Quebec City’s outspoken talk-radio hosts face backlash after mosque shooting
MONTREAL — In the soul-searching that has followed Sunday’s deadly mass shooting at a Quebec City mosque, the city’s controversial talk-radio hosts are facing a backlash for allegedly fanning the flames of Islamophobia and intolerance.
Little is known about what factors may have influenced the person who entered the mosque and shot six people to death.
But that hasn’t stopped critics from questioning whether Quebec City’s fondness for a brand of American-style conservative talk radio that critics have dubbed “radio poubelle” or “trash radio” may have helped to foster a climate of intolerance where such acts could take place.
The small number of hosts pride themselves on a provocative, anything-goes style whose commentary often targets women’s groups, the LGBT community, environmentalists and Muslims, according to Colette Brin of Universite Laval’s communications department.