• Why are Montrealers penalized under Quebec’s new immigration program?
    Jan 29 2026

    International students and immigrants on work visas are finding new allies in their fight to stay in Quebec and get permanent residency. Many have been calling for the province to reverse its decision to scrap the Quebec experience program, known as the PEQ, or at least to grant them exemptions to apply under the old rules, instead of new ones that penalize applicants from the Greater Montreal area. Now, the Mayor of Montreal and the opposition at city hall have come together to put pressure on the immigration minister too.

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    21 mins
  • Hydro-Québec says we have enough power, for now
    Jan 22 2026

    During a cold snap this winter, Hydro-Québec was twice forced to issue a rare alert and to tap into reserve power to meet "exceptional" demand. The utility has chalked it up to bad timing because some installations were undergoing maintenance and says it has enough capacity to keep the lights on for everyone, at least, right now. With demand increasing, and the province courting energy hungry-industries, the power utility is looking to double its network by 2050. We’ll hear what that means for Quebec residents and businesses.

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    19 mins
  • What is Premier François Legault’s legacy?
    Jan 15 2026

    Quebec Premier and Coalition Avenir Quebec leader François Legault has announced he is stepping down, just nine months before the next provincial election. We’ll talk about the issues that shaped his terms as premier and what his resignation means for voters who are headed to the polls next fall.

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    26 mins
  • Montreal: How many cities are on this island anyway?
    Jan 8 2026

    One Montrealer finds himself asking: What’s the deal with Westmount? How did this suburban enclave grow to become its own city, surrounded by a bigger city? The answer takes us through early French and British colonial history to the 2000s campaign to merge the whole island of Montreal, to the layers of municipal governance that we all live with today.

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    22 mins
  • The kid who wouldn’t give up his kirpan
    Jan 1 2026

    Gurbaj Singh Multani is just playing basketball when the ceremonial dagger that symbolizes his Sikh faith falls onto the playground of his Montreal school. The next thing the 11-year-old knows, his principal is giving him an ultimatum: hand over his kirpan, a symbol of his Sikh faith, or leave school. This week, This is Montreal shares this episode of the CBC podcast See You in Court. Host Falen Johnson and journalist Sonali Karnick take us through the case of Multani v Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys. It sparks a heated public debate over multiculturalism in post 9/11 Quebec, with grown-ups hurling slurs at the tween, and ends with a landmark ruling for religious freedoms in Canada.


    Check out more episodes of See You in Court

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    28 mins
  • Pablo Rodriguez resigns as Quebec Liberal leader, capping off a wild season in provincial politics
    Dec 18 2025

    After weeks of turmoil, Quebec Liberal Party leader Pablo Rodriguez told his caucus he was resigning. It’s the latest twist in a tumultuous session at the National Assembly. So where does this leave the Liberals? Did other parties end the year (mostly) unscathed? Which issues made the biggest impact? CBC National Assembly reporter Cathy Senay dives into a big year in Quebec politics.

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    21 mins
  • Is ‘rat running’ by drivers putting Montreal pedestrians at risk?
    Dec 11 2025

    If you're stuck in traffic as a driver, you might start looking for another route. Maybe you already know a short cut down a side street, or maybe your GPS even suggests one. Most drivers wouldn’t think twice about cutting through a residential area to avoid traffic. But among transportation researchers, this is sometimes known as rat running. And a recent coroner’s report into the death of a 7-year-old girl is recommending that Quebec do more to discourage drivers from doing it.

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    20 mins
  • How can Montrealers be kinder to each other?
    Dec 4 2025

    Make the Season Kind is CBC’s yearly campaign focused on food insecurity. It’s also a celebration of community spirit, generosity, and kindness. But what does it mean to be truly kind? CBC’s Rebecca Ugolini explores this question with dedicated volunteers, a writer, and a psychologist to find out how we can be kinder to others and to ourselves.

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    21 mins