Meanwhile in Canada: Promoting Militarism as an Anti-Trump Move
Last week, while everyone was busy looking at that nice picture of Obama and Trudeau amiably chatting it up in Little Burgundy, the government dropped Canada’s new “deliberately ambitious” National Defense Strategy. This includes a 73% increase of the military defense budget over the next ten years and replacement of the CF-18 fleet with 88 […]
FTB Podcast Season 4 Episode 1: The Sud Ouest Montreal Special
In a Sud Ouest Special, panelists Andrew MacDonald and David DesBaillets discuss FolkFest, the changing face of SouthWest Montreal, Barack Obama’s visit and more with host Jason C. McLean. Plus News Roundup, Community Calendar, Lat Night’s Weather and Predictions! News Roundup Topics: UK Elections, New Conservative Leader, RIP Adam West Panelists: Andrew MacDonald: Musician, Sud […]
The Legality of Second Chances: Parole, Rehabilitation and Karla Homolka
At the end of May it came to light that Karla Homolka, the Barbie of the Ken and Barbie Killers, was volunteering at her kids’ elementary school in NDG. Outrage erupted with some saying that Homolka was entitled to her privacy at least for her children’s sake, while others said that the nature of her […]
Montreal Fringe 2017: One Week Left!
The 27th consecutive edition of the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival is in full swing. With just a week to go, there are still hundreds of theatrical performances coming up, not to mention daily outdoor concerts at Fringe Park. It’s still not possible to catch all of it. FTB’s Ellana Blacher will be reviewing shows in […]
Fists of Fury
I hold my fist in the air to represent resistance, to show that together we are stronger, hands ready to fight back against oppression and hate. A raised, clenched fist, is a symbol of support and solidarity with others. It expresses power, strength, unity, and defiance. Fists for freedom! Revolution is now, things must change […]
Deflecting Scandal with Identity Politics: Why Couillard is Reopening the Constitutional Debate in Canada
On June 1st, 2017, Premier Philippe Couillard announced that the time has come to reopen the constitutional debate in Quebec. The response across much of Quebec and Canada was: WHY? As it turns out, the announcement is merely a confirmation of a promise Couillard made in 2013 when running for leadership of the province. Back […]
Ministry Food Aid Programs Decimated in Some Quebec Regions
The Ministry of Education has revised its criteria for what constitutes an underprivileged school and how much food aid they should get. The Ministry’s food aid program aims to help high schools from underprivileged communities provide subsidized meals and snacks. Although the total budget of $7.7 million remains unchanged, many schools, particularly in outer regions, […]
PRIDE: Celebration and Sin
When I think of the word pride I automatically think of the LGBTQ community, I think of the Stonewall activists, I think of my gay, lesbian, transgender and queer warriors that have paved the rainbow brick road for me to love as I see fit. The stone dykes and sweet twinks who have danced and […]
In Quebec, We Unionize: A Crash Course on Labour Disputes and the Law
On May 24, 2017 Quebec construction workers walked off the job after failing to sign a collective agreement with their employers. Though the provincial government threatened pass Bill 142 which would force them back to work the following Monday if they failed to do so, the Couillard government chose to table said bill and construction […]
Meet the Gouin By-Election Candidates: Who Said What?
Four months after Françoise David resigned from all of her political functions, it is time for the people of Gouin to choose her successor. The by-election in this riding which contains parts of Rosemont and La Petite-Patrie has been followed with extraordinary attention by Quebeckers of all political stripes, as it served up one wild […]
Nice Little Clouds, Bad Touch, Creativity and Radical Requited Love
Let it flow from your insides out, let yourself lose sensibility. I missed you for so long, I longed for you entirely. Now you touch me and I feel nothing. Nothing but a tinge of anger and a whole lot of embarrassment. So please don’t touch me. All I wanted was your touch but that […]
Increasing Municipal Revenue at the Expense of Community Organizations: The City of Montreal and the Taxation of Churches
After years of tax exemptions, the religious communities in the City of Montreal are facing big tax bills. It has recently come to light that once exempt institutions like the Cote des Neiges Presbyterian Church are receiving tax bills from the City. Inspectors from the City of Montreal are now visiting churches more regularly, taking […]