April 2019 Edition
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Volume XXXVII No. 4 April 2019 Montreal, QC www.filipinostar.org April 14, 2019 - Several me that wear hijab, a kippa, a turban, Mhundredopeonple frotm driffeerent etahnic lers rally against Bill 21 and their rights would be violated," he groups listened to speeches by said. "They wouldn't be allowed to MNAs, MPs, councilors, a school apply for certain jobs or hold certain teacher, and association leaders at a jobs in society. It's just not right." rally against Bill 21 held at the Cote St. Housefather said the Luc City Hall plaza. conversation is fundamentally about Bill 21 would prohibit rights. authority figures like teachers, police "The issue, when you have a officers, prison guards, prosecutors Charter of Rights, is not whether a and judges from wearing religious majority supports a law. It's a question symbols like the Muslim hijab, Jewish of whether some people's rights are kippah or Sikh turban at work. being violated," he said. The secularism bill would "We've chosen to live in a “create two classes of citizens” and society where a majority doesn't always “legislate discrimination,” charged rule, that there are some rights that are Lionel Perez, leader of Montreal’s so fundamental that you have to municipal opposition and one of 16 protect them." speakers who took the podium. Liberal MNA for D’Arcy-McGee Anthony Housefather, the David Birnbaum also was in Liberal MP for Mount-Royal, said he attendance, saying that Bill 21 goes came to the rally because the against true religious neutrality. proposed law would deny the rights of some of the citizens he represents. David Birnbaum speaking at the rally against Bill 21 See page 4 Montrealers rally "I have residents that elected held at the Cote St. Luc city hall plaza, April 14, 2019 MoWrhiele Novta hScoatia hnas 800 Quebecers waiting for organ donors introduced a bill that would automatically sign residents up to be organ donors, there are no such plans in the works for Quebec but on National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week doctors and past recipients are stressing the importance of giving once you’re gone. Seven years ago Makar Makar Bansoun, a heart transplant Barsoum received a heart transplant, recipient something he called a “life changing I’ve been given a second life… it takes experience.” time to find out what is the purpose,” he “You are basically giving life to said. “What am I supposed to do with somebody you don’t know,” he said. the second act?” “You can be sure that you are going to He said he found his answer change the life of a person.” in volunteering in the community. Every day he thinks of the donor and According to studies a single A typical surgery room showing the procedure of a transplant donor can save up to eight lives. is grateful, keeping a letter their family Prosanto Chaudhury, a your wishes are,” he said. “At the time “Over 92 per cent of wrote to him anonymously through specialist in transplants at the Royal it actually occurs, you won’t be able to Quebecers are favourable to organ Transplant Quebec. Victoria Hospita, said people express your opinion anymore.” donations but relatively few have “The gentleman is always considering donating should speak More than 800 Quebecers are actually taken the concrete step of there in my mind,” he said. “It’s one of with their loved ones. waiting for a donor. In 2018, 164 getting onto the registries,” he said. the best things a person can give back “Whether you want to or not, donors made more than 530 Barsoum said getting used to to his fellow humans.” it’s important your loved ones, your transplants possible but Chaudhury his new lease on life took time. surrogate decision makers know what said more needs to be done. “My only struggle is to wonder, 2 April 2019 The North American Filipino Star From the Executive Publisher’s Desk Education minister tells school Bill 21 needs to achieve a boards transferring Galileo balance between minority students is not an option rights and the reality of a Maya Johnson @CTV News students don’t have classroom space Published Wednesday, April 24, 2019 for next school year. secular society but is this 9:57PM EDT The EMSB’s plan to move possible and even Last Updated Thursday, April 25, Galileo’s 140 special needs students necessary? 2019 7:38AM EDT four kilometres away to the St. Pius X Education minister Jean- Career Centre prompted an outcry Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi Francois Roberge has instructed the from parents, who described it as a English Montreal School Board and blow to adults with physical and Many people are wondering religion, contained elsewhere in the why Bill 21 was ever conceived by the charter. newly elected government. What is the The government wants to be problem that the bill is trying to solve? able to pass the law, and not worry Many leaders say that Premier about it being overturned for at least Françoia Légault claims to settle the five years, when the invocation of the issue of secularism in government but notwithstanding clause would have to instead he is doing the opposite - be renewed. causing more problems than it would But foreclosing the option of a solve. legal challenge isn't likely to quell the Several attempts to institute widespread concern the bill has already secularism in public service have raised. It might, in fact, do the contrary, already been made, and the latest one channeling concern and anger into is under Bill 21 introduced by the CAQ more public forums: op-eds, TV panels, government last March 28, 2019 which call-in shows and the street. prohibits wearing religious symbols by There is, moreover, deep- public servants in positions of authority seated suspicion among many groups such as police officers, judges, about whether the government is teachers, principals, and vice- sincerely weighing competing interests, Galileo Adult Education Centre, Montreal North principals. In other words, any public or simply sacrificing minority rights for the Commission scolaire de la Pointe- intellectual disabilities who don’t cope service employee should not wear any the sake of the majority. de-l’Ile to find a solution to well with drastic change. religious symbol. The bill's stated aim is to overcrowding at the French school In question period at the Bill 21 is the fourth consecutive enshrine the principles of secularism in board that does not involve National Assembly on April 11, comprehensive legislation attempting Quebec law, and in doing so, protect transferring students from the Galileo Roberge denounced the proposal, to regulate what accommodations the fabric of a francophone society in a Adult Education Centre in Montreal saying “the involuntary and harmful should be made for religious minorities. globalizing and largely anglophone North, effectively blocking the EMSB’s displacement of young adults who Of the three previous attempts, two world. original proposal. have special needs…should never died on the order sheet and the third But just like past attempts at In a letter to the school boards have been put on the table. We will was gutted by an injunction that legislating religious accommodations, obtained by CTV News, Roberge take every possible means to avoid questioned its constitutionality. Each this one deals extensively with what provides a deadline for coming up with this transfer, by putting other avenues seemed to be accompanied by people wear, and the clothing of one a different option. The minister has forward and protecting these arguments more rancorous than the group in particular is singled out: given the boards until May 1 to submit vulnerable people.” last. Will this time be different? Muslim women. a draft agreement regarding sharing In reaction to the minister’s Bill 21 sets narrow limits on Since the introduction of the space, and has scheduled a comments in the letter obtained by when accommodations can be bill, several political leaders from conference call with EMSB board chair CTV News, EMSB Spokesperson Mike considered (as did attempt No. 1). It different levels of government have Angela Mancini and CSPI board chair Cohen said he thinks the education bars a host of authority figures, voiced their objections and Miville Boudreault for May 3. minister has been misinformed about including public school teachers, from demonstrations organized in different The letter includes Roberge’s the impact of the plan to move the wearing religious symbols, which had venues in the city. The two major recommendations of elementary and special needs students from Galileo to been a feature of the Parti Québécois's school boards have indicated non- high schools that could potentially another school. The Council of Charter of Values (attempt No. 2). And it compliance with the law. The City of share space or be transferred: commissioners discussed the matter takes up the most controversial Montreal in its latest council meeting provision of attempt No. 3, insisting that unanimously approved a bi-partisan Dalkeith, Gerald McShane, Our Lady during a public meeting Wednesday government services be given and resolution expressing its disapproval of of Pompei, Honore-Mercier, Pierre de night, he said. received without one's face being Bill 21, declaring that Quebec is already Coubertin, John Paul I Junior, Laurier- Cohen added he believes the covered. a secular society, and there is no need Macdonald, and Lester B. Pearson. information the school boards will By mixing and matching these to legislate what employees wear. Earlier this year, the education present to Roberge can convince him elements, Legault is hoping that “I'm asking the Premier and the ministry directed the EMSB to propose to change his mind.