement de la Petite Patrie at https://comitelogementpetitepatrie.org/

Some Quebecers go to the emergency room, as a result of not being able to access their family doctor in a timely manner, while around 1 million Quebecers are without a family doctor. Some have been waiting four years to be placed with a family doctor… but could this change? Quebec has announced it has come to an agreement in principle with the association that represents family doctors (FMOQ). The deal is set to be ratified at the end of May, so will this mean Quebecers will have faster access to a family doctor?

Moderna is opening a production facility in Montreal, securing Canadians more jobs and Canadian made vaccines. Canada has one of the highest vaccination rates worldwide, yet our government is allowing for patents to continue on vaccines, preventing worldwide access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Local 514 investigates how capitalism prevents the pandemic from ending.