On March 6th, The Syndicat Composé des Travailleuses et Travailleurs en Intervention Communautaire (STTIC-CSN) organized a demonstration in front of Bordeaux prison in Montreal. They were there to protest deteriorating conditions in detention facilities across Quebec which have occurred as a result of outbreaks of COVID-19 in these facilities. Reports say that detainees have been denied basic rights such as taking showers, phone calls and visitation, and have been confined to their cells for 23 hours a day or more for months at a time.

The organizers called for two conditions to be met:
First, that detainees be prioritized for vaccination. Due to the enclosed spaces in which they are confined, they are more susceptible to Covid-19 infection.
Second, that detainees be given shortened sentences due to the prolonged isolation they have already endured during these outbreaks and that their basic rights be respected.

Members of the STTIC-CSN spoke at the event, as well as a representative from Solidarity Across Borders and Alexandre Leduc, the Quebec Solidaire Representative from Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. A second immigration detention centre is under construction and intended to be finished this year.

To find out more about the detention centres and treatment of non-status people in Montreal, tune in for a live conversation with Local 514 host Savanna Craig and Spokesperson for Solidarity Across Borders Eloy Rivas Sanchez on Wednesday, March 17. This will be hosted live on CUTV Montreal's Facebook.

To find out more on the exploitation of non-status people in Montreal's workforce, tune into the second episode of Local 514. To view the full episode, click here.