Lt to Marois Eng Nov 2013.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

CANADIAN ETHNOCULTURAL COUNCIL - CONSEIL ETHNOCULTUREL DU CANADA 176 Gloucester St., Suite 205, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0A6, Canada Tel (613) 230-3867, fax (613) 230-8051 E-mail: [email protected] Website www.ethnocultural.ca EXECUTIVE November 30, 2013 2010-2014 Mme. Pauline Marois Mr. Lou Sekulovski United Macedonians Organization Première ministre of Canada Assemblée nationale du Québec President Hôtel du Parlement Ms. Diane Dragasevich 1045, rue des Parlementaires Serbian National Shield Québec (Québec) G1A 1A3 of Canada Vice-President Dear Madame Marois Ms. Athina Charalambides Cypriot Federation of Canada The Canadian Ethnocultural Council has been following with great interest and concern Treasurer the proposed Quebec charter of values (Bill 60). Mr. Hratch Aynedjian Armenian National Federation Our Council represents a coalition of national ethnocultural organizations who have of Canada worked for the recognition of Multiculturalism as a fundamental characteristic of Secretary Canada as defined in Section 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and the Canadian Mr. Wasyl Luczkiw Multiculturalism Act. Our membership includes representatives of ethnocultural Ukrainian Canadian Congress organizations whose chapters and members are located in Quebec. Together we have Youth Forum Chairperson worked for recognition of equality as defined in the both the Canadian Charter of Rights Mr. Dominic Campione and Freedoms and the Quebec Charter of Human Rights. National Congress of Italian Canadians Director We believe that if passed, Bill 60 (restricting public-sector employees from wearing religious symbols in the workplace) will negatively impact efforts and achievements for Mr. Emmanuel J. Dick social and economic inclusion, as well as gender equality, for ethnic populations, National Council of Trinidad and Tobago newcomers and immigrants. Not only does this action directly attack those individuals Director who chose to express their religion freely, but Bill 60 also sends a message of intolerance towards all ethnic communities. Along with citizenship and participation, Ms. Lisa Nguyen Vietnamese Canadian Federation inclusion and respect for diversity are essential values of living in a democracy. Bill 60 Director will limit these values and instead create a society of mistrust and disrespect to the detriment of all people. Mr. Len Rudner Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Director We believe that the restrictions placed on Quebecers will have far reaching negative effects on its communities and society as a whole. We urge you and your government Dr. Yvonne not to proceed with this law. Bogorya -Buczkowska Canadian Polish Congress Director Yours truly, Mr. Peter Ferreira Lou Sekulovski Portuguese Canadian Lou Sekulovski National Congress Immediate Past-President President Mr. Art Hagopian cc The Right Hon Stephen Harper Armenian National Federation of Canada The Hon Thomas Mulcair Past President The Hon Bernard Drainville Jean-Marc Fournier Ms. Anna Chiappa Executive Director The Hon Jason Kenney Ex-Officio Justin Trudeau Canadian Race Relations Foundation Canadian Ethnic Media Association Canadian Ethnocultural Council, Board of Presidents .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Quebec's New Politics of Redistribution Meets Austerity1
4 Quebec’s New Politics of Redistribution Meets Austerity1 Alain Noël In the late 1990s, wrote Keith Banting and John Myles in their Inequality and the Fading of Redistributive Politics, Quebec represented “the road not taken by the rest of Canada” (2013, 18). While the redistributive state was fading across Canada, the province bucked the trend and im- proved its social programs, preventing the rise of inequality observed elsewhere. The key, argued Banting and Myles, was politics. With strong trade unions, well-organized social movements, and a left-of-centre partisan consensus, Quebec redefined its social programs through a politics of compromise that conciliated efforts to balance the budget with social policy improvements. In this respect, Quebec’s new politics of redistribution in the late 1990s and early 2000s seemed more akin to the coalition-building dynamics of continental European countries than to the more divisive politics of liberal, English-speaking nations (Banting and Myles 2013, 17). Quebec’s Quiet Revolution, in the 1960s and 1970s, was a modern- ization process, whereby the province sought to catch up with the rest of Canada and meet North American standards. The Quebec govern- ment insisted on defining autonomously its own social programs, but overall its policies converged with those pursued elsewhere in Cana- 1. I am grateful to the editors and to Denis Saint-Martin for comments and suggestions. Federalism and the Welfare State in a Multicultural World, edited by Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant, Richard Johnston, Will Kym- licka, and John Myles. Montréal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press, Queen’s Policy Studies Series.
[Show full text]
The Many Gods of Canada: Religion, Secularism and Public Policy
The Many Gods of Canada: Religion, Secularism and Public Policy Guest Editors: Haroon Siddiqui & Myer Siemiatycki Ryerson University VOLUME 14 | NO. 4 | 2017 Inspiring change in the humanities and social sciences Ryerson University’s Faculty of Arts is dedicated to contributing to positive social change. We help create the leaders of tomorrow and spearhead innovative research by integrating interdisciplinary perspectives, engaging with the community through partnerships, and encouraging active local and global citizenship. ryerson.ca/arts INTRODUCTION RELIGION AND GENDER EQUITY AND LGBTQ RIGHTS 3 Old Gods, New Gods and No Gods Haroon Siddiqui and Dr. Myer Siemiatycki No One Single Jewish Voice or Opinion 28 Rabbi Elyse Goldstein 5 Acknowledgements Multiple Ways to Interpret Islamic Traditions Canada was Never a Secular Country 31 Dr. Ingrid Mattson 6 John Ralston Saul Don’t Assume Your Congregations are All Straight There’s Ethical Solidity in This Country 34 Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam 10 An exchange Should the State Be Dictating Religion? 37 An exchange INDIGENOUS SPIRITUALITY A Nuu-Chah-Nulth Perspective on Religion, FREE SPEECH VS. FREEDOM FROM HATE 12 Secularism and Public Policy Dr. Richard Atleo Hate Speech in a Free and Democratic Society 40 Dr. Mark Freiman The Spiritual Violence Done in Residential Schools 15 Kimberly Murray Racism Stifles the Free Speech of Its Targets 44 Azeezah Kanji RELIGION AND PUBLIC SPACE Suppressing Speech Does Not Lead to Social Justice 47 Dr. Jim Turk Inspiring change Recognize the New Religious Diversity The Normalization of Hate Speech 17 Dr. Lori Beaman 51 An exchange in the humanities Before, Beyond and Underneath Moral Panics: 20 Religion and Public Discourse in Canada and social sciences Dr.
[Show full text]
Edinburgh Research Explorer
Edinburgh Research Explorer A tale of two liberalisms? Attitudes toward minority religious symbols in Quebec and Canada Citation for published version: Turgeon, L, Bilodeau, A, White, SE & Henderson, A 2019, 'A tale of two liberalisms? Attitudes toward minority religious symbols in Quebec and Canada', Canadian Journal of Political Science, vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 247-265. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0008423918000999 Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1017/S0008423918000999 Link: Link to publication record in Edinburgh Research Explorer Document Version: Peer reviewed version Published In: Canadian Journal of Political Science Publisher Rights Statement: This article has been published in a revised form in the Canadian Journal of Political Science https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/canadian-journal-of-political-science-revue-canadienne-de-science- politique. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. © Canadian Political Science Association (l'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Société québécoise de science politique 2018 General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorer content complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.
[Show full text]
The Charter of Quebec Values
24 24 Demonstrators protest against proposed banning of headgear in Quebec’s Charter of Values. Montreal Gazette photo The Charter of Quebec Values: Anatomy of a Manufactured Identity Crisis Celine Cooper The Parti Québécois’ Charter of Quebec Values has di- n September 10, Demo- cratic Institutions Minister vided citizens, split Montreal from the rest of the prov- O Bernard Drainville held a ince and even pitted PQ stalwarts against each other. It press conference in Quebec City to of- ficially introduce the Parti Québécois has been railed against, ridiculed and dubbed “radical” government’s proposed Charter of by the Quebec Human Rights Commission. The PQ main- Quebec Values. tains that the Charter is about state neutrality and gender On November 7th, the PQ tabled the legislation in the National Assembly. equality, that its goal is to unite Quebecers rather than The name of the charter was changed divide them. Yet subjugation of basic civil liberties to a to a title more obfuscating than a ref- government-created notion of “national values” puts the erendum question: “Charter affirming the values of State PQ into dangerous territory. secularism and religious neutrality and of equality between women and men, and providing a framework for accommodation requests.” The reworked legislation includes an amendment to the preamble of the Quebec charter of rights and freedoms giving gender equality, secularism, state neutrality and the French lan- Policy 25 guage primacy over other rights. In re- The Charter has distracted from the real problems that could sponse to the bill, Liberal parliamen- be a serious liability for the Parti Québécois in an election.
[Show full text]
Constitutional Cases Conference
The Supreme Court Law Review: Osgoode’s Annual Constitutional Cases Conference Volume 71 (2015) Article 14 Constitutional (mis)Adventures: Revisiting Quebec’s Proposed Charter of Values Dia Dabby Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/sclr This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. Citation Information Dabby, Dia. "Constitutional (mis)Adventures: Revisiting Quebec’s Proposed Charter of Values." The Supreme Court Law Review: Osgoode’s Annual Constitutional Cases Conference 71. (2015). http://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/sclr/vol71/iss1/14 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Osgoode Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in The uS preme Court Law Review: Osgoode’s Annual Constitutional Cases Conference by an authorized editor of Osgoode Digital Commons. Constitutional (mis)Adventures: revisiting Quebec’s proposed Charter of Values Dia Dabby I. INTRODUCTION The Charter affirming the values of State secularism and religious neutrality and of equality between women and men, and providing a framework for accommodation requests 1 was introduced by the Parti Québécois (“PQ”) in November 2013, amid months of speculation and anticipation. According to then Premier Pauline Marois, Bill 60 would be similar in scope to the Charter of the French Language,2 and likely be cited for years to come as a “rallying project” for all Quebecers.3 Bernard Drainville, author of the bill and Minister responsible for Democratic Institutions and Active Citizenship, presented Bill 60 as a real milestone in Quebec’s history: “these values, like our language, are our cement […].
[Show full text]
The Facebook Pages in Favor of the "Quebec Charter of Values"
FRÉDÉRICK NADEAU AND DENISE HELLY Extreme Right in Quebec? The Facebook Pages in Favor of the “Quebec Charter of Values” Abstract In August 2013, the Government of the Parti Québécois first introduced the idea for a Quebec Charter of Values. This led to a stiff debate during which anti-immigration and anti-Islam sentiments were expressed by government officials, newspaper columnists and other well-known public figures. These opinions were in turn appropriated and disseminated by a number of citizens throughout social medias. In some regards, these attitudes and opinions are akin to those of extreme right move- ments and parties in Europe and the United States. In this article, we ask whether we are witness- ing the rise of an extreme right in Quebec, a political stance so far estranged to this society. We start with a conceptual discussion of the notion of extreme right and then proceed to analyze the argu- ments put forward to support the Charter of Values. We conclude that even though the debates do reveal the “radicalization” of certain segments of public opinion toward the right, it is not possible to categorize this shift as the blooming of an “extreme right” in the full sense of the term. Résumé En août 2013, le gouvernement du Parti Québécois lance pour la première fois l'idée d’une "Charte des valeurs québécoises". Dans les mois suivants, le projet va générer d'intenses débats durant lesquels de nombreuses personnalités (politiciens, éditorialistes, chroniqueurs, comédiens, etc.) revendiqueront publiquement des postures anti-immigration et anti-islam. Ces prises de position seront ensuite appropriées et largement relayées par divers groupes de citoyens sur les réseaux soci- aux, dont Facebook.
[Show full text]
Quebec's New Political Equilibrium
Quebec’s New Political Equilibrium: The Interaction of Three Ideological Axes Gaby González-Sirois Department of Political Science McGill University, Montreal, Quebec June 2019 A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts © Gaby González-Sirois, June 2019 i Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 2 Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................................................... 3 Chapter 2: Literature Review ................................................................................ 6 2.1 The Study of Political Ideology ..................................................................... 6 2.2 Ideology in the Canadian Context ................................................................ 8 2.3 Conceptualizing Ideological Axes ................................................................. 9 2.4 The Question Nationale in Quebec Politics ................................................ 11 2.5 Unilateral Pro-Interventionism in Quebec? .............................................. 15 2.6 The Rise of Outgroups Politics in Quebec ................................................. 18 2.7 When Ideologies Connect ............................................................................ 22 Chapter 3: Methodology .....................................................................................
[Show full text]
The Charter of Quebec Values: a View from Cultural Psychiatry
The Charter of Quebec Values: A View from Cultural Psychiatry Laurence J. Kirmayer, MD James McGill Professor & Director Division of Social & Transcultural Psychiatry, McGill University Jaswant Guzder, MD Associate Professor & Head, Child Psychiatry, Centre for Child Development and Mental Health, Jewish General Hospital Prepared for Canadian Diversity Address correspondence to the first author at: Culture and Mental Health Research Unit Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry 4333 Chemin de la Côte-Ste-Catherine Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E4 2 Abstract Cultural diversity can contribute to mental health. Research demonstrates that familiarity with others can reduce prejudice and that the positive valuation of one’s own cultural identity by others can reinforce self- esteem and well-being. Recognition in public institutions is one important dimension of such social recognition. As well, there is evidence that systematic recognition of cultural and religious identity in health services contributes to improved care. The presence of clinicians from diverse backgrounds in the health care system is an essential resource to improve the accessibility, appropriateness and effectiveness of health care. In addition to undermining fundamental human rights, therefore, the proposed Quebec Charter of Values may negatively affect the health of minority groups as well as impeding their access to safe, equitable, and effective health care. The current proposal by the Parti Québécois for a Charter of Quebec Values raises key questions about the direction of our society. Despite the claim that they will foster an egalitarian society, we believe that the Charter proposals are profoundly misguided for many reasons. By restricting expression of religious identity in public institutions, the Charter will undermine basic human rights of freedom of expression of religion and culture.
[Show full text]
Canada-US Relations
www.policymagazine.ca November – December 2013 1 Canadian Politics and Public Policy Canada-US Relations $6.95 September/OctoberVolume 1 – Issue2013 4 R-D-S-P-e-c-t. That’s how BMO spells respect. If you or someone you know has a disability, the BMO® Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) can help, by providing long-term financial security. Eligible individuals can receive benefits of up to $3,500* per year in Canada Disability Savings Grants and $1,000** per year in Canada Disability Savings Bonds. Invest for a brighter future, today. To learn more visit bmo.com/rdsp or call 1-800-665-7700 to speak to a BMO investment professional. ®Registered trade-marks of Bank of Montreal, used under licence. RDSPs are offered by BMO Investments Inc., a financial services firm and separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. *Annual contribution of $1500 and based on family income or income of beneficiary if over age of majority. **Based on family income or income of beneficiary if over age of majority. B:8.75” T:8.5” S:7.5” B:11.25” S:10” T:11” The ocean — Vast. Deep. A limitless pool of life. A playground for the tiny and giant things that live within it. And a gateway to the other side. The ocean should remain an ocean. Always. The Northern Gateway Pipeline will protect our oceans by ensuring all tankers are guided by certified BC Coast Pilots with expert knowledge of BC’s coastline. Because a better pipeline will not be built at the expense of making other things worse.
[Show full text]
NCCM (Bill 2013-60, December 20, 2013)
BRIEF CONCERNING BILL-60: CHARTER AFFIRMING THE VALUES OF STATE SECULARISM AND RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY AND OF EQUALITY BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN, AND PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK FOR ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS December 20, 2013 CONTACT Amy Awad Human Rights Coordinator NCCM – National Council of Canadian Muslims amy.awad@nccm. ca | www.nccm.ca P.O. Box 13219, Ottawa, ON, K2K 1X4 Tel: +1-613-254-9704 / +1-866-524-0004 Fax: +1-613-254-9810 Mobile: +1-613-407-3834 © National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) 2013 Executive Summary 1 Some Muslim women wear head-coverings (hijab) or face-coverings (niqab) in public as part of their practice of deep religious convictions. It is part of who they are. Bill 60 requires members of religious minority groups to dress like people who they are not in order to access public sector employment. It is a direct violation of their human rights. 2 The stated legislative objectives of state religious neutrality and ensuring the equality between men and women are disconnected from the prohibitions on religious dress and the requirement to bare one’s face when receiving government services. 3 Excluding Muslim women from public sector employment or the access to government services does nothing to facilitate their empowerment or those of other women. To the contrary, it creates increased levels of dependency. 4 The religious affiliation of public sector employees cannot undermine the neutrality of the state. Concerns about the appearance of fair treatment and proselytization by public officials can be addressed by regulating employee behaviour, not attire and without excluding individuals based on their religious beliefs.
[Show full text]
Difference and Inclusion: Reframing Reasonable Accommodation
Vrinda Narain, McGill University DIFFERENCE AND INCLUSION: REFRAMING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION A. Introduction Multiculturalism is a body of thought in political philosophy about the proper way for a state to respond to cultural and religious diversity.1 Multiculturalism policy may be characterised as the state’s response to diversity; the constitutional, legal and policy framework by which minority rights are recognized and accommodated. Reasonable Accommodation is the framework within which the state accommodates minority difference by balancing competing rights; it is a critical aspect of the implementation of Multiculturalism policy. Controversy swirls over multiculturalism and the accommodation of difference as the tension between religious freedom and non-discrimination principles is becoming increasingly acute. There is a perceived tension between women’s equality rights on the one hand and multiculturalism and religious freedom on the other, where minorities seek exemption from rules of general application.2 Popular discourse reflects anxiety about the 'illiberal' practices that Muslim immigrants in particular, bring to Canada’s liberal democracy.3 Focusing on ‘cultural’ practices such as honour killing, veiling, and polygamy, public policy increasingly reflects popular discourse as the “crisis of multiculturalism” is articulated around the need to counter gender inequality within racialised minority groups.4 Official multiculturalism focuses on what differences the state should accommodate and the extent to which they should be accommodated.5 Reasonable Accommodation is “itself a tool of governmental intervention to manage diversity-related conflict....”6 Through governmentality regulated by particular understandings of gender normativities, Muslim women in particular, are portrayed as unassimilable and as threats to democratic values, to gender equality, to the nation and its legitimate citizens.
[Show full text]
Events & Outreach Round up January to July 2014 (1/10)
Events & Outreach Round Up January to July 2014 (1/10) Press Conference to Challenge Defamatory Press Conference for the Outaouais Comments about NCCM | January 28, 2014 Gathering | February 5, 2014 NCCM Human Rights Coordinator, Amy Awad, attended the press conference for the Outaouais Gathering for Equality and Freedom of Conscience. Held in the Gatineau City Hall, it launched a declaration against the Quebec Charter of Values. Press Conference at Gatineau City Hall Moderated by community activist and former Press Conference in Charles Lynch room in Parliament Quebec Solidaire candidate Bill Clennet, the Building conference included a cross-section of Muslim In response to defamatory remarks made by the women speaking about the impact of the proposal Prime Minister’s communications director, NCCM on them. announced that it had served a notice of libel on the Panel Discussion on Quebec Charter of offending parties. The conference was held in the Values | February 18, 2014 Charles Lynch room on Parliament Hill and NCCM Human Rights Coordinator, Amy Awad, included NCCM’s executive director, Ihsaan attended the panel discussion organized by the Gardee, NCCM legal counsel Nader Hassan, Muslim Law Students Association at the University Canadian Council of Muslim Women’s of Ottawa. The discussion, which centered on the representative, Farhat Rehman, and the national negative impact of the proposed Quebec legislation, coordinator for the International Civil Liberties was moderated by Law School Dean and former Monitoring Group (ICLMG)’s, Roch Tasse and CCLA general counsel, Nathalie Des Rosiers. The Anne Dagenais. panel consisted of: Anna Shea, Legal Advisor to Amnesty International, Natasha Bakht, Professor at The conference was covered extensively in the the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, and Krista national press with stories appearing on Riley, Editor-in-Chief of Muslimah Media Watch the CBC, Globe, Toronto Star, and National Post.
[Show full text]