Advertise on podcast: This is Quebec

With several ridings being neck-and-neck across the province, Quebec’s political landscape could change dramatically after voters take to the polls on October 5th. CBC’s Sudha Krishnan joins host Alison Brunette and This is Montreal host Ainslie MacLellan to look at some particularly hot races, and share a behind the scenes look at election night coverage.

It can be hard for autistic children and their parents to get the services they need - particularly when they face language barriers. In the Laurentians, a new mobile unit has been implemented to address that issue. CBC’s Laurentians reporter Andy Bennett joins us to talk about this new resource, and her experience of navigating her own child’s autism diagnosis in the region.

Residents of Rouyn-Noranda have coexisted with the Horne copper smelter for a century. But  what was once celebrated as the driving force and economic engine    of the Abitibi community  has become a point of contention. In recent decades, concerns over arsenic emission levels and the health of nearby residents have dominated the local news. Reporter Julia Page travelled to Rouyn-Noranda to investigate how the city has grown and thrived despite this challenging relationship.

It's a longstanding tradition for aspiring politicians to visit iconic Quebec snack shacks while on the campaign trail to be pictured with some greasy food… What’s up with that? We called up Charles-Alexandre Théorêt, food columnist with Radio-Canada’s Ça Promet, and author of Maudite Poutine!, for a look at this election rite of passage.

Well, it depends what you measure, exactly. The short answer is yes, but the reality is much more complex than that. As the five official parties in Quebec make their election-time financial promises, we’re looking at what’s true, and isn’t true, about Quebec’s taxing system. Plus, we’ll break down the consumer carbon tax and cap and trade system, both now unique to Quebec.

The race has just officially launched in Quebec, but the province’s five official parties have already been in campaign mode for months. If you haven’t been keeping track, CBC’s National Assembly reporter Cathy Senay can bring you up to speed. She sat down with guest host Allison Van Rassel and This is Montreal host Ainslie MacLellan to talk about all things election cycle…including what it’s like reporting on an election bus!

J.A. Moisan, a gourmet grocery store that has stood at the heart of Quebec City’s Saint-Jean street since 1871, is reopening after about a year and a half of shuttered doors. It’s not the first time the establishment has had to close, but owner Donna Willett hopes this time, it’ll open for good.

The origin story of Rouyn-Noranda, Que. is unlike any other in the province. Built on the discovery of gold and copper deposits on the shores of Lake Osisko, the opening of the Noranda mine in 1926 sparked a goldrush to the region, creating a unique blend of cultures from around the globe. 100 years later, we check in with local groups and residents who are celebrating the city’s centennial.

Hollywood has dominated the summer box office, with blockbuster releases like Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and the latest Spiderman starring Tom Holland. But closer to home, Quebec’s emerging filmmakers are creating headlines of their own. This week, we hear from rising local talent behind a new wave of films, with one even set to premiere at the Venice International Film Festival.

Summer is a time when many people return to the places they grew up, and this week, we’re tagging along to some of the homecoming celebrations happening in the province. From Christmas in July festivities in Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon to a 100-year anniversary bash in Rouyn-Noranda, we hear how residents are making the most of their summer reunions.

It all started with a family connection to a historical figure, a shared passion for local history and a Facebook group - leading two Bromont residents on a thrilling hunt for a lost time capsule. Roch Royer and David Therriault tell us their story, and why they aren’t sharing what was inside the capsule just yet.

When a devastating fire destroyed the Buckland Holstein Farm in Barnston West, Quebec, the MacKinnon family lost 165 cows, their livelihoods and a part of their history. One year later, the family reflects on how the community helped them rebuild, and describes what it’s like to recover after such devastation. Eastern Townships correspondent, Gordon Lambie, joins Alison Brunette to share this story.

Community groups in Quebec are coming up with new ways to reach people who need food aid during the summer months, when donations tend to drop. Community fridges on the Lower North Shore; farmers pairing up with food banks in the Eastern Townships; and lunch box programs in Quebec City: here’s a look at the work being done to fight insecurity.

The École nationale d’horlogerie in Trois-Rivières is the only watchmaking school in Canada. It was founded 80 years ago, after WWII, to help veterans learn new skills and reintegrate into society after returning home. Today it trains watchmakers for the global market in a wide variety of professions.

Yet again, plans to extend route 138 on Quebec’s Lower North Shore have been scrapped. People living in a dozen towns and villages along the coast have been waiting for a road to connect them to the rest of the province for decades. Without it, locals must rely on planes, ferry service - even quads and snowmobiles - to travel. After two former Liberal governments promised and failed to complete the 400 kilometre stretch of road from Old-Fort Bay and Kegaska, it's the CAQ that now finds itself tearing up its proposed extension plan.