CUTV attended the Housing Justice Convergence in Montreal for its latest Metropolis episode, covering an event that brought together over 200 participants to address Canada’s housing crisis. Organized by SEIZE, the convergence aimed to unite tenant unions, developers of alternatives, policy experts, funders, and housing advocacy groups to share grassroots perspectives and encourage nationwide collaboration. The event featured over 60 panelists and 33 community partners, creating an opportunity for knowledge exchange and solution-oriented discussions.

Participants came from various cities, including Toronto, New York City, and Victoria, reflecting a broad interest in addressing housing challenges.

The convergence placed a strong emphasis on the communities most impacted by the housing crisis, including immigrants, women, single-parent households, elders, people with disabilities, and victims of domestic violence. Organizers stressed the importance of accurately framing the crisis, as how it is defined could shape policy decisions for years to come.

The panel discussions covered a wide range of topics, including migrant justice, movement building, housing justice and anti-colonial movements, big tech, homelessness, tenant organizing, and accessibility, among others. The event aimed to move beyond identifying the problems to proposing practical solutions and empowering activists to build power for their policy demands ahead of the federal election.

CUTV interviewed several key figures, including Lena, founder of Tenant Rights QC; Olivia, general coordinator of SEIZE; Malcolm, operations coordinator at SEIZE; and Quinn, a tenant organizer and member of SLAM. The interviewees shared tools and strategies for grassroots activism, such as working with media and financing housing projects. Some highlighted successful tenant union initiatives from across the country, and others advised listeners and watchers on how to become more knowledgeable about their rights.

Amidst multiple leadership races across Canadian politics, Montreal's ruling municipal party, Projet MTL, is on the precipice of choosing its next leader. Five candidates believe they are fit to replace Valerie Plante, the party's leader since 2016. Who are they? What are they promising? What could the next era of municipal politics look like in Montreal? Host Kalden Dhatsenpa chats with Dru Oja Jay, publisher at the Breach and CUTV executive director, about this race and the broader municipal context the leader will be entering.

The title of this week's episode is the central question posed by PhD candidate, Concordia public scholar, and tree scientist Alex Pace at “Montréal: 2050: A Climate Haven?”

In this week’s episode of Metropolis host Kalden Rangdröl Dhatsenpa speaks with Alex Pace to uncover what exactly is a “climate haven”, Montréal’s performance in achieving its climate targets, and the ways he hopes his event and others like it can relieve the paralysis of eco-anxiety.

As Alex describes for the show, a climate haven is a city or region safe from the most extreme weather events caused by climate change. Think forest fires, floods, hurricanes and droughts. According to Pace, the term climate haven is met with hesitation by some as its deployment has been seen as a greenwashed tactic by real estate figures who want to greenwash property sales in their neighbourhoods or cities. Alex uses Asheville, North Carolina, as an example of a supposed climate haven devastated by Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

Despite the contention regarding the term, Alex believes it can be a valuable framework to help guide the city toward further building up its capacity to withstand extreme climate events, especially considering some of the more ambitious climate targets set by the municipality in their 2020-2050 climate plan.

Hello, Good Byline is back! CUTV’s very own Aude Simon hops on the mic to talk about her recent coverage of protests organized by Sudanese Montrealers who want provincial and federal governments to help reunite the families currently experiencing violence amidst the war in Sudan.

In 1996, at the National Defence University of the United States, Harlan K. Ullman and James P. Wade developed a military doctrine known as "shock and awe." This strategy relies on overwhelming force and disproportionate displays of power to break an enemy’s will to resist. Organizer, author, and former Amazon employee Mostafa Henaway argues that Amazon has employed a similar tactic in its recent decision to leave Québec entirely.

On today's episode of Metropolis, host Kalden Rangdröl Dhatsenpa speaks with Mostafa Henaway about the corporate giant’s abrupt departure from la belle province. On January 22, 2025, news broke that Amazon Canada had laid off all 1,997 employees across its seven Québec locations. Henaway believes this decision stems from the successful unionization campaign at Amazon’s Laval DXT4 warehouse last May by the CSN (Confédération des syndicats nationaux).

The DXT4 facility was only the second Amazon warehouse in North America to unionize, and it was on track to be the first to secure a collective agreement. Québec’s strong labour standards would have ensured a robust contract for workers, setting a precedent that Amazon may have wanted to avoid.

Amazon, however, denies that the union campaign influenced its decision. Henaway remains skeptical, citing numerous instances in which corporations like Walmart and Couche-Tard have closed unionized locations. He suggests that Amazon’s move is a calculated scare tactic designed to send a clear message to its workers worldwide: the company will not tolerate organized labour.

Watch the full discussion on Metropolis today.

On this episode of Metropolis, host Kalden Rangdröl Dhatsenpa speaks with public health nurse and community organizer Sasha Dyck about the current illnesses spreading around Montréal, the struggles of ongoing vaccination drives since COVID-19, and local politics in the neighbourhood of Parc-Ex.

Kalden Dhatsenpa – Local Journalism Initiative

Sasha Dyck works as a public nurse in the Montréal neighbourhood of Park Extension (Parc-Ex), where he is deeply involved in various community projects. His work focuses on issues regarding food security, tenants' rights, and local school. In 2013, Sasha ran for municipal office and has since coordinated several election campaigns at different levels of government. On today’s episode, we fought Sasha on to discuss the challenges facing public clinics in Montréal, especially when it comes to vaccinations. Sasha explains that the pandemic has disrupted vaccination schedules, leaving many people behind on essential vaccines, particularly the measles vaccine. This delay has contributed to the first significant spread of measles since the 1980s.

Sasha also reflects on the state of housing and politics in Parc-Ex, where residents are feeling the pressure of rising rents and limited affordable housing options. With three elections approaching, there’s potential for significant change in the neighbourhood, and Sasha offers his insights into how local politics might shape the future of the community. From the struggles of public health to the challenges of local governance, this conversation highlights the complex issues affecting Parc-Ex residents today. Tune in to hear more about the pressing challenges facing public health and their political underpinnings in Montreal's most vibrant communities.

On today's episode of Metropolis, we discuss what kind of policies we expect from a Pierre Poilievre led government. Host Kalden Dhatsenpa, Dru Oja Jay and new journalist and filmmaker Katherine Ottawa-Nequado discuss the policy expectations of a conservative government.

Filmmaker Katherine Ottawa-Nequado discusses the policy expectations regarding immigration, housing, media, and indigenous issues.

With Justin Trudeau resigning as the Prime minister and as the leader of the Liberal Party, all eyes are on Pierre Marcel Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada.

Poilievre has been an MP since 2004 and the leader of the Conservative Party since 2022. Some say that he has brought Trump-style approaches to Canadian politics. If elections were held today the Conservatives would win by a huge supermajority, Canada 338 is currently projecting 237 seats for the Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre. Well ahead of the 172 needed to form a majority.

A majority Conservative government would represent a total break from the last 9 years of federal policy. The liberals have long touted themselves as champions of immigration. Though recently immigration targets have been reduced by 20%. Expect more of this with Pierre Poilievre. Poilievre has not been afraid to use inflammatory language when discussing issues of immigration. At one rally he said that they would "screen adequately to stop terrorists and others that are against our Canadian values from coming into our country"

The language here is very telling, it supposes a significant enough number of immigrants that are coming into Canada are actually terrorists. Or that the risk is high because the border is too porous. This kind of rhetoric is commonplace for right-wing parties around the world. We even see some liberal and left parties begin to fall into the gravity of such rhetoric.

Metropolis Wraps Up 2024: A Year in Review

As December arrives, Metropolis closes the year with its final episode for 2024. Host Kalden Dhatsenpa revisits the biggest stories shaping Montréal over the past year, joined by regular contributor Dru Oja Jay, publisher at The Breach and executive director of CUTV. Together, they reflect on pivotal events that defined the city’s landscape.

Tragedy at the Old Port: A Housing Crisis Exposed

The episode begins with one of the most heartbreaking stories of the year: the devastating fire at the Old Port that claimed the lives of 43-year-old Léonor Geraudie and her seven-year-old daughter, Vérane Reynaud-Geraudie. This was the second fatal fire in two years at a building owned by Emile Benamour.

The previous incident, in March 2023, engulfed a building used as an illegal ghost hotel with rooms lacking windows and fire safety measures, resulting in seven deaths. These tragedies underscore systemic issues within Montréal’s housing crisis, highlighting how negligent landlords profit while skirting safety regulations. “These aren’t isolated incidents—they expose a deeper failure of enforcement and accountability at both the provincial and city levels,” Dru remarked, emphasizing the urgent need for reform.

Anti-NATO Protests and Political Fallout

Another major story of 2024 was the Anti-NATO protest that gained international attention. While such demonstrations are a hallmark of Montréal’s activist culture, this event stood out. Dru noted the broader context of growing skepticism toward NATO amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.

The protest also became a political flashpoint when Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre falsely labelled it a “Hamas takeover” of Montréal streets, a claim designed to inflame right-wing rhetoric and discredit Prime Minister Trudeau. Kalden and Dru condemned such misrepresentation, highlighting the dangerous polarization it fosters.

A Political Bellwether: By-Election Shifts

The defeat of the Liberals in the federal by-election for Lasalle–Émard–Verdun was another headline event. The Bloc Québécois emerged victorious in a tight three-way race against the Liberals and the NDP. This result may signal shifting dynamics ahead of the federal election slated for October 2025.

Missing from the by-election narrative, however, was the Conservative Party of Canada’s growing traction in Montréal’s English-speaking ridings. The CPC’s strategic campaigning and increased turnout in these areas suggest they are positioning themselves for further gains.

A New Chapter for Montréal: Mayor Plante Steps Down

The announcement that Montréal Mayor Valérie Plante will not seek re-election in the November 2025 municipal race was another defining moment. Kalden and Dru reflected on her tenure, from her focus on sustainable urban development to her challenges in addressing housing and public transit issues.

Attention now shifts to the emerging frontrunners poised to lead Projet Montréal. As the city prepares for a new era, questions linger about the direction its leadership will take.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As the year ends, Montréal stands at a crossroads. With significant political shifts, ongoing social challenges, and the anticipation of federal and municipal elections, 2025 promises to be transformative.

Stay tuned to Metropolis for in-depth coverage and analysis as Montréal continues to evolve. What stories will define the year ahead? Only time will tell.

Welcome back to Metropolis!

In this episode, host Kalden Dhatsenpa sits down with Felix Fuchs, a returning guest, labour expert, and professor, to discuss the current labour disputes affecting Montreal. Their conversation dives into recent labour developments, focusing on strikes at Canada Post and broader issues surrounding public services and workers’ rights.

Fuchs reflected on last December’s Common Front strikes, during which educators and other public sector workers resisted government austerity measures. "It’s not just about pay," he explained. "It’s about creating better working conditions so we can serve society better."

He shared updates on the Common Front’s achievements, including increased support for early-career teachers, pay raises, and strengthened future negotiation strategies, particularly through their collaboration with Dawson College’s union efforts.

The discussion then shifted to the ongoing postal workers’ strike against Canada Post. Since November 14, 2024, over 50,000 postal workers have been on strike, demanding better and safer working conditions, wage increases to match inflation, and improved group benefits such as medical coverage, disability leave, and paid medical leave.

The strike has drawn mixed reactions from Canadians, including Montreal residents. Some businesses have called for government intervention, though no action has been taken yet.

Fuchs criticized portrayals of strikers as disruptive or greedy, emphasizing that many are simply fighting to maintain a decent standard of living amid rising inflation. He also highlighted how management’s push to hire contractors for weekend deliveries reflects a concerning trend toward precarious gig-economy jobs, undermining union efforts and job security for workers.

"Unions are a tool we can all use to make things better," Fuchs stated, underscoring the positive societal changes unions have driven—from securing maternity leave to establishing minimum wage laws. He urged listeners to view unions as essential to building a more equitable society, especially in an era when public services are often run like businesses.

Fuchs concluded by encouraging Montrealers to reframe labour disputes as collective investments in stronger public services for everyone. "Public services shouldn’t be treated like businesses," he insisted. "They’re about serving the community and improving lives."

On today’s episode of Metropolis, host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks to Duha Elmardi, a Sudanese activist who is a core member of the Sudan Solidarity Collective, about the underreported conflict in Sudan which at the time of writing is the largest displacement crisis in the world with over 14 million displaced. Since April 2023, two military forces, The SAF and RSF have been warring in Sudan. This conflict is often reported as a civil war but Duha tells us that term is inaccurate in describing the conflict.

“There are no good guys”. Duha instead considers the conflict as a “counter-revolutionary war”. As Duha states, since the 2019 revolution that led to the ousting of Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s head of state for the last 30 years, military factions and foreign powers have been invested in suppressing popular will regarding the future of the nation. Duha singles out the sidelining of the “Revolutionary Charter for Establishing People’s Power” as evidence that the conflict is counter-revolutionary. This document was drafted by 8,000 neighbourhood committees. An impressive feat of organizing by itself.

Duha makes a special note of Canadian influences in this conflict. Specifically, of the role that a Montreal-based PR firm had in securing funding and military equipment for the anti-democratic Sudanese military. The firm, Dickens & Madsen also was responsible for whitewashing General Mohamed Hamdam Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, the commanders of the notorious RSF militia group. This deal reveals the interwoven nature of colonial institutions and oppressors.

Watch the full episode to hear the discussion on Sudan’s crisis.

November is upon us, and so is another episode of Metropolis! Montreal’s premier political talk show where current events and their impacts on the lives of Montrealers are discussed. On this episode released NOVEMBER X, 2024. Kalden Dhatsenpa and guest Katia Lo-Innes discuss the recent election of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States of America, the closure of Concordia’s Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, the Jacques Cartier Bridge

 banner drop by environmentalist activists, and Valerie Plante announcing that she will not be seeking re-election after the end of this current term as Montreal’s mayor. 

American presidential elections, perhaps more than any other country, affect the world in a myriad of ways. That of Donald Trump is very likely to shift the political scene once again as it had during his first mandate as president from 2016 to 2020. Katia and Kalden discuss the ways that Trump style politics have infiltrated the Canadian political scene through Poilievre’s cloud and brash approach to politics. What does the election of Donald Trump signal about Canada’s coming elections? 

On October 22, two environmental activists with the Antigone collective, and Last Generation Canada were arrested for mischief as they climbed the suspenders and towers of Montreal’s Jacques Cartier Bridge. Their action stopped traffic for hours as they unfurled a banner that read “Oil is Killing Us” written in both english and french. Katia and Kalden discuss the action, the underlying logic of the action, as well as the strong opposition to this protest by elected provincial officials. one of whom called it “reprehensible.” 

Valerie Plante made waves for being the first female mayor of Montréal when she and Projet MTL won a sweeping municipal campaign back in 2017. After 7 years in office Plante has announced that she will not be seeking re-election at the next municipal election set for November 2025.  Praised for her work transforming and beautifying the city Plante has been a welcome change of pace to the corruption that usually befalls Montreal’s mayoral past. Though her record is far from spotless. Katia and Kalden reflect on her successes and failures as mayor. 

All this and more on Metropolis!