The post QCT Online Print Edition – March 12, 2025 appeared first on The Quebec Chronicle Telegraph.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Advocates gathered at Église Ste-Famille on Mar. 10 to demand more social housing for women facing violence and exploitation in the rental market. The event, organized by the Centre d’aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel (CALACS) Agression Estrie, highlighted the dire need for affordable and safe housing options for vulnerable women.

Mélodie, an intervention worker at CALACS, addressed the crowd, emphasizing how the housing crisis leaves women trapped in unsafe situations. “If there is one place where women should feel safe, it is in their own home,” she said, pointing to the alarming rate of sexual violence occurring in rental properties.

Speakers detailed how women facing economic hardship, racial discrimination, or physical disabilities are often forced to endure unsafe living conditions. Some landlords exploit this vulnerability. “We also meet women who have to exchange sexual services with their landlords in exchange for a rent reduction,” Mélodie stated, describing a reality that many women in Estrie face.

Kelly, another speaker at the event, reinforced the severity of the situation with data from CALACS. “In 2023, 28 per cent of the sexual assault victims we assisted reported being attacked in their own homes. This makes no sense. Women should never have to choose between enduring violence and becoming homeless.”

She also spoke about the difficulty of escaping dangerous situations due to a lack of available housing. “Not only are women no longer safe in their homes, but the lack of social housing and space in shelters makes it almost impossible for victims of sexual violence to leave.”

The pamphlet distributed at the event painted a grim picture of the systemic nature of the crisis, criticizing both landlords and government inaction. “The lack of social housing for women is the government’s responsibility,” it read, calling on officials to prioritize housing solutions for those in need.

Advocates insisted that only a large-scale investment in social housing can address the crisis. “Ending the commodification of rental housing is the only solution to resolve these crises,” the pamphlet stated.

The event concluded with a call to action for local and provincial governments to implement policies ensuring that women in distress have safe alternatives. Attendees were encouraged to contact their elected officials and demand immediate investment in social housing.

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L’article Call for social housing to protect women est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The Association étudiante du Cégep de Sherbrooke (AÉCS) is strongly condemning the Quebec government’s recent decision to end the Perspectives scholarships, a financial aid program that provided up to $20,000 to students pursuing studies in education, health, engineering, and technology. The move, announced abruptly, has sparked concerns over accessibility to higher education and financial stability for students.

“This decision is a direct attack on accessibility,” said Abdoullah Hajji, AÉCS spokesperson. “These bursaries were meant to support students in crucial fields where the province already faces labour shortages. Removing them makes no sense.”

Hajji noted that the government justified the decision as a budgetary measure but argued that it contradicts the province’s long-term workforce planning. “We want to address labour shortages, yet we remove an incentive for students to enter these fields,” he said. “It shows a complete lack of consistency.” He also pointed to broader funding cuts in higher education, noting that some universities have seen budget reductions of 50–70 per cent.

The Perspectives program provided financial relief to students struggling with the rising cost of living. Hajji said that its elimination will increase financial precarity, forcing more students to take on debt or juggle additional work hours, which could impact their academic success. “We are talking about $20,000 per student over their studies—that is a significant amount that helped cover essential costs,” he said. “Even if the bursary had remained, the rising cost of living would still be a challenge. Its removal only worsens the situation.”

The AÉCS is calling on student associations, unions, and the general public to mobilize against the decision. Hajji mentioned that a national petition is already in circulation, urging the government to reconsider. “We are uniting with other associations across Quebec to push back,” he said. “Students deserve support, not additional barriers to success.” The association is also working with student organizations to organize protests and other actions to pressure policymakers.

The elimination of the bursaries follows previous cuts to CEGEP and university funding, further straining the higher education system. “This is part of a broader pattern of austerity measures in education,” Hajji said. “We need investment, not more cutbacks.” He also noted that he personally benefited from the bursary program and understands firsthand the impact its loss will have on students.

The AÉCS is encouraging students to participate in upcoming demonstrations and voice their concerns to elected officials. “Education should not be a privilege for those who can afford it. It is a right, and we will continue to fight for it,” Hajji affirmed.

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L’article Students decry end of bursary program, warn of increased financial strain est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initative

Mark Carney’s decisive win in the Liberal leadership race has reshaped the political landscape, according to Bishop’s University Political Studies Professor Jacob Robbins-Kanter. Carney, a former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor, won with 85 per cent of the vote, making him the first Canadian prime minister without previous elected experience.

“It’s the first time we have a prime minister who has never held any other elected office,” Robbins-Kanter noted. “But he has a lot of other experience that you could say is relevant.”

Carney’s victory has already tightened the race between the Liberals and the Conservatives, with recent polling showing his party regaining ground by drawing support from the Bloc Québécois and the NDP rather than significantly weakening Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative base. “The Conservative support is pretty flat, maybe a few points down,” Robbins-Kanter observed. “But the Bloc and the NDP have really suffered.”

One of Carney’s early moves has been to distance himself from unpopular policies of the Trudeau government, including a major shift on the carbon tax. “He’s going to drop the consumer carbon pricing scheme,” Robbins-Kanter explained, though corporate emissions pricing will remain. The policy shift puts Poilievre in a difficult position after years of attacking the tax as a central campaign issue. “The Conservatives are now trying to claim Carney has a hidden carbon tax,” Robbins-Kanter said. “I don’t know if voters will buy that.”

The election strategy for both major parties is also being shaped by the looming presence of Donald Trump in the U.S. “The Trump issue really dominated the leadership race,” Robbins-Kanter said, with Carney presenting himself as the strongest leader to stand up to the U.S. president’s policies. That contrasts with Poilievre, who has been publicly praised by figures in Trump’s orbit, including Elon Musk and J.D. Vance. “If the ballot box question is about handling Trump, I would be pretty nervous if I were the Conservatives,” he added.

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L’article Carney’s leadership shakes up Canadian politics est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

L’article Brome County News, March 11, 2025 est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

Folk music isn’t exactly my area of musical expertise. The most intimate experience I’d had with the genre prior to last month’s Folk Alliance International was volunteering at my hometown’s Calgary Folk Music Festival, but that was 13 years ago. As fun as that was, it was nothing compared to the sheer scale and ambition of this conference.

Back in town for the first time in six years, Folk Alliance was held at the downtown Sheraton from Feb. 19 to 23. I decided to go check it out on Friday night to see what it was all about. I’d interviewed FAI’s executive director Jennifer Roe prior to the event, but I needed to see how it all went down in practice.

What I saw exceeded any expectations I could’ve had. The expansive hotel environment made the whole experience overwhelming by default, but that was in addition to being surrounded by people, many of them from around the world, some of them playing guitars or pianos, sometimes with folks forming crowds around them.

The real festival magic happened between the 7th and 10th floors, where basically every room had a late-night private showcase going on, starting around 10:30 p.m. Yes — the FAI conference literally takes over a hotel and puts on little shows where guests would’ve otherwise been staying. Pretty cool, eh?

Of course, this means either enduring an agonizing wait in line for the elevator (public showcases took place on floors below those ones) or making that character-building journey up the stairs to the seventh floor. Two people greeted me on two separate occasions saying, “Feel the burn!” upon them noticing I was out of breath. At least they understood the struggle!

I eventually bumped into two industry pals — shoutout to Jérémy Spellanzon and J-P Sauvé — and basically let them lead the way while I followed. The entire experience was full-on sensory overload, and in the best kind of way if you love this kind of music. 

Over two nights, I watched bits and pieces of sets from Lisa LeBlanc (whom I’d watched play an official showcase the night before), the Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Tennyson King, R.O. Shapiro, Maya Killtron and Geneviève Racette as I was rapidly moving from room to room (and floor to floor). Refreshments and snacks were given out in many rooms, including a “sober room” with strictly non-alcoholic drinks, and the Ontario & Friends Room on the same floor offering beer (they had to resort to Asahi after running out of Ontario-brewed stuff).

Another element I really loved was the “musical chairs” event that took place in room 908. Four artists, each with their chosen instrument (usually an acoustic guitar), take turns playing one of their songs one by one. It’s an intimate and communal experience both for the artists and those watching them, and even Ron Sexsmith was among the participants on Saturday night. 

The conference was also great for networking, so long as you didn’t mind yelling from time to time given the noise and commotion around you. Meeting Basia Bulat and Lisa LeBlanc was a nice ribbon on top of an already thrilling experience — one I enjoyed so much that I didn’t let my claustrophobia deter me from going for a second straight night. It was a super fun experience, and one I sincerely hope doesn’t take another six years to come back.

This article was originally published in the March 2025 issue of Cult MTL.

For more Montreal music coverage, please visit the Music section.

The post Folk Alliance International brought some magical music moments to Montreal in February appeared first on Cult MTL.

Former Montreal coach Ryan Michael Elahie, 40, was arrested in early February and faces multiple sex-related crimes against minors. He was denied bail on Monday.

The Quebec government is creating a committee to make recommendations on how to strengthen secularism in the province.

With Justin Trudeau set to resign as Canada's prime minister, people in the Montreal riding of Papineau, which he has held since the fall of 2008, reflect on the complex legacy he leaves behind.

The following is a capsule review of the Montreal restaurant Le Club Chasse et Pêche. To read the 2025 Montreal Restaurant Guide, please click here.

Le Club Chasse et Pêche

A pillar of the Montreal food scene since 2004, owners and celebrated restaurateurs Hubert Marsolais and partner Claude Pelletier truly deliver with Le Club Chasse et Pêche. Tucked away on a quintessential Old Port cobblestone street, upon entry, you’ll be privy to a dark, opulent atmosphere. The menu, by chef Olivier Larocque, showcases an array of indulgent game, red meat and fish offerings that pair masterfully with the robust wine list. Save room for some of their memorable desserts! (423 St-Claude)

For more on Le Club Chasse et Pêche and to make a reservation, please visit their website.

For more on the food and drink scene in Montreal, please visit the Food & Drink section.

The post Montreal Restaurant Guide: Le Club Chasse et Pêche appeared first on Cult MTL.

No one works harder than Steven Soderbergh, who is already releasing his second film of 2025 with Black Bag (March 14). Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender star in this spy thriller about an intelligence agent forced to choose between his wife and his country. The film is based on a screenplay from blockbuster maverick David Koepp, best known for penning Spider-Man (2002), Jurassic Park, the first Mission: Impossible and recent Soderbergh films Presence and Kimi.

Continuing in their adaptations of beloved animated classics, Disney will soon release Snow White (March 21) starring Rachel Zegler. Directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson, the film follows the same beats as the classic fairy tale. Can the all-star cast and crew create something resonant or will it be doomed to predictable mediocrity? 

Robert Pattinson stars in Mickey 17 (March 7) the hotly anticipated follow-up to Parasite from South Korean director Bong Joon-ho. Pattinson plays a disposable employee sent on a human expedition to colonize the ice world Niflheim. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. The film co-stars Toni Collette, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun and Mark Ruffalo.

Husband and wife team Paul W. S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich, best known for their long-term collaborations on the Resident Evil series, return for a new fantasy action film, In the Lost Lands (March 7). A witch travels to the Lost Lands in search of a magical power that allows a person to transform into a werewolf. Dave Bautista also stars.

One of Canada’s greatest filmmakers, Atom Egoyan, returns this month with his latest big-screen thriller, Seven Veils (March 7). Reuniting with Amanda Seyfried, the film is about an earnest theatre director given the task of producing her former mentor’s most famous work, the opera “Salome,” but disturbing memories from her past colour her present. The film has been described by some as a return to form for Egoyan, who has struggled in recent years to recapture the praise of his early 1990s run.

It’s a big year for Jack Quaid, who is starring in his second 2025 release after Companion with Novocaine (March 14). An action-thriller with one of the best film posters in recent memory, Novocaine is a man whose inability to feel pain becomes an unexpected advantage as he has to fight off a bunch of thugs to rescue the girl of his dreams after she’s been kidnapped.

Beloved It girl Ayo Edebiri stars in Opus (March 14), a thriller co-starring John Malkovich and Juliette Lewis. A young writer is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star who mysteriously disappeared 30 years ago. Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan. 

Robert De Niro stars in a dual role in the upcoming mob biopic The Alto Knights (March 21), about 1950s mafia bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello. Directed by Barry Levinson, the film depicts the aftermath of a failed hit, which leads Costello to try to retire from the world of crime.

Underrated Spanish action and horror director Jaume Collet-Serra brings The Woman in the Yard to the big screen this month. This folk horror from Blumhouse is about an unknown woman dressed in black who appears on a family’s front lawn and delivers a chilling warning. The locals do not know where she came from, who she is, what she wants or when she will leave. 

David Ayer directs and co-writes (along with Sylvester Stallone) A Working Man (March 28), an action-thriller starring Jason Statham, David Harbour, Michael Peña and Jason Flemyng. The film is about a man who leaves a black-ops military career to live a simple life working construction. But when his boss’s daughter, who is like family to him, is taken by human traffickers, his search to bring her home uncovers a complex world of corruption.

For art fans, Montreal’s International Art Film Festival (FIFA) is holding its 43rd edition this month. With in-person screenings from March 13 to 21 and an online component running from March 21 to 30, the festival showcases the best films on art from around the world. ■

This article was originally published in the March 2025 issue of Cult MTL. Check Montreal cinema showtimes here.

For more film and TV coverage, please visit the Film & TV section.

The post New movies to watch in March appeared first on Cult MTL.

The Quebec government is backing out of a meeting with the mayor of Blainville, Que., to discuss the expansion of a hazardous waste dump by American company Stablex, citing the mayor's "change in direction regarding the topics she wanted to address."

The Old Port skating rink, which had been open since 1992, has been shut down permanently.

Since catching COVID-19 in 2022, Nathanael Rafinejad, 29, can't stand longer than a few seconds at a time and has relied on a wheelchair. They are one of thousands of Quebecers with long COVID, a chronic condition that can prevent once healthy, active people from functioning as they once did.

Amisdt growing tension between Canada and the USA, acclaimed Quebec author Louise Penny tells Quebec AM host Julia Caron why she has decided to cancel her latest novel’s launch at Washington’s Kennedy Center. 

The Liberal Party of Canada has selected Mark Carney as its new leader and prime-minister-designate.

A recent Angus Reid poll found that more Canadians trust Carney — the former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England — to deal with the Trump administration than they do Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre.

Carney will officially replace Justin Trudeau as prime minister after being sworn in by Governor-General Mary Simon, following what is expected to be a brief transition period.

Parliament is scheduled to return on March 24 following its prorogation when Trudeau announced plans for his resignation on Jan. 6.

For our latest in news, please visit the News section.

The post Mark Carney wins Liberal leadership race, becomes prime minister-designate appeared first on Cult MTL.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The 2025 Marche mondiale des femmes was officially launched March 7 at Église du Précieux-Sang in Sherbrooke, bringing together activists, politicians, and community leaders to advocate for gender equality. Organized by ConcertAction Femmes Estrie in collaboration with Minister of National Revenue and Sherbrooke MP Élisabeth Brière and Compton-Stanstead MP Marie-Claude Bibeau, the event was part of the region’s activities surrounding International Women’s Day. The morning discussions took place between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., while afternoon activities, organized by the Comité 8 mars—including CALACS Agression Estrie, the Employment Market Integration Centre (CIME), Escale de l’Estrie, and Maison Séjour—were held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and were open to the public and media.

“The rights of women, our rights, are never fully secured—even here in Canada,” Brière stated during the press conference at the event. She emphasized the need for vigilance in the face of increasing public discourse against gender equality, particularly on social media and in political rhetoric. “We must continue working together to foster gender inclusion in economic, social, and political spheres.”

Bibeau echoed the sentiment, underlining the importance of political engagement and community leadership. “Getting involved in your community, joining organizations, and taking on leadership roles is also a form of politics. It’s through these grassroots efforts that real change begins,” she said. Reflecting on her experience as Canada’s first female Minister of Agriculture, she highlighted the increasing presence of women in leadership roles within the sector.

The day’s events featured a series of activities aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing allies for gender equality. Joannie Lasnier, coordinator at the CIME and a member of the organizing committee, outlined the afternoon program, which included an interactive art project, a virtual reality experience showcasing non-traditional careers for women, and testimonies from survivors of sexual violence.

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L’article Women’s March in Estrie calls for action on gender equality est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Richmond is taking proactive steps to protect its drinking water sources with a new five-year plan aimed at preventing contamination. The initiative, backed by a $29,750 grant from the provincial government, ensures the town meets updated environmental regulations while safeguarding its underground water supply.

“The goal of the grant was to develop a plan to protect our potable water sources,” said Richmond Directeur général et greffier-trésorier Rémi-Mario Mayette in a recent interview. “We have three municipal wells located in the canton, and we need to make sure they remain uncontaminated. That means keeping chemicals, agricultural activity, and other potential pollutants away.”

According to a press release, Richmond sources its drinking water from underground wells rather than surface water, making contamination prevention crucial. The plan includes measures such as monitoring activities near the wells, limiting industrial and agricultural use in designated protection zones, and working with stakeholders like the Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ) to mitigate risks from road salt. Specific objectives include sealing or elevating wellheads above the 100-year flood line, tracking nearby road activity, and implementing well protection measures. Richmond is also aiming to reduce per capita water consumption to align with provincial averages and has assessed risks associated with activities within the protection zones.

“There’s a railway in the area as well, so we need to ensure the railway company is aware of our concerns,” Mayette explained. “If there were a spill or accident near the wells, we’d need to be notified immediately to prevent any impact on our water supply.”

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L’article Richmond moves forward with water protection plan est apparu en premier sur Sherbrooke Record.

Hundreds gathered in downtown Montreal on International Women's Day Saturday to protest U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial policies and views on women's rights.

Part cabaret, part documentary theatre and part live podcast event, Resurrection brings to life the story of Michael Callen — an activist, singer-songwriter and key figure in the AIDS self-empowerment movement who is largely credited with inventing “safer sex.” The show is based on the acclaimed podcast of the same name, which has ranked among Canada’s Top 15 and was named one of Amazon Music’s Best Podcasts of 2023.

As an exploration of a historical fight for justice that sheds light on the resilience and activism of queer communities affected by HIV/AIDS, Resurrection has been praised by AIDS activists including Sean Strub of POZ Magazine. This series of five 90-minute performances is part of Centaur Theatre’s WinterWorks, a curated series of experimental performances and events.

Resurrection is at Centaur Theatre (453 St-Francois-Xavier) from March 11 to 15

For our latest in arts and life, please visit the Arts & Life section.

The post Resurrection highlights the resilience of queer communities via the story of activist Michael Callen appeared first on Cult MTL.

The meteorite landed close to Drummondville, Que., March 2, 2025. It was detected by the DOMe meteor observation network, a series of cameras deployed by Montreal’s Planetarium in the St. Lawrence Valley.

The federal government has handed a $3.25 billion contract to the Davie Shipyard in Levis, Que. to build a new polar icebreaker by 2030. It will be one of the 'largest' on the planet, according to Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.

A scholar and a team from Université de Montréal worked together to name the 68 stations after influential women, honouring their impact on Montreal's history.

Thirty pictures are on display in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., to honour various women in the community and their work.

Marie-Philip Poulin fans have made it their mission to call out NHL teams who claim the hockey champion's nickname for less deserving players.

During the pandemic, schools moved to online learning. Five years later, one Montreal college says most students are faring well. But catching up wasn’t easy.

A family of four was rescued by the RCMP after wandering for hours in the woods and becoming lost as they were crossing the border into Quebec from the United States.

Trump’s trade war is our opportunity to remake Canada the way we want it

You want a trade war? You got it!

Here’s what Canada must do to guarantee our future economic and political sovereignty:

We can start by withdrawing from CUSMA and signing a separate solidarity trade agreement with Mexico.

We should ban social media platforms that support the Trump regime. These are the biggest sources of disinformation, far-right radicalization and American propaganda in Canada. Banning them will strengthen our democracy, and support made-in-Canada media.

We should cancel military contracts with American firms. They will likely use these contracts as leverage, plus there are cheaper alternatives that involve a greater degree of domestic production. If we have to spend tens of billions on military equipment, let’s make sure it supports Canadian jobs.

The most important thing we can do is to remove ourselves entirely from the U.S. fossil fuel economy, and this means decarbonizing as fast as possible. Solar panels, wind farms, batteries, geothermal, public transit, hydropower and heat pumps — we have the technology to become completely energy independent from the United States, and energy sovereignty means political sovereignty.

There is neither need nor reason to panic. Trump’s trade war is our opportunity to remake Canada the way we want it.

It will be a long, hard process, but Canada can be a stronger, better, fairer country once we close our door to the United States.

For our latest in news, please visit the News section.

The post Trump’s trade war is our opportunity to remake Canada the way we want it appeared first on Cult MTL.

Daredevil nears 61 years of four-coloured existence, but beyond the pages of Marvel Comics, Charlie Cox’s blind vigilante has fought crime through three seasons of live-action TV and multiple cameos across crossover series, blockbuster movies and all-ages cartoons.

In the upcoming series Daredevil: Born Again, masked brawler/lawyer Matt Murdock and his nemesis, crime kingpin Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) have put their former lives and darker halves behind them, but violent circumstances put them on a collision course yet again.

How will this new Disney + iteration renew characters who already have multiple seasons of TV and numerous cameos across media? Executive producer Sana Amanat tells us that part of the key is looking back at the wellspring of original material: the printed pages of comics publishing. 

“I mean, mirroring the things that get us excited about the comics is very, very important to us. And Dario knows I bother him all the time. I’m like, ‘This was in the comics. Can we do it?’ And I show him images and frames and panels from the actual comics to get cool moves for Daredevil, and make fun moments with our cameos. I think that’s what keeps audiences engaged and comics readers engaged.”

Daredevil: Born Again shares its name with the memorable storyline written by Frank Miller and renowned illustrator David Mazzuchelli. While it doesn’t share the hard-boiled plotline of the 1986 classic, series lead Charlie Cox offers that it retains the spirit of many Daredevil tales of rebirth and redemption.

“Yeah, it’s important we’re not doing the ‘born again’ story. The name of the show is really just a reference to coming back after so many years and of course, an homage to Frank Miller, an icon. Obviously, we’re trying to find the best version of the best Murdock, aka Daredevil. But in finding the best version, we also seek out the worst version.”

Showrunner Dario Scarpadane adds: “Daredevil is a character that has been picked up and worked on by an endless number of really fantastic writers and directors and actors. In this case, we’re really trying to take that tradition and extend the runway of what we can do with the character.”

On the surface, Daredevil exists in the shadow of Spider-Man and Batman: a grim urban avenger with acrobatic powers. But the Hell’s Kitchen lawyer’s real superpower is tragedy.Matt Murdock will always suffer great losses and calamities, something that the bigger icons in the comic book world avoid.

“I mean, one of the things that’s so fun about this particular character is that you want to knock him down because it’s so fun to see him get up. And that’s kind of been the energy with Matt Murdock in Daredevil,” says Scarpadane. “Particularly in this season and next season, we’re looking at ways to create that rising from the ashes that’s always so satisfying. And, you know, the reason I think that people relate to Murdoch and Daredevil is there’s a vulnerability there that a lot of superheroes don’t have.” ■

Daredevil : Born Again premiered with two episodes on March 4, with new episodes coming to Disney + on Tuesdays

For our latest in film and TV, please visit our Film & TV section.

The post Daredevil: Born Again is a bloody clash between vigilante heroism and systemic corruption appeared first on Cult MTL.

Federal and provincial governments announced the Saguenay-Saint-Laurent Marine Park could reach a total size of 4,500 square kilometres to help protect Quebec’s marine environment, including belugas, fin whales, blue whales, sea marshes and eelgrass beds.

Canada Soccer says the Canadian men's team will play at least two friendlies in Montreal in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup.

Quebec's energy board announced that residential Hydro-Québec clients will see the same 3.6 per cent rate increase as its commercial clients, despite a three per cent cap promised by the premier last year.

The province’s health minister’s office estimates there will be more than 640,000 no-shows in 2025. But some medical experts say charging patients isn't the right approach.

Sources close to the situation have revealed more about a recent region-specific deal struck for long-term reform of the child welfare system, which would ensure funds for Ontario but not yet for other regions across Turtle Island.

“Our region said that we need to end discrimination against our children now,” said Abram Benedict, the regional chief for the Chiefs of Ontario (COO), who negotiated the deal with the federal government alongside the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), in an interview with The Eastern Door. “We can’t wait another year.”

The deal was announced last week, with $8.5 billion to be provided over nine years to communities in Ontario. That comes after chiefs at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) had struck down a $47.8 billion reform deal back in October, which had been drafted between NAN, COO, the AFN, and the federal government. 

Back then, leading child welfare advocate Cindy Blackstock, who is the executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, told AFN chiefs that she believed the deal wasn’t secure enough to protect Indigenous children long-term, arguing that the fine print of the agreement would make the deal subject to annual approval by the government. 

She also pointed out that the deal only applied to children who went through the on-reserve welfare system, leaving out large numbers of children, and that the deal could result in child welfare being managed by government agencies instead of by local ones. 

Since the AFN vote, Canada has stated that the federal government no longer has a mandate to negotiate further at a national level.

Blackstock said that refusal is, in her opinion, unacceptable. The Caring Society has since filed motions with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) to force the federal government back to the negotiating table.

“I continue to be really concerned about Canada not negotiating in good faith and frankly breaching honour of the Crown by not coming back to the table regarding all First Nations children in the rest of the country,” Blackstock told The Eastern Door. 

The details of the final settlement agreement date back nearly 20 years, when a complaint was submitted to the CHRT by the AFN and the Caring Society, with COO and NAN being interested parties in the complaint. 

In 2016, the CHRT ruled that the on-reserve child welfare system had been chronically underfunded, and Canada was ordered to fulfil both a financial settlement agreement for those harmed by the system, as well as to provide long-term reform of the child welfare system to ensure that discrimination doesn’t continue.

The compensation agreement, which was approved in 2023, totals more than $23 billion for those living with the effects of going through the system, but the future of the long-term reform component is still uncertain, with only Ontario having a deal with the government.

The recently-elected regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL), Francis Verreault-Paul, said that the reform deal is high on his list of priorities as he takes office.

“We need a deal really soon for all of our children,” Verreault-Paul said. 

He said he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a region-specific deal, if that were on the table, nor would he abandon the idea of negotiating for an amended version of the current deal previously struck down by the AFN.

“The mandate is going to come from chiefs and grand chiefs, and I’ll always respect that,” he said.

Benedict said that while COO and NAN were meeting with Canada to finalize the agreement, weekly feedback sessions were held with Ontario chiefs to go over concerns and feedback. 

A vote was also held with those chiefs to decide whether to move ahead with the agreement – 76 chiefs and proxies voted in favour of the agreement, four were opposed, and three abstained.

“The government was clear that they don’t have any expanded mandates to put any more resources on the table, and so we knew that they wouldn’t enter into negotiations with us if we were asking for more,” said Benedict, who added that Ontario chiefs lobbied Canada for a region-specific deal after the AFN vote. “Essentially, all the elements that were in the national reform deal that pertain to Ontario are what form the agreement we have for us.”

The region-specific deal leaves the rest of the provinces in the lurch, but Verreault-Paul said he can’t fault Ontario for moving ahead. 

“It’s a very complex file. I think we’ve heard chiefs across Turtle Island, and we need to do things differently, but at the same time as a human being I can’t go against something that could be good for our children,” he said. 

“If Ontario decided that this is the way to do things and it’s going to be best for the children, I just hope that it’s not going to go against the other regions.”

The deal itself must be ratified at the CHRT, where other parties including The Caring Society will be permitted to speak on whether the agreement meets the CHRT’s orders to address discrimination.

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It took years to convince authorities to conduct a search of the Prairie Green landfill, where the remains of two Indigenous women, Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, both members of the Long Plain First Nation, are believed to have been dumped after being murdered by serial killer Jeremy Skibicki.

When it comes to closure for the families and communities of victims of an epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG), cost should be the last of anyone’s concern. Yet this is the point that was raised again and again as the Manitoba government made it sound like searching a landfill would be harder than climbing 10 Mount Everests backwards.

Sure, searching a landfill might be easier said than done, but it’s beyond obvious that a refusal to do so just meant the authorities didn’t see it as a priority.

What would these politicians have thought if it was their own mother there? Clearly their empathy circuit is on the fritz, which means they had no business being in power.

And while we know they weren’t thinking with their hearts, they weren’t thinking with their heads, either. They should have known that supporters of justice would never let go of this fight.

As the Chiefs of Manitoba pointed out, doing everything possible to find the remains of Morgan and Marcedes is a question of human dignity, and this was a time to take a stand if there ever was one.

After all, this is a country where progress halting a genocidal scourge against Indigenous women and girls is not met with the urgency it warrants, to say the least. A planned “Red Dress Alert” is still working through preliminary stages with mere scraps of funding, and it has no certainty of making it past the next election or ever seeing the light of day.

It’s no wonder the refusal of Manitoba to roll up its sleeves and respect the dignity of Onkwehón:we struck such a chord.

The advocates of a search travelled far and wide drumming up support, with some even making their way to The Eastern Door’s office in Kahnawake to share their message with the people in this corner of Turtle Island.

Pressure was key, and incensed Onkwehón:we and allies never let their voices waver, despite extraordinary challenges.

People camped out for years demanding action as the government claimed it was too expensive and dangerous to search the landfill. While Manitoba pontificated on the supposed risks, supporters were ready to do the job themselves, no matter the danger, which would have been immeasurably higher without the equipment and training possessed by experts.

The Progressive Conservatives even ran campaign ads in 2023 bragging about their decision to refuse a search of the landfill, a very real window into their view of the value of Indigenous lives.

Seriously, who could put their name to this while families mourn and grieve without end? “Stand firm. For health and safety reasons, the answer on the landfill dig just has to be no.” The answer is election loser and former Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson – in a full-page newspaper ad, no less, about as loud and proud as you can get.

Well, that government was punished for its hubris, and instead Manitoba gained the first First Nations premier in Canada’s history, Wab Kinew, who finally changed the government’s position, if at the slow pace for which government is famous.

It still took more than a year for a search to get underway. Meanwhile, the loved ones of Morgan and Marcedes and their community continued to trudge through limbo.

When the search finally started in December, Kinew said at a press conference that the odds were uncertain, but that “no matter what lies ahead, we can say we tried and we made an effort for these families.”

It’s a big contrast to the words of Stefanson at an election debate against Kinew, in which she needled him for his willingness to put Manitobans’ treasure and “safety” on the line “without a guarantee.”

There are no guarantees in life, except that doing nothing gets no results.

“Try,” is not just one of the first words a kid can learn to spell, it’s one of the first lessons they’re taught, that they have to put in an effort to get anywhere. 

It’s the failure to try that is unforgivable, and that it took so long to try says so much about how those with power tend to wield it in this country, because we all know they’re not afraid to try when it suits them.

It’s truly sickening that it took this long for the government to finally make an effort, but at long last it arrived in December.

Then last week, just a few months after a search finally began in earnest, it was announced that human remains have been found at the landfill. It will be weeks, perhaps, before it may be confirmed that these are the remains of Morgan and Marcedes.

In the meantime, their families have described their feelings in complicated ways, and they’re angry, and we’re angry too, and all the country should be angry that we could have been at this point years ago.

The delay has been heartbreaking, and even if it’s true the remains of Morgan and Marcedes have been recovered, this chapter will still be far from over. 

It must be a reminder etched in the minds of policymakers; when it comes to MMIWG, we need action above all, because only action means anything. 

The next seven generations deserve to grow up knowing their lives have value no matter what.

TED Staff

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) has announced a one-time rebate for the annual $59 water fee, which is in part due to funds “repatriated” as a result of Mohawk Online’s partnership with Entain coming to an end last year.

“We’re trying to give financial relief to our community members, and this is a very small gesture but it’s something, after all,” said MCK chief Ryan Montour.

An MCK press release from Monday morning quoted MCK grand chief Cody Diabo as saying that the rebate is “thanks to income that was generated through the sale of Mohawk Online,” though Montour clarified that Mohawk Online was not in fact sold when it ended its partnership with Entain.

“It definitely wasn’t sold, it was probably an overlook on his part,” said Montour of the comments in the press release.

Diabo was on vacation this week and was therefore unavailable to provide further clarification concerning his comments about Mohawk Online. 

Montour explained that when the partnership between Mohawk Online and Entain ended last year, money from its operational reserves was returned to the MCK. 

“We took all that money back when the partnership ended. It’s like generated revenues that were slated to be used for operations, and since there’s no more operations now, we can repatriate it back,” Montour said.

The existing water fee usually totals around $140,000, which goes towards maintaining the water and sewer network. The one-time rebate will mean community members in good standing will not have to pay the fee for this year.

“When the partnership ended and that money was returned, we said ‘Let’s do something for the community members,’” Montour said. “It was an easy decision.”

MCK chief Paul Rice said that the Council table felt it was a good time to offer the rebate to community members.

“The table discussed doing this one-year subsidy especially given the current economic circumstances with inflation, and more recently tariffs that are probably going to increase the cost of everything,” Rice said. 

“It’s something that touches the majority of, if not all, community members.”

Discussion of offering a rebate has been discussed for some time at the Council table, said MCK chief Arnold Boyer.

“I brought it up last term on Council that maybe we should start not charging our elders and take them off the billing cycle,” he said. 

“At the start of this term it came up again that we should help our elders in which ways possible.”

The rebate is still being finalized, but would be applied to all community members whose accounts are in good standing before the March 31 deadline. For community members who have already paid the water fee, the subsidy would be given as a credit for the next year.

Montour noted that this subsidy is a one-time rebate due to the unique circumstances, and not an annual change.

“We’re all aware of the financial hardships our community members are facing,” he said.

More details about the subsidy will be made available in the coming weeks, MCK Public Relations noted.

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There’s renewed hope that artifacts housed in La Prairie’s archaeological museum could one day return to Kahnawake.

This comes after the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) brought forward a request to elected officials demanding a rematriation of various pre-colonial items held by the museum. The Musée d’archéologie de Roussillon is under the jurisdiction of the surrounding regional county. 

“The grand chief wants us to work together,” said Delson mayor Christian Ouellette, also the prefect of the Roussillon regional county municipality (MRC). “We suggested a collaboration begin between us and the community.” 

It was MCK grand chief Cody Diabo that brought forward the demand. He got the chance to do so at a recent meeting with mayors from surrounding municipalities held in late February.

“These artifacts are ours at the end of the day,” said Diabo, who said the hope is to see them housed in the future Kahnawake Cultural Arts Center.

Ouellette says the commitment is there to begin a formal discussion regarding an eventual repatriation of some of the museum’s items. It will happen through a liaison committee that’s existed since last year to facilitate more collaboration between the band council and surrounding municipalities, he said.

“It’s situations like this that can serve to bring our communities closer together,” the prefect said. “We’ve been trying to build a stronger relationship with the community for many years now.”

The archeological museum in La Prairie holds roughly 300,000 different artifacts and ecofacts, said Gilles Marcoux, the general director of the MRC.

Many have yet to be analyzed, documented, and categorized, however, making it hard to pinpoint exactly how many date back prior to colonization, he said. That said, out of the roughly 6,000 items that have been, about 20 percent date back from prior to colonization, he shared.

“We see this as a great opportunity to collaborate together on the work we do at our archaeological conservation and research center,” Marcoux said.

The archeology team run out of the MCK has approached the museum on numerous occasions in the hope of arranging a visit to see the collection there, but hasn’t had much luck. Their last effort was in September, at which point Marcoux said a suggestion was brought forward to bring the question to elected officials. 

Archeologist Katsitsahente Cross-Delisle said those efforts date as far back as 2019. 

“In my experience, this is the first time rematriation has been made political,” she said.

Since a visit has yet to be arranged, the MCK has yet to provide a detailed breakdown regarding which items they’re interested in seeing rematriated, she said. Artifacts like pottery, pipes, and tools made out of stones or bones are among those most likely to be represented within the collection, she said.

“For me, rematriation is about taking back our duty as Kanien’keha:ka women to fight, protect and maintain our cultural connection to all that is living,” Cross-Delisle said. “In the western world they would use the word repatriation for this type of work, but for us, it’s rematriation.”

That’s not to say the museum and band council haven’t collaborated before. In 2020, the ancestral remains of two people were returned to the community for burial. A ceremony was held then too at the museum.

“We were happy to do so,” Marcoux said. 

The MCK grand chief said the demand brought forward extends beyond rematriation. There’s also a desire to strengthen collaborations with surrounding historical museums, so that everyone can learn about the original inhabitants of the land.

“There’s different contacts and partnerships that our team wants to build,” Diabo said. “History is for everybody, but there also needs to be the understanding and recognition that all the artifacts belong to our people.”

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The local charged in connection with threats made to the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC) was arrested again last week. The door of his family home was rammed open during the commotion, according to a neighbour, which culminated in him being escorted out in handcuffs and into a cruiser.

Joseph So:se Montour’s arrest last Friday morning comes just weeks after he was released from custody on January 13. He had to undergo a mental health evaluation prior to a judge deciding on his release.

The 29-year-old man now faces three new charges in addition to six separate offences stemming from his prior arrest in December.

He was arrested then in connection with two calls the Peacekeepers allege he made to the hospital threatening to come in and shoot, which included one on November 19 and another on December 7.

The calls to the hospital’s front desk prompted lockdowns being called on both occasions. Police were able to locate the suspect after tracing one of the calls back to an IP address of a nearby home, where he resides.

Montour’s most recent arrest unfolded last Friday morning. 

He told The Eastern Door the arrest was “so brutal” he had to receive medical care afterwards, leaving the hospital that day with stitches in his head.

“I never attempted to hit nor harm the officers,” he said.

Peacekeepers were called to his home after he “lost it,” as he put it in his own words.

“I was breaking drywall and throwing things around the house because I was angry,” he said. 

He said by the time police arrived at his door they had their The local charged in connection with threats made to the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC) was arrested again last week. The door of his family home was rammed open during the commotion, according to a neighbour, which culminated in him being escorted out in handcuffs and into a cruiser.

Joseph So:se Montour’s arrest last Friday morning comes just weeks after he was released from custody on January 13. He had to undergo a mental health evaluation prior to a judge deciding on his release.

The 29-year-old man now faces three new charges in addition to six separate offences stemming from his prior arrest in December.

He was arrested then in connection with two calls the Peacekeepers allege he made to the hospital threatening to come in and shoot, which included one on November 19 and another on December 7.

The calls to the hospital’s front desk prompted lockdowns being called on both occasions. Police were able to locate the suspect after tracing one of the calls back to an IP address of a nearby home, where he resides.

Montour’s most recent arrest unfolded last Friday morning. 

He told The Eastern Door the arrest was “so brutal” he had to receive medical care afterwards, leaving the hospital that day with stitches in his head.

“I never attempted to hit nor harm the officers,” he said.

Peacekeepers were called to his home after he “lost it,” as he put it in his own words.

“I was breaking drywall and throwing things around the house because I was angry,” he said. 

He said by the time police arrived at his door they had their irearms drawn. According to him, it was a window that was rammed down, not a door.

“I retreated into the house as I was scared for my safety, they then battery rammed an air conditioner out of a window to throw a flash/concussion grenade,” Montour said. “At that point, I was sitting in my attic just waiting. Then they found me, so I came out with my hands up.”

Assistant police chief Jody Diabo declined to comment on the claims of brutality, saying she couldn’t now that charges have been laid against Montour.

A neighbour who spoke to The Eastern Door said they first took notice of the presence of multiple Peacekeepers and their cruisers around the home at around 9:30 a.m. that morning. At least two were carrying firearms, the neighbour said.

As of around 10:45 a.m., he was seen exiting the home cuffed alongside a Peacekeeper, they said.

The call to police came from inside the home at around 8:30 a.m. that morning, Diabo said. By around 11 a.m. their officers had cleared the area, she said.

“He was in crisis. We went there. He’s been charged,” she said, declining to share more details about what transpired.

He was charged with uttering threats, obstruction of justice, and a breach of his conditions following the arrest. Montour appeared in court the same day in Longueuil, pleading not guilty to all three charges. He’s since been released on bail. 

He has yet to plead before a judge in connection with his arrest in December. The six charges stemming from then include three for uttering threats, two for intimidation, and one for allegedly assaulting a Peacekeeper. 

Montour shared he intends to plead not guilty to those charges.

“There is no question that Mr. Montour will have to deal with the entire situation. How he deals with it is but a detail,” said Steven Slimovitch, the lawyer representing him.

“What’s important for everyone, and mostly society, is that we understand that there’s a bigger issue here, which is a mental health problem,” he said. “We have to stop, as a society, dealing with the consequences of it and deal with the problem.”

What’s transpired is a “problem of mental health,” his lawyer emphasized, not a “problem of criminal law.”

“It’s being dealt with through various forms of medical care. It’s been dealt with through various forms of therapy, various forms of treatment,” Slimovitch said.

His client will appear again in court in the coming weeks, he said. 

The Eastern Door has requested a copy of Montour’s mental health evaluation but has yet to hear back from the office of the judge presiding over his case.

Montour’s court file reveals he’s been arrested before by the Peacekeepers for making threats, once in 2021 and another time in 2022.

He pleaded not guilty following both arrests. The charges stemming from his 2021 arrest were later withdrawn in 2022. He was also acquitted on charges stemming from his 2022 arrest in 2023.

Though he was acquitted on the threat charge and another for obstructing justice in 2023, the judge did agree to impose a one-year protection order for someone Montour knew who had requested one.

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The Office of the Kahnawake Kanien’kehá:ka Registry (OKKR) has launched an education and outreach campaign with the goal of making sure the community is aware of the process regarding complaints regarding residency and eviction.

“The residency law has been a long time in coming. It’s been some years, actually, since it’s been created and tried to be implemented. Because it’s been such a long time, we need to reeducate the community that the law exists,” said Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) chief Jeremiah Johnson, who is the lead on legislation.

As the new complaints process and full implementation of evictions of those who do not fit the criteria of residing in Kahnawake will begin in April, Johnson said these community engagement measures also have the goal of making sure those who are currently not allowed to reside in Kahnawake know what is coming and, if applicable, how they can become legal residents.

“If you’re not on the KKR, then you have to apply to be on it. If you’re living on the reserve, you have to apply for approved residency. Otherwise, you should know you’re violating the law,” said Johnson.

“We want people to abide by our law. The entire community created this law in an open, inclusive process. It wasn’t a law that was created by MCK and imposed on the community. This is direct rule of the people.”

Part of the education campaign is an information kiosk in the Kahnawake Services Complex, the first of which was held last Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“A lot of people aren’t familiar with the process, with the law, and it is important for them to understand how it’s going to play out, how the complaints are going to work, how the law works moving forward,” said Kyle Jacobs, who was recently hired to be the residency compliance officer.

Jacobs, who was at the first kiosk, said that they had around 20 people come and ask questions and look at the documentation – including copies of the membership and residency laws, as well as the complaints form.

“The main focus was complaints, but some people did ask other questions,” said Jacobs.

“If it was about membership, the importance of being on the KKR, how to apply for membership, authorization, permits, anything that had to do with residency, we were there to answer questions.”

More information kiosks will be held prior to and after the official opening of the complaints process on April 1. They will be March 14, March 28, April 30, and May 8.

An information session will also be held at the Golden Age Club on Wednesday, April 16 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Johnson said that getting the community engaged with the law-making process and educating them on what the laws are and how they will affect the community is important for the current council.

“Any way that we can engage the community is helpful, whether it’s through phone surveys, kiosks, community meetings, any way that we can get the community’s voice is very important to this table,” said Johnson.

“We are geared towards traditional government, and traditional government comes from the people. So that’s why we’re adamant about community engagement, education, and making sure that we involve the community as much as possible in these processes.”

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Two women from Manawan have been authorized to file a collective action against a government health centre concerning acts of obstetric violence carried out against them without their consent.

“I think it’s the start of something,” said Marjolaine Etienne, president of Quebec Native Women (QNW), which has supported the women throughout the legal process. 

The two women first filed their request for a class action on behalf of “all women of Atikamekw origin who underwent surgery without having given their free and confirmed consent” at the Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS) of Lanaudiere since December 1971. 

In 2023, their class action request was approved against three doctors specifically mentioned as having carried out the procedures, but not against the CISSS Lanaudiere where the acts allegedly took place.

The claimants say they each experienced harm after giving birth at the hospital, with one alleging that she was sterilized without her knowledge or consent after the birth of her fifth child. She said that she didn’t find out that she had been sterilized via a procedure known as a tubal ligation until more than a year after she had given birth.

The other claimant said that she underwent a tubal ligation without free and informed consent, having been pressured by a doctor at the hospital after her fifth pregnancy. She was followed by the same doctor throughout her pregnancies, who she alleges had repeatedly insisted that she undergo sterilization surgery since her third pregnancy, because she had enough children.

That claimant alleges that “his tone was threatening and he often made racist or derogatory remarks about Indigenous people,” and that he made degrading comments such as “You Indigenous people all have alcohol problems.”

Though their class action request against three doctors (one of whom passed away in 2019 and is therefore being represented by his estate) was approved in 2023, the women appealed the decision that the Quebec Superior Court made to reject the class action request that was also made against the CISSS. The doctors also appealed the decision that the court made to allow the class action against them.

But a Quebec Court of Appeal decision that was handed down at the end of February has rejected the doctors’ appeal and allowed the complainants’ appeal that the CISSS should be included in the class action. 

“For us, it’s a strong act of denouncing the injustice that First Nations women have experienced, and today it’s clear that there’s zero tolerance,” Etienne said. “It’s time for governments and institutions to take responsibility and implement concrete measures to ensure that acts of forced sterilization never happen again.”

The CISSS de Lanaudiere told The Eastern Door that since the matter is in front of the courts, they would not be commenting on the decision at this time. 

The news comes after a 2022 report published by the Universite du Quebec en Abitibi-Temiscamingue (UQAT), Canada Research Chairs, and the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC), which included the testimonies of 35 people who had experienced or witnessed imposed sterilization and/or obstetric violence towards Indigenous women in Quebec. 

The primary author of the report, Suzy Basile, told The Eastern Door that a second report on the subject will be ready soon.

With the class action request approved, the legal process will continue to move through Quebec’s courts.

“I think it’s a step and it can lead to other actions too,” Etienne said. 

“Recognizing it’s an issue, and working on it, we think can lead to concrete measures.”

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As of April, the library is expected to have a new home in the White House building across from the hospital, the same building workers with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) were ordered to evacuate in October to make way for urgent repairs to its structure. 

The building across from the hospital is but a temporary fix, said Onerahtókha Marquis, executive officer at the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK). 

The library has been granted a one-year lease on it, meaning they’ll still need to find a permanent location.

It’s “safe and up to code,” she said, however it’s not a building that was designed to hold the weight of a library’s entire collection of books, she admitted.

“The library is aware that they need to look at exploring long-term solutions for the storage of all their books, and that’s something that they’re looking into with their existing funding agencies,” she said. “I’ve let the library know that if they ever need to have any discussions about their needs, or support navigating the different processes, that we could help them do that.”

The White House remained closed until December to make way for restoration work needed to reinforce the strength of its structure. Prior to then, the entire upstairs portion of the building had been condemned, with workers restricted from entering. 

According to a press release issued in October, that work centered around reinforcing the building’s structural integrity.

“We received a report that the upstairs floor is abnormally soft in some places, the ceiling beams are warped, and, above all, cracks have appeared in some places,” a source from ISC was quoted as saying in the release.

The Eastern Door requested to speak with someone involved in the most recent inspection of the building ahead of the decision to grant a one-year lease to the library, but wasn’t able to speak with someone before deadline. 

Marquis assured that it’s safe for use, saying their asset management team has inspected and that “it’s suitable for people to be working out of.”

After seeing how long the library has been closed, she’s relieved to see a solution has been found, even if it’s only short-term. 

“We’ve been working for the past couple of months to try to identify and secure a location for the library to operate in since we condemned the old building late last summer,” she said. “It’s been challenging, just given the lack of office space in the community, but most recently we were able to come up with a solution.”

The Skawenni:io Tsi Iewennahnotáhkhwa library will have the building to itself as no other MCK units will be housed there. That building is expected to be demolished by the spring or summer, Marquis said.

“The books will remain in the condemned building until it’s demolished, and we’re still working on the timeline to do that,” she said. 

The aging structure on Old Malone Highway is at risk of collapse and has been shuttered since mid-July. Staff were abruptly evacuated then, which came as a surprise, considering it had just reopened last March following a two-month closure for construction. 

That work involved reinforcing the building’s structure through the addition of new columns in its basement and a steel beam in the lobby’s ceiling. A heavy rainfall just before its shuttering set it back, however. New cracks appeared in its walls, and its floors became slanted again, just as they had been prior to the restoration work. 

The services currently being offered at the ISC office operating in the building will cease as of this Monday, March 10. Those who need to renew their band cards or obtain other services will have to travel to its new office in downtown Montreal, expected to open soon in the Guy Favreau complex by Place des Arts metro. There is currently no date set for its opening.

In the meantime, library staff have been working out of a space they’re sharing with the Kahnawake Labour Office (KLO). 

The library’s former building next to the United Church dates back to the 1920s. The library began occupying it in 2009. 

It’s still uncertain when the library will officially reopen its doors to the community. The Eastern Door reached out to library staff for comment but had yet to hear back by deadline. 

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The newly formed Ethics Commission, tasked with arbitrating certain conflicts arising from the Custom Electoral Code, will meet this month to consider whether Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) grand chief Victor Bonspille and chief Valerie Bonspille have vacated their seats.

This is according to MCK chief Brant Etienne, who said the session will be held on March 17 in response to an appeal launched by the Bonspilles in 2023 after the Council majority enacted disciplinary measures against them.

Etienne said that, while it is now late in the term, with elections due this summer, it is still important to clarify the status of the grand chief.

“Part of it is we still do have a mandate, and the fact Victor and Valerie are still representing themselves unjustly as sitting members of the MCK still causes issues,” said Etienne. “It still causes issues in discussions with partners at the federal and provincial level, it causes problems when it comes to contracts, it’s put a hold on a lot of things.”

A band council resolution passed by the Council majority in spring 2023 declared that both Bonspilles had been removed from their portfolios and that grand chief Bonspille had been removed as MCK spokesperson.

Subsequent actions by the band council have also sought to cast doubt on the grand chief’s validity, such as in October 2023 when they demanded he step down after it was revealed Victor had asked the federal government to put the community into third-party financial management.

“It’s a ridiculous request and it’s not going to happen,” said Victor in an interview at the time with The Eastern Door.

The grand chief has also dismissed the legitimacy of the majority of Council, claiming they were removed following community meeting votes, not long after they called for his own resignation.

Bonspille and chief Valerie Bonspille did not respond to requests for comment for this article. However, the “Ethic Committee” is among the agenda items for a public meeting grand chief Bonspille is holding on March 11 at the Ratihén:te High School gym.

While the Ethics Commission was only put together late last year, the entity is a creature of the 2015 Kanesatake Custom Electoral Code, which details local election processes and some aspects of governance.

According to the electoral code, the MCK may establish an Ethics Commission, which in turn can hear appeals if a member of Council is removed because they have been convicted of a crime, missed three Council or community meetings without a valid reason, or “engages in, during their term, any wrongful conduct that affects, interrupts, or

interferes with the performance of their duties.”

According to Etienne, the Bonspilles have not submitted supporting documents for their appeal, although they now have the opportunity to respond to the Council majority’s submission, a letter that details spotty attendance as while as several notable incidents the Council majority characterize as disruptive to Council business.

“If we just take the all-stars of what they’ve done, when Victor conspired to have the band office chained in 2023, did that hinder Council’s ability to function? Our statement is yes it did, for obvious reasons,” said Etienne.

The request for third-party management and an altercation in which MCK chief Denise David was injured by chief Valerie Bonspille are also included in the Council submission, according to Etienne.

The Bonspilles, as has been frequently documented in The Eastern Door, have scarcely attended Council meetings this term. However, grand chief Bonspille has claimed only meetings he sanctions are legitimate.

While grand chief Bonspille initially denied involvement in the chaining of the Council office, which was shuttered for over a week in late 2023, security tape showed that he was actively involved.

In the event of a permanent vacancy of grand chief, the vice chief is elevated to that position. However, according to the electoral code, the vice chief is chosen by the grand chief at the beginning of the term. 

This did not happen; rather, the Council majority considers Etienne to be acting vice chief.

The Ethics Commission was assembled by First Peoples Law and is made up of legal professionals from outside the community. 

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Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) majority has called a community meeting to be held online tonight (Friday) and broadcast live on Reviving Kanehsatà:ke Radio (RKR) 101.7 FM, in a bid to clarify what Council chiefs have branded “misleading or false” information about the new lawmaking process.

The Kanesatake Law-Making Process (KLMP) was passed on February 19. A draft of the process, which in itself is Kanesatake’s first official law, was first revealed to the community in July of last year, after which there were a limited number of in-person and online sessions to inform community members and give them an opportunity to ask questions.

The sessions were hosted by First Peoples Law, which drafted the legislation.

Since its passage, the KLMP has drawn the ire of a number of community members, and MCK grand chief Victor Bonspille even sent a notice to local businesses deriding the lawmaking process as biased and warning it could impact them.

According to MCK chief Brant Etienne, whose windshield was smashed the night after the law’s passage was revealed in The Eastern Door, this is one reason the meeting is being presented as urgent.

“As soon as it was announced, we were made aware that Victor was going around to the stores, essentially to the cannabis owners and making innuendo and whatnot about it, essentially spreading fear and trying to get people to react in a certain way,” said Etienne. “The last time that happened is when the chaining up of the band office happened. That’s not acceptable for him or anyone else to do.”

Bonspille, who is holding his own public meeting next week at which the KLMP will be discussed, did not answer an interview request on the subject from The Eastern Door last week. He also did not answer a request this week for an interview about the meeting he called.

“I hope people come away (tonight) with a clearer understanding,” said Etienne of the KLMP. “So far, this is the best method and avenue we have to address the issues in Kanesatake, whether that’s environmental, pollution problems, whether it’s crime, drug addiction problems, whether it’s something as minor as getting the speed reduced in the community, whether it’s something like that.”

Kanehsata’kehró:non will be able to pose questions and concerns through a moderator both on Microsoft Teams and, or those tuning in on the radio, by phone. Etienne portrayed a moderator as a necessity to keep things on track.

“We know that in-person community meetings leave a lot to be desired,” said Etienne, who dismissed concerns that a meeting that is not in person does not give people the opportunity to speak their mind.

“A lot of times, the community meetings devolve into yelling and accusations, everything like that,” he said. “We know for a fact a lot of people, especially elders and younger people, are tired of that. They don’t want to participate in community meetings where you have a small group of people yelling and berating anybody who disagrees with them.”

The virtual meeting and RKR broadcast will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with further information available on the MCK Facebook page, including an agenda, schedule, and meeting link.

“I think it’s a great medium to use to reach as many people as possible and in a safe way,” said Karahkóhare Syd Gaspe, president of Mohawk MultiMedia Inc., which oversees the radio station. 

“It is the first time that RKR is doing something like this. I have invited a panel of three main speakers into the studio so that the audio is of good quality – the image as well, being on Teams.” 

He said he believes this format can help more people get involved in community meetings, which tend to be poorly attended, but emphasized that RKR is non-partisan.

“We will broadcast a disclaimer stating that the views and opinions do not necessarily represent the views of RKR and of MMM, as we are an autonomous, non-political organization.”

A separate meeting called by MCK grand chief Victor Bonspille for next Tuesday, March 11, will be held in person at 6:30 p.m. at the Ratihén:te High School gym.

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Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Taio Gélinas has long been a fan of the French crime series Eaux Turbulentes. Now the 20-year-old Kanehsata’kehró:non actor is starring in it. 

The third season of the show was released on the streaming platform ICI Tou.tv last month, with Gélinas starring in all six of the season’s episodes. 

“It’s kind of like Law and Order: SVU, but in French,” Gélinas told The Eastern Door.

This season in particular revolves around missing and murdered Indigenous women. It’s set in the fictional town of Queensbury, opening with the discovery of an Anishinaabe woman’s body by the local police force there.

Gélinas plays Hayden Lamarr in the show, “This really sweet, really timid, 17-year-old Anishinaabe kid,” as the actor described him.

“He’s going through a lot with his mental health. His family just moved to Queensbury, and he just started going to Queensbury High, because he had to leave his old school,” Gélinas said. “As to why he had to leave his old school, I won’t say, because that’s part of the intrigue of the third season.”

It’s the actor’s first time appearing in a French series, a Quebec and Ontario based production by Radio-Canada. It was shot in and around Ottawa and Gatineau, with Gélinas joining the set over May and June of last year, that being right after the end of his winter semester at Dawson College, where he studies full time as a cinema and communications student.  

He previously starred in Avatar: The Last Airbender, released last year on Netflix, appearing in episodes seven and eight of the show. The young actor was also among the cast of the 2020 film Beans, a coming-of-age story told through the eyes of those growing up during the 1990 Siege of Kanehsatake, which won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Picture.

Gélinas got the chance to audition for the show after meeting actress Eve Ringuette at a cinematography workshop at Carleton University in the summer of 2023. The Innu from Uashat plays Rubina Duquette in the show, a detective in the local police service. 

“They gave me a really intense emotional scene with Hayden and this other character called Jeremy. And they were like, ‘You can either choose to read it as Hayden or as Jeremy,’” the actor said. “It was super collaborative.”

The show is directed by Jim Donovan, who Gélinas described as “very meticulous and very determined.” He would walk actors through shoots by acting out himself, like on one of his first days on set, when he took to jumping into a fish tank set in one of the scenes. 

“He was like, ‘What you’re going to do is you’re going to put your face in this fish tank, and we’re going to film it. You decide when you want to come up for air,’” the actor said.  “And then to show me exactly what he had in mind, he took his shirt off himself, and he put his face in the fish tank. And I was like, ‘That is a really good director.’ You know, he’s not above doing it himself, showing me the vision that he has in order to get the perfect shot.”

What made this production different from others Gélinas has starred in was the drama.

“Hayden has a really big emotional scene at the end of the series that required a lot of sensitivity. It was difficult to act, but I’m proud of how we handled it, and I’m really proud of my performance in that last episode,” he said. “I’ve been itching to do those super huge emotional scenes and have that moment. Actors love to do the most dramatic thing possible, but we don’t very often get to.”

As for what’s next for the young actor, he said you’ll have to wait and see. He’ll be starring in another production, with shooting for it coming up soon, but couldn’t share the details just yet.

In the meantime, he’ll continue working toward finishing his degree at Dawson College, where he’s also a rugby player.

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