An open letter of support for Amira Elghawaby

 As Quebecers, we are responding to the controversy surrounding the appointment of Amira Elghawaby as Canada's Special Representative in the fight against Islamophobia.

Tuesday [Amira Elghawaby in fact excused herself Wednesday, 01 FEB 2023], Mrs. Elghawaby apologized "sincerely" for "the way in which her words hurt" Quebecers. She also expressed the desire to continue the dialogue in order to exchange and “learn”. Several meetings with Quebec political leaders are planned in the days to come.

We are sensitive to the concerns that have been raised since her appointment, but the challenge she must take up is considerable and we believe that Ms. Elghawaby must be given the chance to exercise and fulfill the mandate for which she was named.

We are ready to contribute to a constructive dialogue surrounding these complex and sensitive issues and we are committed to combating all prejudices, whatever they may be.

A [2019] poll shows support for Bill 21 is built on anti-Islam sentiment

 Anti-Muslim sentiment appears to be the main motivation for those who support a ban on religious symbols, [a 2019 poll] has found.

The poll of 1,212 Quebecers, conducted May 3-7, found 63 per cent of Quebecers supported a ban on religious symbols for judges, police officers and prison guards, and 59 per cent were in favour of a similar ban for teachers. This was true for all age categories except for 18-24 year olds, who were against such a ban.

Conducted by Léger Marketing, the poll was commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies and offered exclusively to the Gazette and Le Devoir news organizations. It aimed to measure support for the proposed Bill 21, a law on secularism that would bar teachers, principals and vice-principals from wearing religious symbols like hijabs, kippahs and turbans in public schools. It would also bar such authority figures as police officers, crown prosecutors and prison guards from wearing them.

https://vigile.quebec/articles/a-new-poll-shows-support-for-bill-21-is-built-on-anti-islam-sentiment?fbclid=IwAR30mpU104zUhezLKx7lXuoEBPZDGZnLE51ceHC4kVV8LVhsvQoWXHr1QXA

Anti-Muslim sentiment higher in Quebec than rest of Canada, [2018] study finds

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/anti-muslim-sentiment-higher-in-quebec-than-rest-of-canada-study-finds-1.4577746

Even though Quebec politicians routinely claim otherwise, a recent study suggests Islamophobia is widespread in the province and more prevalent here than elsewhere in Canada.

The study, published in the current issue of the Canadian Review of Sociology, also found that Muslims were the social group that, across the country, Canadians liked the least.

Le premier des colonisés

 Le premier des colonisés (irpp.org)

François Legault apparait de moins en moins comme un converti au fédéralisme, et de plus en plus comme le porte-drapeau des souverainistes revanchards.

Vives tensions entre Radio-Canada et CBC

 L’utilisation du mot commençant par un N à ICI Radio-Canada Première, la réprimande du CRTC et la manière d’y répondre ont profondément divisé les directions de CBC et de Radio-Canada. La décision du diffuseur public – présenter ses excuses au plaignant, mais contester l’ingérence de l’organisme fédéral – découle d’un bras de fer « extrêmement tendu » entre les services français et anglais. L’interprétation des Normes et pratiques journalistiques fait aussi débat.

Vives tensions entre Radio-Canada et CBC | La Presse

Canada is not broken - Macleans.ca

Scott Gilmore: Despite our flaws and constant challenges, we live in what is arguably among the least broken countries in human history
 
https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/canada-is-not-broken/

Here is the National Post’s headline this morning: “‘Canada is broken’ says majority of Canadians”. It is the lead story, and it goes on to explain that a poll by DART & Maru/Blue (a brand name that sort of just rolls off the tongue) found that 59 per cent of Canadians believe the country is not headed in the right direction. And 69 per cent believe the country is “broken”.

Another way of describing that poll result could be, “Over two thirds of Canadians have no idea the country has never had it so good”.

At least 22 Indigenous women underwent forced sterilization in Quebec from 1980-2019: report

 

Researchers call on province to recognize existence of systemic racism in Quebec

At least 22 Indigenous women underwent forced sterilization in Quebec from 1980-2019: report | CBC New

Angus Reid Institute: Divergent Bilingualism, Linguistic Anxieties, and Bill 96

 Microsoft Word - 2021.08.13_Bill_96_Report_ENG.docx (angusreid.org)

Frédéric Bérard: «Il n’y a pas de complot contre le Québec»

 https://journalmetro.com/actualites/1112620/frederic-berard-il-ny-a-pas-de-complot-contre-le-quebec/?fbclid=IwAR13js6AthdBz-tH1OSD89CHNZCMRkKDvAINJdKH3tFZHAY5xBMsfl5_zSc

Gazette: Menchie’s gets taste of language controversy (West Island Gazette)

Menchie’s gets taste of language controversy | West Island Gazette

“(The inspector) examined the spoons and said, ‘You only have English on the spoons,’ and ‘you can’t have that.’ So we took them out,” Lipper said.  Lipper then had his manager run out and buy generic white plastic spoons and immediately started using them.

 As for the statement issued last Friday by the OQLF that the media incorrectly reported that he had been told not to use the spoons and that its investigation was not complete, Lipper said the inspector was very clear. She told him to stop using the spoons until he heard back from the Office.