23 October 2015

'Covering' ourselves in truly liberal democracy

As University of Toronto Prof. Clifford Orwin wrote in the Globe and Mail about Mr. Harper's comments about the niqab: "Liberal democracy isn't about compulsory baring of ourselves (or our faces) to others. Nor is it about consorting as one big 'family.' It's about reconciling majority rule with the right of each of us to lead a life of our own, in religious matters as elsewhere."

William Johnson: Is the time ripe for Quebec to recognize the Constitution?

http://montrealgazette.com/news/national/opinion-is-the-time-ripe-for-quebec-to-recognize-the-constitution

Now that Quebecers have given Trudeau a plurality of their votes and a majority of the province’s seats, surely he and Couillard can cut the Gordian knot by rallying the premiers for a constitutional amendment that proclaims: “Quebec is a distinct society within Canada, as was recognized by the Fathers of Confederation, by the 1867 Constitution Act, and by the Supreme Court of Canada in numerous decisions since.”

19 October 2015

Jewish General Hospital FAQs

What is their mission?
Acute care teaching

What is their affiliation?
The McGill University Hospital Centre (network)

Public or private?
Public

Bilingual or not?
Bilingual, functionally and by status

Who runs it (Board of Directors)?
The "Jewish community"


04 October 2015

"Bourassa destroyed anglos as political force"

http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/features/viewpoints/story.html?id=47266d70-3ca8-4289-aa8b-966853b6fbb2


As a person who was involved in Alliance Quebec from its inception to its decline, I feel I am qualified to add to the discussion about the English-speaking MNAs and their defence or lack of it of the anglo population.

I notice that most correspondents do not mention Robert Bourassa and his part in the suppression of the English language. When I was first active in Alliance, the members hoped and expected with good reason that when the Liberals came to power the language policies of the Parti Québécois would be modified.

I remember when I was first elected to the Alliance council that President Michael Goldbloom asked us what we wanted from the new government. We agreed we favoured compulsory bilingualism on signs. Goldbloom was very insistent that while French should have primacy, "We do not want differences in size," and we laughed at the idea of inspectors running around with tape measures making sure the English was not too big ...