Norgate-gate with Nick Harvest

When a corporate landlord’s open contempt for its working-class tenants at a huge apartment complex in Montreal reached a breaking point, tenants decided to fight back with the help of a neighbourhood class struggle organization called Offensive Populaire (OP). The landlord, Norgate Quebec Inc., responded by suing tenants, OP, and individual members of OP like our guest Nick Harvest, enlisting the courts in a naked display of class warfare. The suit attempts to force tenants and organizers to cease their work through injunctions, and demands absurd damages for such crimes as ‘making things toxic’ (talking to one’s neighbours) and ‘defamation’ (talking about what is happening). Jay and Nick discuss OP’s work in organizing neighbourhoods, tenants’ rights as a site of class struggle, lawfare as a major tool of the enemy class, and the major gains won by Norgate tenants despite the continuous hostility on the part of the landlord and chronic disinterest on the part of the city government. Show Notes Offensive Populaire / Off the Defensive website OP / OTD Instagram The GoFundMe Extensive coverage of the Norgate situation by the North Star Co-owner of Norgate Jean-Philippe Claude’s book, Transformez en opportunités des multilogements trop chers (‘Transform Overly Expensive Multi-unit Housing into Opportunities’) Jean-Philippe Claude’s Instagram Norgate tenants walk out of city council meeting Links Instagram Merch fuckingcancelled.com jaylesoleil.com clementinemorrigan.com [email protected] Theme music by Surprise Eyes, based on ‘Bonjour, Hi’ by ST x LIAM Fucking Cancelled has no ads and is a supported by our listeners. To help us continue our work, consider becoming a paying subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fuckingcancelled.com/subscribe