In this episode, Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa sits down withvenue owner and former municipal political candidate Sergio Da Silva to discuss his recent criticism of Montreal’s new nightlife policy.

Sergio acknowledges that the policy brings some positive developments—particularly for venues that have put in the work to earn special designation allowing them to stay open later. However, he raises concerns about the broader tone of the administration, pointing out that referring to music as “noise” reveals who these policies are really designed to serve.

Ultimately, Sergio argues that if Montreal truly wants to support and grow its cultural scene, the most impactful step isn’t regulation—it’s addressing affordability. Lowering the cost of living, he says, is key to sustaining the artists, communities, and spaces that make the city’s nightlife thrive.

In a recent tweet, border scholar Harsha Walia described Bill C-12 as “absolutely horrific,” warning that it could become “the country’s largest machinery of deportation.” As the bill moves from the Senate to the House of Commons, concerns about its potential impact are growing.
In this episode, Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa speaks with Mostafa Henaway of the Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal to unpack what’s at stake with Bill C12. A leading organizer and expert on migrant labour in Canada, Mostafa brings critical insight into the broader implications of the bill.
Mostafa and Kalden discuss the dangers posed by Bill C-12, the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment, and how some companies in Montreal are exploiting migrant workers who are increasingly pushed into precarity. These stories of exploited migrant workers might become more common if the bill receives royal assent.

Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa is joined by journalist Katia Lo Innes for a look at the stories making headlines in Montreal this month.The OQLF is planning on unleashing “secret shoppers” across Quebec but more than half of the visits will be in Montreal. The secret shoppers will report back to the OQLF on how often french is used by service staff. The operation will be carried out by a private firm at a cost estimated at up to $350,000.The mayor of Montreal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada is fulfilling one of her campaign promises of cutting 1,000 jobs over 4 years all while mainting a hiring freeze. the union representing the city’s administrative workers decry the move saying it will affect services given by the city.Cheese curds in quebec could soon receive be “protected” so as to maintain authenticity. This move lobbied by the quebec dairy industry aims to secure a geographical indication similar to that for wines from Champagne and Bordeaux. Kalden and Katia discuss the standardization of culture and the stasis it promotes.The episode also touches on a Supreme Court challenge to Quebec’s secularism law, and a recent housing tribunal decision that could make it harder for landlords to enforce no-pet clauses in leases. The two also discuss Montreal’s role in upcoming international defence bank negotiations.