Free City Radio
Tuesday January 14th, 2025 with Stefan Christoff
Housing Justice Part 3: Alessandra Renzion AI Industries as Driving Gentrification in Parc Ex /Montreal

Educator and researcher Alessandra Renzi speaking on the ways that the AI technology boom in Quebec is impacting gentrification in Parc Ex. Alessandra specifically speaks about efforts to both document and organize around the impacts of the AI industry in the Montreal neighbourhood of Parc Ex. A process that Alessandra describes as shaped by "a disregard to life worlds already on the ground," by institutions like MILA and others that are heavily backed by public funds by the Quebec and Canadian governments often with little strings attached. This funding for AI companies comes at a time when public investments in social housing, by all levels of government, are at an all time low, exemplified by the cut of Quebec gov. support for AccèsLogis. Alessandra is the co-author of "Digital Divides – The Impact of Montreal’s AI Ecosystems on Parc Extension: Housing, Environment and Access to Services. April 2022," which you can read, along with other research resources here: antievictionmontreal.org/en/publications/ This interview is being shared as part of a current series on Free City Radio airing in the build up to a gathering on housing justice that is taking place from March 7-9, 2025 at Concordia, for more information visit: housingjustice.now