Robert Libman: Montreal as city-state? Let's start the conversation

 Just as Quebec is distinct within Canada, Montreal’s uniqueness within Quebec is undeniable — and shines especially vibrant in the summer.

Robert Libman: Montreal as city-state? Let's start the conversation | Montreal Gazette

From RPMHTFVVC to FNQLHSSC: What's behind Quebec's love of long abbreviations?

Details and inclusion reign over simplicity and branding in a phenomenon that has roots in culture, language and history that are as complex as the names and initials they produce.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/from-rpmhtfvvc-to-fnqlhssc-what-s-behind-quebec-s-love-of-long-abbreviations-1.6827941

Billions more for the Blue Line, but my bus won’t run on time

 The Blue Line is a constant reminder of our governments' incoherent transit policies & unfortunately the City of Montreal has to play along.

https://cultmtl.com/2023/04/montreal-metro-billions-more-for-the-blue-line-but-my-bus-wont-run-on-time/

Mulcair: La loi 21 divise les Québécois

 J’ai parlé avec une femme qui s’était fait tirer son foulard par des jeunes dans l’autobus et qui lui disaient : « t’as plus le droit »...

Quand on s’attaque aux droits, parfois les subtilités prennent le bord.

Le message reçu par certains est qu’il est tolérable d’être intolérant, et quelque chose d’essentiel est alors perdu dans notre société.

La loi 21 divise les Québécois | Le Journal de Montréal (journaldemontreal.com)

François Legault et la laïcité à géométrie variable

 Très tôt le matin du lendemain de Pâques, François Legault écrivait ceci sur Twitter: «Le catholicisme a aussi engendré chez nous une culture de la solidarité qui nous distingue à l’échelle continentale.» Quelle mouche pascale l’a donc piqué?

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2023/04/12/francois-legault-et-la-laicite-a-geometrie-variable

Francisation des immigrants Québec utilise une fraction des fonds venant d’Ottawa

 

(Ottawa) Le Québec utilise une partie seulement des fonds qui lui sont versés annuellement par le gouvernement fédéral pour l’aider à franciser et intégrer les immigrants qui arrivent sur son territoire, a appris La Presse.

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2022-11-02/francisation-des-immigrants/quebec-utilise-une-fraction-des-fonds-venant-d-ottawa.php?fbclid=IwAR2Aqmtt7sLOFDLZWZIwfiDAcFlTZMxnlozHdO_QIVWHb9hv38ePn9XTd8U

It’s time for Canada to abolish the notwithstanding clause, and most Canadians agree

 

A majority of Canadians in every province — except Quebec — agree that it’s time to scrap the notwithstanding clause.

https://tinyurl.com/5fnev8hu

 

 

 

 

When it comes to Black children, youth protection report lets province off the hook, experts say

 

'The systemic racism that this province wants to deny, that is what is the issue,' says social work expert

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/black-youth-protection-dpj-anglophone-francophone-1.6012837?fbclid=IwAR3b4tgYmb_OLLx1KJGcIZLbLmrkR_cfYiPMV1pgnWQFQMmzX6I2fRKuuyY

Bon ou pas, ce vieux fond catho ?

 

Attendez, j’ai dû en rater un bout. J’avais cru comprendre que la laïcité, c’était sacré, au Québec. Je pensais que nos parents avaient rejeté la religion catholique en masse, et que ce rejet justifiait notre détermination à éradiquer le religieux de l’espace public.

https://www-lapresse-ca.translate.goog/actualites/chroniques/2023-04-11/bon-ou-pas-ce-vieux-fond-catho.php?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US#

 

L’anglais progresse au travail au Québec

 Paradoxalement, cette hausse de l’anglais en milieu de travail ne s’est pas faite au détriment du français comme principale langue parlée.

https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/2022-11-30/l-anglais-progresse-au-travail-au-quebec.php?fbclid=IwAR2qC6ZAg-TNuyUkBnPKRFhAwQw5Lh5wf0ckKy5RAI4Iux-kWqEEse9fDis

Quebec researchers call out government after anti-racism training cancelled

 Two university researchers are calling out the Quebec government for political interference and censorship.

Retired Prof. Michele Vatz-Laaroussi, an emeritus professor at Université de Sherbrooke and Prof. Lilyane Rachedi with the school of social work at UQAM say they were awarded a contract to develop anti-racism training for the province’s health-care employees, but it was pulled by the health ministry over a reference to systemic racism.

“Deception, incomprehension, I’d say shock,” said Vatz-Laaroussi, when asked what her reaction was to the cancellation.

https://globalnews.ca/news/9605049/quebec-researchers-anti-racism-training-cancelled-government-interference/

Bill 21 offends the constitutional doctrine of neutrality to religion

 No government in Canada is empowered to enact legislation that mandates religion or irreligion as a precondition for participation in public life.

https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/november-2022/bill-21-religious-neutrality/

Intersectionnalité Une idée utilisée « contre le Québec », selon le Bloc québécois

 

(Sherbrooke) Le Canada et son idéologie « woke » instrumentalisent le concept d’intersectionnalité pour en faire une « arme » contre les valeurs québécoises, a dénoncé le chef bloquiste Yves-François Blanchet dans un discours en marge du congrès du Parti québécois.

https://www-lapresse-ca.translate.goog/actualites/politique/2023-03-11/intersectionnalite/une-idee-utilisee-contre-le-quebec-selon-le-bloc-quebecois.php?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&fbclid=IwAR2J4bLcykQcl_zwIaoxO3YMIvZcV2iUDsLa7QfwOaAp2ACwJDO73RuXB0k

Constitutional rules, amendment, and the rule of law

 A decision by some Quebec politicians to forgo an oath to the King flouts a clear constitutional rule and renders them ineligible to sit in the National Assembly. Section 128 of the Constitution Act, 1867 requires all those who wish to sit in the federal House or Senate and in each of the provincial legislative assemblies to take the prescribed oath in the Fifth Schedule to the Act. (Note: the linked story incorrectly describes this as a rule of the National Assembly. It is in fact a constitutional requirement).

Constitutional rules, amendment, and the rule of law (substack.com)

Climat toxique à l’OIF selon un sondage interne

 

Harcèlement moral et sexuel, culture du silence : Enquête a obtenu les faits saillants d’une consultation menée auprès des employés de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) qui font état d’un climat toxique. Une consultation interne que l’organisation aurait préféré garder pour elle.

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1965701/climat-toxique-harcelement-organisation-francophonie?fbclid=IwAR3ooemH9o0pW6uAmv8AArrddglsd-6NAAYO-g5eZHadvB5PQXTMgleoqr8

Littératie au Québec Du progrès, mais l’écart entre Montréal et les régions se creuse

 

Entre 2016 et 2021, la différence entre la région de Montréal et le reste du Québec de la proportion de la population qui n’atteignait pas le niveau 3 de littératie est passée de 4,8 % à 5,3 %.

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/2023-01-19/litteratie-au-quebec/du-progres-mais-l-ecart-entre-montreal-et-les-regions-se-creuse.php?fbclid=IwAR1uztBTdfEf1DRRr7MnXHEAs5tPARPGgZREA3pVoBP2bCjjCqQYWUCwTjg

Revamp of the Official Languages Act raises concerns among legal experts and Quebec Anglos

 

Bill C-13 aims to protect linguistic minorities across Canada, French in Quebec

The Trudeau government's attempt to modernize the Official Languages Act has raised eyebrows in legal circles, sparked pushback from language rights activists, and prompted four Liberal MPs to take a stand against a bill that was tabled by their own party.

But what is Bill C-13? And why has it faced significant resistance?

Here's a rundown of what's included in the proposed legislation and why it has many in Quebec's English-speaking community worried.

Revamp of the Official Languages Act raises concerns among legal experts and Quebec Anglos | CBC News

LA DÉRIVE CONSERVATRICE DU NATIONALISME QUÉBÉCOIS

 La dérive conservatrice du nationalisme québécois - La Presse+

It’s time to ban Airbnb in Montreal

 An open letter to the city, Mayor Plante and Projet Montréal.

https://cultmtl.com/2023/03/its-time-to-ban-airbnb-in-montreal-an-open-letter-to-mayor-plante/ 

Intersectionality An idea used “against Quebec”, according to the Bloc Québécois

 

https://tinyurl.com/2p97htv2

 

StatCan data shows 300k Quebec kids eligible for English school, 76 per cent attend

 New data on the number of Canadian children who have the constitutional right to education in an official minority language will help school boards plan and allow for further research, Statistics Canada said Wednesday.

The data, which comes from the 2021 census, shows that 304,000 children in Quebec have the right to attend regular English public schools and that 593,000 children outside the province have the right to attend regular French public schools.

The census found that nearly 70 per cent of eligible school-age children attend, or have attended, a regular public school in their official minority language.

StatCan data shows 300k Quebec kids eligible for English school, 76 per cent attend | Globalnews.ca

Quebec shuts down motion seeking adoption of Joyce’s Principle

 Quebec Solidaire's motion seeking the government's recognition of the existence of systemic racism against women and girls and the adoption of Joyce's Principle was promptly shut down at the National Assembly Thursday morning.

Quebec Solidaire's co-spokesperson, Manon Manon Massé, paired up with non-profit Femmes Autochtones du Quebec and First Nations leaders to present the motion.

"We know the government has his position about systemic racism but now, all Indigenous communities want change," said Chief Sipi Flamand, head of the Manawan band council.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/quebec-shuts-down-motion-seeking-adoption-of-joyce-s-principle/ar-AA18J8O3?ocid=Peregrine&cvid=2ce0aa3444164c9d8d0d37880a9f6672&ei=37

Opinion: Ottawa should ask Supreme Court to rule on notwithstanding clause

 It is clear that Bill 21 on the laicité of Quebec would collapse without the notwithstanding clause. At least 50 per cent of Bill 96 would collapse if the clause were not used there.

Opinion: Ottawa should ask Supreme Court to rule on notwithstanding clause (msn.com)

Myth #34354 L’échec de l’accord du lac Meech

 

Cette dernière [Commission Belanger-Campeau], petit rappel, a été créée au lendemain de l’échec de l’accord du lac Meech en juin 1990, quand le Canada anglais avait refusé de reconnaître le Québec comme société distincte et de lui accorder certains pouvoirs jugés essentiels pour sa survie et son avenir.

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2023/02/28/le-quebec-doit-faire-le-point-sur-son-avenir-avant-quil-ne-soit-trop-tard

NO ACTUALLY the Accord was defeated by some provincial (NB, MB, NL), feminist, and indigenous stakeholders. The political class of "English Canada" endorsed Meech by a clear majority.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meech_Lake_Accord

 

 

Il n’y a pas d’islamophobie au Québec

 Il n’y a pas d’islamophobie au Québec. On se tue à vous le dire depuis deux semaines. Pour ceux qui n’auraient pas bien suivi, je vous résume : non seulement il n’y a pas la moindre trace d’islamophobie au Québec, mais en plus, l’islamophobie, ça n’existe pas. Voilà. Affaire classée.

Il n’y a pas d’islamophobie au Québec | La Presse

Myth #61117 Permettant au Québec de réintégrer la constitution canadienne, dont il avait été exclu en 1982.

 

Du point de vue de ses propres promoteurs, comme Robert Bourassa, Meech était une proposition minimaliste permettant au Québec de réintégrer la constitution canadienne, dont il avait été exclu en 1982.

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2023/02/28/le-quebec-doit-faire-le-point-sur-son-avenir-avant-quil-ne-soit-trop-tard

NO ACTUALLY the Canadian Constitution of 1982 was endorsed by 75 of 78 Quebec members of Parliament.

 

Assemblée nationale: Québec abolit l’obligation du serment au roi pour siéger au Salon bleu

 (Québec) Le sujet a été au cœur des débats des dernières semaines et la page est désormais tournée : le Québec a officiellement adopté vendredi le projet de loi 4 abolissant l’obligation de prêter serment au roi Charles III pour siéger au Salon bleu et dans les commissions parlementaires.

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2022-12-09/assemblee-nationale/quebec-abolit-l-obligation-du-serment-au-roi-pour-sieger-au-salon-bleu.php

Jack Todd: Canadiens can never retire Carey Price's jersey after this

 It was all so very unnecessary. All Carey Price had to do was nothing.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nhl/jack-todd-canadiens-can-never-retire-carey-price-s-jersey-after-this/ar-AA159xs8?ocid=EMMX&cvid=961b56e4608040ffbfddf872bb3e2a90

Treatment of Amira Elghawaby exposes Islamophobia she was hired to address

Proving that irony is dead here, a hijab-wearing immigrant woman of colour was bullied into apologizing for stating facts by Quebec’s whites-only cadre of free-speech warriors.

https://cultmtl.com/2023/02/treatment-of-amira-elghawaby-exposes-islamophobia-she-was-hired-to-address-quebec-canada-bill-21/

Opinion: Ottawa's language legislation would do long-term damage

 And now, astonishingly, with its proposed updates to the Official Languages Act, the federal government is in effect accepting Quebec’s override of linguistic and human rights. This is not a matter to concern only English-speaking Quebecers. This would set a precedent that could easily be applied to francophone minorities in other provinces such as New Brunswick and Manitoba.

Opinion: Ottawa's language legislation would do long-term damage (msn.com)

André Pratte: Legault picks fight with Ottawa to divert attention from his own rights trampling

 The premier insists on playing up the federal government’s 'frontal attack' on Quebec to distract from his government's derogation of human rights

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/andre-pratte-legault-picks-fight-with-ottawa-to-divert-attention-from-his-own-rights-trampling

Column Council: It's better to be an anonymous victim than one of colour

 Empathy often entails placing yourself or a loved one in a victim’s shoes. In a province where only 67 per cent of the population strongly agree that “racism is terrible” (the lowest in the country), for many, identifying with a victim of colour is just too much of a stretch. Being a victim whose racial identity cannot be used against you is fundamentally akin to being given the benefit of the doubt that goes with white privilege. And in a province whose population is overwhelmingly white, those who remain anonymous are generally presumed to be white by default.

Column Council: It's better to be an anonymous victim than one of colour | Montreal Gazette

Prominent Quebeckers voice support for Trudeau’s anti-Islamophobia representative

The signatories, including celebrated philosopher Charles Taylor and civil-rights lawyer Julius Grey, were responding to calls from across Quebec’s political spectrum for Ms. Elghawaby’s resignation after it emerged that she had once written that a “majority” of Quebeckers appear to be swayed by prejudice against Muslims in their support of the provincial secularism law, known as Bill 21.

Prominent Quebeckers voice support for Trudeau’s anti-Islamophobia representative - The Globe and Mail 

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.