In a media landscape where the internal crises of 98.5 FM continue to accumulate, a new revelation has added fuel to the fire: Philippe Cantin, host of Le Québec denow, categorically refused to allow Jeremy Filosa returns as a columnist to his show.
This decision, which has serious consequences, highlights Cantin's lack of compassion and inability to support a colleague in difficulty.
After months of suspension for comments deemed controversial on the fact that he did not believe that man had walked on the moon, Jeremy Filosa is preparing to return to the airwaves in January 2025.
However, his return will be marked by a humiliating condition: he will not be reinstated as a columnist on Philippe Cantin's show.
This decision, far from being trivial, results from a deliberate choice by Cantin, who allegedly refused to reach out to him, preferring to maintain his distance from a colleague already weakened by months of sidelining and public humiliation. .
Philippe Cantin's refusal is part of a broader pattern, where the facilitator seems to multiply decisions and actions that divide, rather than bring people together.
Since his arrival at the helm of Quebec nowt, we can see the portrait of a leader far removed from the values of mutual aid and solidarity:
During the October 17, 2024 incident, Cantin did not seek to support Filosa on air, but rather helped to publicly disavow him.
By refusing to take him back as a columnist, Cantin further undermines a colleague who is already going through a difficult time, sending a clear message: there is no room for redemption in his show.
Cantin also played a role in the brutal ousting of Pierre-Yves McSween, a columnist appreciated by all of Quebec, in July 2024.
Disagreements over McSween's fees, his role on the show and ego conflicts precipitated his departure, leaving the station in a state of crisis.
Under Cantin's leadership, relationships within the team Quebec now seem marked by constant tensions, with several employees denouncing a toxic work climate.
Since succeeding Patrick Lagacé, Cantin has seen his show lose 21% of its audience, a dizzying drop which reflects not only a lack of connection with listeners, but also an inability to manage a team in a healthy environment.
Jeremy Filosa's return in January is far from a complete rehabilitation. Cantin refused to offer him a second chance, condemning Filosa to a vague role of “sports journalist without particular assignment”.
An obvious degradation for a professional with 25 years of experience who was one of the most respected voices on 98.5 FM.
His role, now reduced to imprecise tasks, is another way of marginalizing him, removing him from the spotlight and limiting his influence.
This treatment, which looks more like a disguised sanction than a benevolent return, reflects the internal politics of 98.5 FM, where personal conflicts and power games take precedence over the recognition of talent.
Philippe Cantin's refusal is particularly shocking because it shows a lack of heart towards a colleague who has gone through one of the most difficult periods of his career.
As lead facilitator, Cantin had a unique opportunity to set an example, to demonstrate that forgiveness and mutual aid are possible in an often unforgiving environment. He preferred to do the opposite.
This decision raises questions about the values that Cantin truly embodies. If a journalist as experienced as Filosa can be treated with such contempt, what about less established collaborators?
Cantin's choice to refuse the return of Filosa as columnist only amplifies the crisis of credibility of 98.5 FM.
Recent Numéris surveys show that Cantin's show is struggling to retain its audience.
Listeners, shocked by the treatment reserved for Filosa, gradually turned away from the station.
The multiple departures and suspensions of employees (MC Gilles, McSween, Filosa) show management incapable of managing talent and maintaining a healthy work climate.
By refusing to give Filosa a second chance, 98.5 FM sends a worrying signal: errors, even minor ones, are not forgiven, and employees cannot count on the support of their superiors.
Philippe Cantin's refusal to reinstate Jeremy Filosa as columnist is not only a strategic error, it is a moral betrayal.
By choosing to push a colleague already to the ground, Cantin shows a cold, calculating face, and devoid of the compassion which should nevertheless be a fundamental value in an environment as demanding as that of the media.
As Jeremy Filosa attempts to rebuild his career, this rejection is a stark reminder of the toxic environment that 98.5 FM has become.
A once respected station, but now riddled with ego conflicts, power struggles, and a glaring lack of leadership.
If Philippe Cantin hoped to restore his image with this gesture, he failed. Because in the end, it is the listeners who will judge.
And their verdict, if we rely on recent polls, is clear: 98.5 FM and Philippe Cantin are in free fall.
And refusing to reach out to Filosa will only accelerate this descent.
If Philippe Cantin's refusal to reinstate Jeremy Filosa as columnist is a clear betrayal, it is part of a series of actions that reveal a flagrant lack of leadership and a disturbing tendency to shenanigans.
Far from being an isolated incident, this choice proves Cantin's active role in Filosa's descent into hell.
The incident of October 17 remains etched in memories as a surreal moment when Philippe Cantin could, and above all should, have defended his colleague.
From Jeremy Filosa's first words about not believing man had walked on the moon in 1969, Cantin had the opportunity to play his role as facilitator by calmly defusing the situation.
But rather than supporting his columnist or adopting a posture of dialogue, he chooses to publicly undermine him.
Cantin not only questioned Filosa's remarks, he expressed visible irritation and used scathing phrases like:
“I think you read too many unreliable websites. »
This remark, tinged with contempt, immediately placed Filosa in a humiliating position, amplifying the tension on the air.
Refusal to moderate the debate: Instead of refocusing the discussion on facts or broadening the subject to appease the listeners, Cantin preferred to cut it short and move on, leaving Filosa to struggle alone with his remarks.
This behavior not only exposed Filosa to public vindictiveness, it also fueled the fire of internal criticism, paving the way for the suspension that would follow.
The case of Jeremy Filosa is just one example among others of the dubious methods of Philippe Cantin, who seems to favor his own interests to the detriment of his colleagues and the balance of the station.
Cantin never hid his dissatisfaction with McSween's high fee, which earned up to $1,000 per column.
Tensions between the two men, coupled with Cantin's desire to impose his editorial vision, culminated in July 2024 with the abrupt departure of McSween.
This departure left a considerable void, not only in terms of content, but also financially, with the loss of an important sponsor.
In April 2024, MC Gilles, another columnist popular with the public, was fired after repeated conflicts with Cantin and management.
Again, Cantin played a key role in reducing MC Gilles' role on the show, causing tensions which resulted in his departure.
Since his arrival at the helm of Quebec nowCantin seems to have transformed the show into a space where only his ideas and priorities matter.
Collaborators who dare to deviate from this editorial line find themselves marginalized or, worse, excluded.
The successive departures of McSween, MC Gilles, and now the exclusion of Filosa from his show, show a total inability to manage talent and maintain a positive work climate.
By refusing to reinstate Filosa, Cantin is not only protecting his show from alleged controversy. He sends a clear message: he does not want to share the spotlight with a colleague who could potentially overshadow him.
Filosa, despite his recent setbacks, remains one of the most respected and beloved figures on 98.5 FM. His reinstatement could have breathed new life into the show, but Cantin preferred to play the exclusion card.
By sidelining Filosa, Cantin ensures that the focus remains on him, even if it comes at the expense of the show and the listeners.
Philippe Cantin's refusal to reinstate Jeremy Filosa as columnist is a decision that is both revealing and damning. It shows a man more concerned with preserving his image and his control than contributing to the reconstruction of a strong and united team.
But this choice only reinforces a truth that the listeners and collaborators of 98.5 FM are beginning to understand: Philippe Cantin is not a leader. He is an opportunist, willing to sacrifice his colleagues to protect his position.
While his show continues to lose credibility and audience, Cantin's behavior symbolizes everything that is wrong with traditional Quebec media: a lack of solidarity, management based on ego conflicts, and an inability to value the talents that make them successful.
We only hope for one thing: that one day, Jeremy Filosa will find a platform where his talent can finally be recognized at its true value.
