Tue, Jun 23, 2015
Their objective is to destroy patriarchy; their weapons are bare breasts. FEMEN "sextremists" have now set up shop in more than ten countries, but only have one active branch in North America. VICE journalist Brigitte Noël enters the world of FEMEN Quebec as they disturb the public space with their homegrown brand of sextremism, bringing skin, controversy, and feminism to the front page. As they set out on a mission to protect abortion rights, VICE shadowed the group to get a better understanding of their message, their approach, and whether or not their shock-and-awe tactics actually work.
Wed, Sep 16, 2015
We meet the women in Kahnawake, the Mohawk community where the show is shot, to talk about the series' themes (inter-cultural relationships, the reserve's controversial 'marry out, move out' policy, the preservation of aboriginal culture) but also to discuss the fact that this is one of the first times First Nations women are given a chance to shine in such edgy and sexy leading lady roles.
Thu, Sep 24, 2015
With federal elections right around the corner, the Bloc Québécois is making a last push to get young Francophones back in their court. Despite Duceppe's return as leader this year, the party only has two seats in Parliament and the separatist party continues to fall behind in the polls. This week, Simon Coutu sat down with Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe to discuss why it's in Quebec's best interest to separate, the risks of assimilation and the survival of his party.
Sun, Nov 29, 2015
Anticosti is nestled in the heart of the St-Lawrence gulf but it's on the front lines of a major environmental controversy. Despite Quebec's commitment to lowering greenhouse gas emissions at the Paris Climate Change Conference, the province seems rather tempted by the estimated 246 billion cubic feet and 12.3 million barrels of oil that could be extracted each year from Anticosti. Petrolia has already gotten the green light from the province to begin exploratory fracking in early 2016 to find out if Anticosti really is as lucrative as estimates suggest. Some of the island's 200 residents are apprehensive that the thousands of wells will destroy their island, but with mounting unemployment and few prospects, many locals see the shale gas and oil project as their only option. Meanwhile, 200,000 deer are freely wandering the island and adding another layer of complexity to Anticosti's ecosystem, making it a unique hunting ground in North America. VICE travels to some of the most isolated drilling sites in Quebec to spend time with locals and find out how promises of gas and glory are affecting the tiny, hunting-based community.
Wed, Dec 9, 2015
After nearly a decade under Stephen Harper's thumb, the Canadian cannabis industry is finally turning over a new leaf. With Trudeau's promise of legalization in the air, medical marijuana producers anticipate they'll be able to tap into a new and profitable market. But in Quebec, production and distribution numbers are still much lower than the West Coast and Ontario. In this VICE documentary, Simon Coutu plants weed at Quebec's only Health Canada approved facility, visits with cannabis patients to discuss access and services, and finds out how Quebec's new medical cannabis registry could blaze the trail for international research.
Tue, Oct 25, 2016
Post-rap group Dead Obies grew up in French, in Montreal and its suburbs, but they unapologetically blend in a lot of English in their lyrics. Much like their fans, they have only vague memories of the last referendum, if any at all. They are part of a generation that doesn't have any hang-ups about the national language. In the debut of VICE Dossiers Quebec, Simon Coutu meets with Dead Obies, who put the Frenglish movement in Quebec on the map. VICE follows them in studio, on the road, and backstage to get a sense of what the movement really looks like. They discuss the music industry's refusal to fund them, the Quebec media's misguided attempts to blame them for a "decline of French," and the new aesthetic avenues "franglais" opens to rappers.
Thu, Dec 15, 2016
Quebec loves weed - the number of consumers here has been estimated as high as 1.2 million. But despite being home to ¼ of Canada's cannabis users, the market here is way behind. Instead, 90% of the industry is controlled by the black market, with organized crime pulling the strings. But with legalization around the corner, small and large businesses alike are gearing up to compete with criminal groups for Quebec's lucrative weed industry - valued at around 2.5 billion dollars. Meanwhile, biker gangs like the Hells Angels are expanding and they're not going to just hand over their share of the market. This VICE doc explores what the complicated transition from a black to a legal cannabis market will look like in Quebec. We spend time with both illegal and legal players as they begin making big moves in the province - from former criminals who want to go legit, to licensed medical producers preparing to tap into the massive recreational market. And we look into whether Ottawa's tactics to loosen the criminal stronghold on weed will succeed in Quebec.
Tue, Mar 7, 2017
Alt-right groups and anti-immigrant sentiment are on the rise, and Quebec is no exception to this global trend. But for some, multiculturalism and miscegenation aren't just something to be avoided, they're also the harbinger of an impending cataclysm. In the outskirts of Montreal, "Vic Survivalist" has been preparing for this fateful moment, stockpiling enough food, water, ammo and gold to live off the grid when society collapses. Using his blog and popular YouTube channel, Vic shares his survivalist tips and insights with thousands of people from across the globe. We visit Vic at a secluded survivalist compound to learn about his motivations and question whether he's using his growing platform to spread a dangerous discourse.
Mon, Aug 7, 2017
Quebec likes to think of itself as a leader in the fight against climate change. But despite ambitious emission reduction targets, the province quietly championed a controversial cement factory in the remote region of Gaspésie. The $1.5 billion plant will be the single biggest greenhouse gas emitter in the province's history. And it was pushed through without the public consultations that are normally required by Quebec law. In this documentary, VICE travels to the beautiful Gaspé in the dead of winter to see the factory first-hand. Amidst high unemployment, the plant's owners are promising locals much-needed jobs. We meet with residents, former government officials, and the company itself to find out why Quebec is endorsing an industry that's responsible for a whopping 8 percent of global CO2 emissions. Our investigation reveals a region struggling to stay on its feet, uncovers a powerful corporate lobby, and looks at the controversial process by which the government approved and financed the project.