Opinion: Housefather stood up to Ottawa’s language bill. Will the Senate? – Montreal Gazette

I ask our senators to consider judiciously and objectively the arguments of those of us who have expressed strong reservations about Bill C-13.

Clifford Lincoln  •  Special to Montreal Gazette

Published May 24, 2023  • 

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather stands in the House of Commons on May 11, 2023, to vote against Bill C-13 — a “lone courageous and principled stand,” writes Clifford Lincoln. House of Commons

I wrote to Anthony Housefather after the vote on Bill C-13, the new federal language legislation, to thank and congratulate him for his lone courageous and principled stand in the face of overwhelming odds. I pointed out that one vote out of over 300 may not count mathematically, but that its weight as an expression of democratic dissent is all the more exemplary and meaningful. He deserves our gratitude and admiration for his stand.

We all know of incidences in our own lives and in history where lone dissenters were not only decried but at times even punished and jailed for their minority opinions and opposition, but subsequently proven right by the unfolding of events. Indeed, majority opinions and decisions are not inevitably judicious or equitable, and this is why democratic and open societies not only allow dissent, but open the way for redress before our courts of law.

In the case of Bill C-13, Housefather justifiably argues that by importing into this federal statute provisions of Quebec’s Bill 96, which applies the notwithstanding clause to shelter it from court redress and to nullify the application of Charter of Rights guarantees, a serious and negative constitutional precedent is being created. This is the reason why he proposed amendments to remove from Bill C-13 all references to Bill 96. His is far from being a solitary opinion. A number of credible legal minds and constitutional experts have joined minority-community voices in strongly expressing the same cautionary advice.

It defies both logic and understanding that not only the federal government — the central and ultimate trustee and protector of minority rights — but all main federal parties glibly accept the notwithstanding clause being imposed on it by a provincial statute, thereby preventing its citizens from legitimate redress before the courts and the invocation of Charter rights.

Legitimate dissent when it comes to any issue involving language always comes with a heavy price — that of being branded as opposing the promotion of French, and being disloyal to Quebec. This characterization is not only glib and superficial, but unjustified and unfair. I happen to know Housefather and many of the opponents of Bill 96 and Bill C-13. All without exception fully endorse, as I do strongly, the vitality and enhancement of French, while being loyal and contributing citizens of both Quebec and Canada.

The Senate was designed as a chamber of sober second thought, and for this very reason not subjected to electoral constraints and pressures, and thus able to examine House legislation with the utmost openness and impartiality. I earnestly ask our senators to consider judiciously and objectively the arguments of Housefather and of those of us who have expressed strong reservations about the introduction of Bill 96 references into Bill C-13, and its serious constitutional impacts. A straightforward solution would be to pass amendments removing references to Bill 96 from the federal bill, which in no way would detract from its central objectives.

As I pay tribute to Housefather for his stand, I am reminded of another dissenting voice about the introduction of the notwithstanding clause into the Constitution Act of 1982. The late eminent lawyer Morris Manning in his subsequent analysis of this provision wrote these prophetic words 40 years ago: “If our freedom of conscience and religion can be taken away by a law which operates notwithstanding the Charter, if our rights to life and liberty can be taken not in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice, what freedom do we have?”

The notwithstanding clause is a blot on our Constitution, and we should all firmly oppose its casual and unjustified use in any legislation, whether federal or provincial. It should have no place in a democratic and open society that values fundamental rights for all its citizens. This is why I applaud Housefather for standing tall.

Clifford Lincoln resigned from the Quebec cabinet in 1988 over the use of the notwithstanding clause in Bill 178. He later served as a federal MP. He lives in Baie-D’Urfé.

Robert Libman: These Liberal MPs failed their anglo constituents. Shame on them. – Montreal Gazette

All represent ridings with significant English-speaking populations in Quebec; all but one cowered in the vote on new federal language legislation.

Robert Libman  •  Special to Montreal Gazette

Published May 19, 2023 

Federal Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor dismissed anglo concerns, saying Bills C-13 and 96 were being “conflated” — a term repeated by Lac-Saint-Louis MP Francis Scarpaleggia, notes Robert Libman. PHOTO BY JUSTIN TANG /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Quebec’s English-speaking community suffered one of its most humiliating political put-downs in its history this past week — not in the National Assembly, where you might expect, but in the House of Commons. Our federal Parliament blithely passed Bill C-13, the overhaul of Canada’s Official Languages Act, which contains a dangerous flaw with potential long-term consequences for the rights of Quebec’s anglophone minority.

Not only that, but the bill passed by a margin of 301-1, which exemplifies why so many people are rightfully cynical about politicians and the system.

It bears repeating what I mentioned last week : During the 2015 election, in which Justin Trudeau became prime minister, he promised to loosen oppressive party discipline and allow MPs to represent their constituents in Ottawa, rather than having to represent Ottawa to their constituents.

Except for one, all Quebec Liberal members of Parliament representing ridings with significant anglophone populations simply turned their backs on their constituents. Only Anthony Housefather of Mount Royal had the moral fortitude to stand up in the House and vote against the bill. Marc Garneau, the former MP of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, had already resigned over it.

Housefather, Garneau and many Quebec anglophones support most of C-13. It modernizes the Official Languages Act, which enacts the use of French in federally regulated private businesses like banks and railways. But where it goes too far is in unnecessarily incorporating into federal law Quebec’s Charter of the French Language (Bill 101), as amended by Bill 96 (and shielded by the notwithstanding clause), allowing it to apply in Quebec. In doing so, anglo rights are being put at risk. This change goes against 50 years of equality before the law of Canada’s two official-language communities.

At the very least, to give the appearance that they have the backs of their constituents, these MPs could have shown some moral fibre and raised concerns about incorporating Bill 96 in the law. But no.

Shame on Sameer Zuberi, MP for Pierrefonds—Dollard, which has a large majority of English-speaking voters . Shame on Anju Dhillon (Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle), Peter Schiefke (Vaudreuil—Soulanges) and Minister Marc Miller (Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Sœurs), all of whom with one-third of their constituents who speak English at home. Shame on Rachel Bendayan (Outremont), Sophie Chatel (Pontiac) and David Lametti of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, with one-quarter of their constituents who are anglophone.

Extremely disheartening is the position of the MP of the most anglophone riding in Quebec, Francis Scarpaleggia in Lac-Saint-Louis, where 58 per cent speak English at home. He said “Bill C-13 and Bill 96 have been conflated and a narrative has taken root that obscures key facts about this legislation and minority-language guarantees in Canada.” Federal Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor used the same terminology to dismiss anglo concerns, saying Bills C-13 and 96 were being “conflated.” News flash: Bill 101 as modified by Bill 96 is written directly into Bill C-13. That’s precisely the problem!

Petitpas Taylor was called out by Aaron Rand on CJAD for suggesting the French Language Charter is mentioned only once, in the preamble, when in fact it’s referenced in three places. She also repeated that only French is in decline in North America. By saying that, it appears she misses the point. The Official Languages Act was never needed to protect the English language itself, but the rights of the English-language minority community in Quebec.

MPs deserve to be castigated by their constituents for having failed them in their most basic role as their elected representatives.

By not allowing a free vote, Trudeau forced only the brave (Housefather) to stand tall. Some suggest Housefather could pay a price , but I suspect justice will prevail and he will ultimately be rewarded for his courage while the others, who cowered under their seats when the going got tough, will live to regret it.

Robert Libman is an architect and building planning consultant who has served as Equality Party leader and MNA, as mayor of Côte-St-Luc and as a member of the Montreal executive committee. He was a Conservative candidate in the 2015 federal election. twitter.com/robertlibman

Liberal MP Housefather defies party, votes against federal language bill – Gazette

“I promise that even when it is personally difficult for me, I will always stand up for what I believe in and for those who elected me.”

Andy Riga

Published May 15, 2023  •  Montreal Gazette

Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather at his riding office in 2015. PHOTO BY MARIE-FRANCE COALLIER /Montreal Gazette files

One lonely voice said No.

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather turned his back on his own party on Monday by voting against a federal bill that would revamp Canada’s Official Languages Act.

With the backing of the Bloc Québécois, the Conservatives and the New Democrats, the bill breezed through the House of Commons. The final vote: 300 Yes; 1 No.

Now that MPs have adopted Bill C-13, it heads to the Senate. The Trudeau government hopes it will become law by summer.

Housefather’s defiance came after groups representing anglophone Quebecers vehemently objected to Bill C-13, saying it’s a blow to Quebec’s linguistic minority.

“Someone needed to remind the House and Canadians that the fears of Quebec’s English-speaking community were not resolved and a unanimous vote in favour of the bill would have brushed aside those concerns,” Housefather said after the vote.

Housefather was one of several Liberal MPs to resist parts of the bill in recent months. But he was the only one to vote against it.

“I promise that even when it is personally difficult for me, I will always stand up for what I believe in and for those who elected me,” he said, noting thousands of constituents reached out to him.

The Liberal government says Bill C-13 — officially known as An Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada’s Official Languages — is a much-need modernization of federal linguistic legislation.

Among other things, it gives employees a right to work and to be served in French in federally regulated businesses in Quebec, such as banks and transport companies. This responds to a demand from all parties represented in the National Assembly.

Housefather said he supports protecting and promoting French.

But, he added, the federal bill took a wrong turn because it refers to Bill 96, the biggest overhaul of language legislation since the arrival of Bill 101, the Charter of the French Language, in 1977.

Bill 96, passed by the Legault government last year, further restricts the use of English in Quebec in a bid to boost the French language.

Housefather said the bill should not have referred “to a Quebec bill that uses the notwithstanding clause preemptively and which is almost universally opposed by a minority community that the Official Languages Act is designed to protect.”

References to Bill 96 in a federal bill is a de facto endorsement of the preemptive use of the notwithstanding clause, critics say.

Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described as “wrong and inappropriate” Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s plan to preemptively use the notwithstanding clause.

Housefather represents Mount Royal riding, which takes in Côte-St-Luc, Hampstead, Town of Mount Royal, and part of Côte-des-Neiges.

Two other Liberal MPs with many non-francophone constituents previously criticized the bill — Saint-Laurent MP Emmanuella Lambropoulos and Saint-Léonard–Saint-Michel MP Patricia Lattanzio.

But on Monday they fell in line and voted with their party.

Another Montreal Liberal MP who had expressed reservations — Marc Garneau — quit politics in March.

A June 19 byelection to fill the former minister’s riding — Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount — will be the first test of whether anglophone voters will punish the Liberals over C-13.

Quebec anglophones have long massively supported the federal Liberals.

Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount has a large English-speaking community and is considered a safe Liberal seat, with Garneau winning almost 54 per cent of the vote in 2021.

ariga@postmedia.com

More:

Allison Hanes: It’s lonely defending anglos in politics

Anthony Housefather on CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-area-liberal-mp-on-why-he-voted-against-the-trudeau-government-s-minority-languages-bill-1.6844835

Housefather doesn’t stand alone

Mount-Royal MP Anthony Housefather showed significant courage and loyalty to his constituents in defying the Liberal whip and voting against Bill C-13, an odious piece of legislation that will have a serious and harmful impact to Quebec’s English-speaking communities. While Housefather was the sole dissenting vote in Parliament on C-13, he stood shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of thousands of voters. Many Quebecers were angered by their own weak-kneed MPs who could not muster the strength to stand up in defiance of their Liberal Party, a party displaying values that are anything but liberal.

C-13, a federal bill, references Bill 96 and by extension Bill 101, both, Quebec’s language legislation. It removes decades of symmetry in defining and balancing the needs of Canada’s linguistic minorities. Sadly, it speaks to shoring up votes in Quebec at the expense of the principles of Canada’s Official Languages Act, to protect and sustain English and French, from coast to coast.

Housefather should be commended for doing what he, and undoubtedly a large majority of those he represents, believes is the right thing. He stands proudly and defiantly for his principles and values and for that he has my respect and admiration.

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A senseless, tragic loss

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of fallen police officer, Sgt. Maureen Breau. This officer dedicated her life to serving and protecting the community, with 20 years of service in the Quebec Police Force, but tragically, her life was cut short in the line of duty.

We all grapple with the reality of such a senseless loss. The bravery and sacrifice of police officers often goes unnoticed, but in times like these, we are reminded of the immense risk that they face each and every day to keep us safe.

As we come to terms with this devastating loss, we must also take a moment to honour the life and legacy of Sgt. Maureen Breau. She made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the community, and her dedication will never be forgotten.

To Sgt. Breau’s family, friends, and colleagues, I extend deepest condolences. All Quebecers should pledge to honour the memory of this brave officer by continuing to support and appreciate the hardworking men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line to protect us all.

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C’est avec le plus grand tristesse que nous déplorons la perte de la sergente Maureen Breau, une policière qui a consacré sa vie au service et à la protection de la communauté, avec 20 ans de service au sein de la Sûreté du Québec. Sa vie a été tragiquement interrompue dans l’exercice de ses fonctions.

Nous sommes tous confrontés à la réalité d’une perte aussi insensée. La bravoure et le sacrifice des policiers passent souvent inaperçus, mais des moments comme celui-ci nous rappellent les risques immenses qu’ils courent chaque jour pour assurer notre sécurité.

Alors que nous nous remettons de cette perte dévastatrice, nous devons également prendre un moment pour honorer la vie et l’héritage du sergente Maureen Breau. Elle a fait le sacrifice ultime au service de la communauté, et son dévouement ne sera jamais oublié.

À la famille, aux amis et aux collègues de la sergente Breau, j’offre mes plus sincères condoléances. Tous les Québécois devraient s’engager à honorer la mémoire de cette brave policière en continuant de soutenir et d’apprécier les hommes et les femmes des forces de l’ordre qui mettent leur vie en danger pour nous protéger tous.

Montreal Gazette: Editorial: Speaking up for the English-language minority

February 11, 2023

https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-speaking-up-for-the-english-language-minority

The Trudeau government’s language legislation, Bill C-13, is a welcome step forward in many respects. It will bring improvements to the Official Languages Act (concerning enforcement, for example) and will enhance the rights of francophones to work and be served in their own language. At the same time, however, English-speaking Quebecers have reasons for concern about certain aspects of the bill, currently before a Commons committee.
Those concerns, elaborated by the Quebec Community Groups Network among others, have been courageously brought forward in Ottawa by several Montreal Liberal MPs. It is deeply disheartening, not to mention insulting, to see these elected officials being pilloried as liars, fear-mongers and/or clowns by some other MPs and certain media commentators.

Anthony Housefather, Marc Garneau, Emmanuella Lambropoulos and the other MPs who have spoken up do not deserve such treatment. Those heaping scorn upon them are also heaping scorn on the concerns of English-speaking Quebecers.

The main focus of the MPs’ interventions has been the inclusion in the bill of references to Quebec’s Charter of the French Language. As recently amended by Bill 96, Quebec’s language law is now protected from an array of legal challenges because of the pre-emptive incorporation in the law of the notwithstanding clauses in both the Canadian and Quebec rights charters. What will the legal ramifications be of mentioning this Quebec law in a federal one, a highly unusual move? Housefather, a lawyer, raised important questions, including about whether this could undermine the legal position of the federal government in arguing, in future court cases, against the notwithstanding clause’s pre-emptive use.

A second objection is to the fact that Bill C-13 departs from the established practice of symmetry in federal official languages policy. In addition to amending the Official Languages Act, the bill would create The Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act that among other things would give francophones in certain areas outside Quebec the right to work and be served in their language without according reciprocal rights to English-speaking Quebecers.

English-speaking Quebecers are accustomed to having their concerns ignored or rejected by Quebec City, but now it’s the federal government, supposedly committed to upholding linguistic duality, treating us as a second-class minority.

At least, however, the federal government still recognizes English-speaking Quebecers as a linguistic minority, unlike those commentators and politicians who see francophones as the only minority and English-speakers as part of the continental majority. That disconnect is a big part of why our concerns are discounted, even while our schools close for lack of enrolment and the space for English in Quebec is made smaller and smaller.

Meanwhile, those standing up for the English-speaking community are being unfairly portrayed as fighting against the protection of French. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being baited to rein them in, something he declined to do while at the same time promising to go ahead with the legislation. However, its passage will face further hurdles. Conservative senator Judith Seidman of Quebec has served notice that she will resist any attempt to rush the legislation through the upper chamber.

There are many ways to protect and promote French that are not at the expense of Quebec’s English-speaking minority. Language need not be a zero-sum game. It’s deeply sad that some people insist on seeing it that way.

The Power of Community, An editorial

This opinion piece was published 25 years ago today. I’m sharing it again with you as a reminder of the resiliency, creativity and determination of individual citizens and community leaders. Our community remains as strong, if not more so, able to meet the challenges that come our way. I encourage you to step up and volunteer your time, in any way you can, to make your city even stronger in the future.

GJN

The Power of Community

An editorial by Glenn J. Nashen

January 29, 1998

 

The Ice Storm of ‘98 will be remembered by all in our region for a very long time. The wrath of Mother Nature evoked the worst fears and anxieties many of us have ever faced in our lives. As unbelievable as it was, we likened the experience to media coverage we have seen of Beirut or Sarajevo. Who could have imagined that a metropolitan region of millions of people could be brought so close to the brink of disaster? It is astounding to think that in our very own city we were actually deprived of electricity, drinking water, radio stations, and cash from automatic tellers while roads, highways, bridges, railways and runways were shut down bringing all forms of transportation to a halt. The widespread destruction of countless thousands of mature trees and the debris strewn about our streets was a horrifying sight. Just a month ago could you have imagined lineups at your local grocer for bread and bottled water, searching for a gas station that had gas, let alone abandoning your house to bring your family to a shelter, sleeping in army cots, 200 in a room?

Yet, despite the pain, anguish and hardship that everyone faced, their was a strong will to pull through this madness – together. Neighbour helped neighbour. Stranger helped stranger. There were no barriers of language, of politics, of religion. We all pulled through as one strong community.

My reflection and review of the emergency management in Cote Saint-Luc, probably not dissimilar from many smaller cities and towns, is one of great admiration and appreciation for the hundreds of individuals that performed with the spirit and dedication of an Olympic team. We overcame the odds of disaster, comforted hundreds in dire situations and returned the community to a sense of normalcy.

In normal times the City Councillors are preoccupied with policy, lawmaking and steering the community toward the future. Civil servants are busy with their departmental responsibilities while firefighters train and practice and wait for the alarm to sound. Police officers patrol and enforce the law and public works crews fill their shifts maintaining parks, roads, sidewalks and city infrastructure. The schools are busy with students, synagogues are readying for prayer and parties and health care providers are visiting with the elderly, sick, injured and needy.

 

 

But just a few weeks ago the normal ceased to be. All of a sudden a crisis situation developed which required otherwise busy people to come together and offer a coordinated, integrated and rapid solution to help those in our community who found themselves suddenly in desperate need. Local politicos, city staff, blue collars, emergency crews and health care professionals blended with community institutions and organizations to respond swiftly to the crisis and to assist our residents.

Within hours the Municipal Emergency Operations Committee was convened at Cote Saint-Luc City Hall to coordinate information, services, personnel, equipment and supplies. This was to be the first meeting of twice daily gatherings of community leaders and professionals. The first of four shelters was set up at the onset so that no resident would have to spend even one night in the dark, cold confines of a powerless home. Almost miraculously food and bedding was arranged so that residents would be as comfortable as possible at Hotel City Hall.

Daytime shifts for firefighters and public works crews turned into endless hours as workers cast aside their own personal emergencies in order to safeguard the residents of our city. Unprecedented in the twenty-eight years of the Montreal Urban Community, its police service was put into emergency operations and each and every officer was called in for assignment. Neighbourhood policing was put to the ultimate test and passed with flying colours. Squads of officers on commandeered MUCTC buses traveled from building to building evacuating cold and frightened apartment dwellers and delivered them with care and compassion to the care-givers at the shelters.

Years of training and preparation was clearly evident as Cote Saint-Luc’s all-volunteer Emergency Medical Services sprang into action. No more than a phone call or beep on one’s pager was needed to activate dozens of loyal and eager volunteers who manned first responder squads around the clock helping with everything from emergency 911 calls to building evacuations, shelter rounds to patrolling the streets for residents in distress. When their vehicle broke down willing volunteers found the nearest ambulance for hire in Brockville, Ontario and scrambled to bring it back to Cote Saint-Luc. When their second vehicle quit on them, they did it once again.

Without urging, both the Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem Synagogue (the Baily Shul) and Bialik High School answered the call for assistance and prepared to receive large numbers of residents. The organization and level of care at these institutions is more than commendable. They opened and operated kosher shelters for 7 to 9 days under extremely difficult conditions, caring and comforting hundreds. They closed their doors to nobody. From seniors residences to NDG residents anyone in need found welcome and warm refuge in Cote Saint-Luc. Strangely enough, a woman who gave birth four days earlier by C-section was transferred from St. Mary’s Hospital, by ambulance, to the Baily Shul. Tender and understanding volunteers provided the new mother with a private room and all the attention she would require.

People gave of their time and talents selflessly and generously. Boxes loaded with food, clothing and personal hygiene products were donated so that no one seeking refuge should be without any basic requirements. When a senior citizen at Baily was spotted without socks it took one phone call and just a few minutes before a kind neighbour showed up with a package of six new pairs of socks. A Muslim family observing Ramadan was given special treatment at City Hall so that the family could have a “privileged” sleeping and praying area and a small fridge to store their specially prepared meat. When Helen Steele of Texas saw what was happening here on CNN she packed a sleeping bag and boarded the first flight to Dorval, and upon arrival asked an RCMP officer where she might be able to help. She took a taxi to Cote Saint-Luc City Hall and worked for 6 days straight in whatever capacity she could.

A couple of residents cooked up steaks and barbeque chickens for our EMS volunteers who had been living on pizza for seven days. Many families welcomed others into their homes only to leave together to another home and yet another. Shoppers shared cases of water and packages of batteries with complete strangers at the checkout. One shoveled the next walkway and another salted the driveway across the street. Le Mercaz prepared bags of food for those returning home from shelters and many, many more benevolent individuals and organizations assisted in vital areas.

In the final analysis, we can be mighty proud of what our neighbours did to brighten the lives of so many in the dark. Through meticulous and sophisticated planning for all kinds of disasters by city officials to improvisation to ensure that every special need was looked after, we are incredibly fortunate to have extra special staff, kindhearted volunteers and wonderful neighbours in our community.

I hope that we all learned something positive and rewarding from such a terrible experience and that the social fabric of our community, and indeed our entire province, will be more closely knit and tighter than ever before. After all, our future depends on it. We may have lost electricity but we never lost the power of community.

 

Glenn J. Nashen is a City Councillor in Cote Saint-Luc and an Emergency Medical Technician. He chairs the Emergency Services Advisory Committee and attended a course for elected officials at the Canadian Emergency Preparedness College. During the Ice Storm, Nashen was appointed as Information Officer for the City and assisted in the coordination of emergency shelters and volunteers.

Peter F. Trent: Lessons from the Montreal merger-demerger fiasco

This is a sobering reflection more than two decades after the municipal forced mergers by one of the key political players. The Montreal Gazette’s newest columnist, Westmount Mayor Peter Trent, was and still is an intellectual thought leader on municipal structures and the city system within provincial and federal government.

What’s your thought looking back on the forced mergers and for many of us, demergers of our cities? Are you better off? Why?

At least the demerged cities have control over 100 per cent of their local spending. The trade-off (so far) is to have no control over regional costs managed by the agglomeration council.

https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/peter-f-trent-lessons-from-the-montreal-merger-demerger-fiasco

Quebec language watchdog warns 47 municipalities they could lose bilingual status: Montreal Gazette

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-language-watchdog-warns-47-municipalities-they-could-lose-bilingual-status

What a sad state of affairs for the CAQ government to come down hard on the English-speaking communities yet again rather than seeing us as partners and supporters of the French Language. These mean spirited and politically motivated machinations will do little to reinforce and promote French.

Our kids are bilingual, even multilingual. Threatening our communities, our vulnerable citizens, does not strengthen Quebec’s common language. It weakens our social fabric.

Quelle tristesse.

More:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bilingual-status-quebec-47-1.6694631

Anti Bill 96 protest calls on Quebec government to respect rights of all citizens

Anti Bill 96 protest calls on Quebec government to respect rights of all citizens

Bill 96 fails to find the right balance

Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather has drafted an excellent piece that was published this week in The Gazette and Le Devoir which he co-signed with fellow Liberal MPs Marc Garneau (Notre-Dame-de-Grace-Westmount), Patricia Lattanzio (Saint-Leonard-Saint-Michel) and Francis Scarpaleggia (Lac-Saint-Louis).

Before the Bill was adopted, Anthony spoke with Elias Makos on CJAD about his concerns. You can hear the interview here. He also spoke on Power and Politics with Vassy Kapelos. You can watch the interview here.

In the op-ed Anthony raised the issue of the violations of the Constitution which require the courts and National Assembly of Quebec to treat English and French equally. He also raised the issue of the preemptive and omnibus use of the notwithstanding clause and the importance of having this inappropriate use of the clause addressed by the courts.

Federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, David Lametti, confirmed that the government will intervene in the Court case related to Bill 21 when it reaches the Supreme Court. Minister Lametti also indicated that we would consider intervening in other cases involving Bill 96 and will carefully monitor the implementation of the law. He voiced his own discomfort with many provisions of the law related to access to services in health care, justice, and other matters.  He pointed to the concerns of the English-speaking minority, indigenous Canadians and new immigrants. 

“For those who were waiting for the government to speak to Bill 96 in a clear way this has now occurred and led to Premier Legault demanding the federal government stay out of it,” Housefather said, assuring that, “our government will not back away from defending the rights of minority language communities, including English speaking Quebecers.”  

Sidney Margles, MP Anthony Housefather and Glenn J. Nashen at the anti Bill 96 Rally in Place du Canada on May 26, 2022

Bill 96 Protest Rally in Photos

Bill 96 Protest Rally in Photos

The crowd was large. The weather was beautiful. The energy was electric.

Thousands of Quebecers of all backgrounds came together as one voice in protest against Bill 96. English, French, new immigrants, First Nations, young and old.

Will the government listen? Unlikely. But history will prove, I strongly believe, that they are on the wrong side. We are united by our languages, not divided. We are united by our love of Quebec and all of Canada. We are unique and enriched by the diversity of our cultures.

What makes you proud to be a Quebecer?

Our turn to speak up against Bill 96

I have long agreed with Robert Libman’s point of view on repressive and punitive language legislation targeting Quebec’s English-speaking communities. His contributions as a columnist in the Montreal Gazette have been clear communications and focused pieces that I have appreciated very much. This was the reason I joined him to serve as his Chief of Staff when he was the MNA for D’Arcy McGee riding. My passion in support of the English-speaking community brought me to Alliance Quebec, where I served as Executive Director and has been a focal point of my almost 25 years as a City Councillor in Cote Saint-Luc.

In this weekend’s column, Libman rightly points out, “If you don’t stand up for yourself, you might as well just accept the consequences.”

My grandfather, similarly said to me decades ago, “If you don’t vote, you don’t have a right to complain.”

Like most English-speaking Quebecers I have worked hard to become bilingual and to ensure my children embrace French language proficiency. Our community has contributed to the protection and flourishing of the French language. It is maddening to continue the Big Lie that English-speaking Quebecers are part of the problem. This is absurd and Bill 96 is an unacceptable infringement upon the rights of every Quebecer. If the bill did not contravene the Quebec and Canadian charters of rights and freedoms the government would not be using the reviled Notwithstanding Clause.

This weekend we have the right to vote with our feet, with our voices and with our presence. It’s up to us to show up and to speak up.

Read today’s excellent Gazette Editorial as well as Robert Libman’s column, below. And do your best to show up and protest!

Robert Libman: At last, anglos are standing up and speaking out

As Bill 96’s passage nears, the anglophone community finally seems to be recognizing that if you’re not willing to stand up for yourself, no one else will.

Author of the article: Robert Libman  •  Special to Montreal Gazette

Publishing date: May 13, 2022  •  3 minute read  •   Join the conversation

Students demonstrate against tuition increases in Montreal on June 22, 2012 during what came to be known at the Maple Spring. “Whether or not one agreed with their protests, one could appreciate how the students mobilized and the impact they made,” Robert Libman writes. PHOTO BY DAVE SIDAWAY /Montreal Gazette

Exactly 10 years ago, student protests demanding a freeze on university tuition took over Montreal streets in a movement that came to be known as the Maple Spring. Despite Quebec already having among the lowest tuition rates in the country, the protests gave voice and prominence to a cause. Whether or not one agreed with their protests, one could appreciate how the students mobilized and the impact they made.

Quebec’s Bill 96 has certainly generated as much serious concern, among as many people, as did the issues that gave rise to the Maple Spring movement. But minority communities in Quebec have always been reluctant to demonstrate.

As final adoption of the language-law overhaul approaches and its potential consequences become clearer, concern has been growing. The anglophone community finally seems willing to exit its comfort zone and take to the streets. A march from Dawson College to Premier François Legault’s office downtown is organized for Saturday morning. Last week, students at English CEGEPs around Quebec left class in a co-ordinated protest action to denounce the bill. The leaders of First Nations communities went to the National Assembly this week demanding to be exempt from Bill 96, saying it amounts to cultural genocide.

Will these actions make an impact? Many question if a minority’s opposition can really accomplish anything in the face of strong majority opinion. The government hasn’t shown any sign of backing down on a law that is expected to be adopted within weeks. Others suggest that an anglo march would just help the Legault government politically or might even spark Quebec nationalists to get people into the streets in much greater numbers.

That sense of resignation has prevailed for years.

Yet the anglophone community finally seems to be recognizing that if you’re not willing to stand up for yourself, no one else will. The community is at a point right now where there doesn’t seem to be much to lose.

At the very least, a public show of unity and solidarity can provide an important boost to the community’s morale.t’s also critically important not to remain passive in the face of government legislation that will compromise individual rights and severely weaken the community and the viability of its institutions. When rights are trampled, the absence of an assertive response all too often leads to more of the same.

A public march about language in the streets of Montreal will certainly garner francophone media attention. It is an opportunity to articulate a message directly to the majority. Organizers of the event should ensure that a positive and unifying message gets out that resonates with the many Quebec francophones who support individual rights and freedoms, and bilingualism. A message francophones should hear much more often is that support for the French language need not be a zero sum game at the expense of the minority.

Hopefully, many francophones will turn up in solidarity, including Quebec Liberal Party members who say they will vote against the bill. Representatives from business groups, the health care sector and the legal community have also raised concerns, and it would be important to see them there.

The event will also offer the possibility of bringing national attention to the issue and perhaps finally provoke a break in the deafening silence from the rest of Canada.

While not replicating all of the students’ tactics, it’s time anglos showed some of their gumption. Other minority communities have in the past come together to bring to light unjust circumstances, chip away at common orthodoxy and bring about a more just society.

If you don’t stand up for yourself, you might as well just accept the consequences.

Robert Libman is an architect and building planning consultant who has served as Equality Party leader and MNA, as mayor of Côte-St-Luc and as a member of the Montreal executive committee. He was a Conservative candidate in the 2015 federal election. twitter.com/robertlibman

D’Arcy McGee loses a gentleman MNA

Look back D’Arcy McGee. Before the last few tumultuous months of unpleasant debate about beefing up Quebec’s language laws through the ill-conceived Bill 96. We were fortunate to have a genuine and caring representative who was close to his constituents, faithful to his community. A bridge-builder.

David Birnbaum, a soft-spoken and eloquent legislator, worked his way up from dedicated service on behalf of the English-speaking community. He quickly found his footing as an MNA, felt the pulse of the people and brought our voice to the National Assembly. His doors and his office staff, with high commendations to the tireless Elizabeth Prass and Chris Savard, were wide open to receiving concerns and complaints.

While I was on Cote Saint-Luc City Council, David was always close and accessible. He and his staff attended every civic event. From the floor of the assembly he made declarations recognizing outstanding people and organizations, he noted holidays and commemorations and he proposed legislation and amendments that were in our collective interest. He recently moved a private member’s bill that actually passed, recognizing the heavy toll that the pandemic has taken on the mental health of our society.

David is a good listener and a good orator. He is pensive and intelligent. And, he is human. Indeed, to err is human. All of us, make mistakes. As well-intentioned as he is, he erred. I have no doubt he wished the ill-considered mandatory French courses amendment disappeared as fast as it was tabled. I am hopeful that the government and opposition parties rise above petty politics to withdraw or amend an obvious error in this deeply flawed Bill that prejudices citizens, all of whom have a right to equal treatment.

Life in politics is a daily struggle, often thankless and bumps and bruises are to be expected. Believe me. I know. But in the balance are people who step forward to serve, at personal cost and at the peril of family. Yes, mistakes are made along the way. But if you don’t speak up, speak out, take action, lead, you risk very little. I appreciate the good that David did as my MNA and I am saddened that his term ends as it does.

I wish you well David. You worked hard for D’Arcy McGee and your sincere efforts and accomplishments should be a source of pride.

Dr. Judy Hagshi and Glenn J. Nashen supporting David Birnbaum for re-election (2018)

MNA David Birnbaum introduces Glenn J. Nashen and daughter Nicole to Quebec Liberal Party leadership candidate Dominique Anglade (Jan. 13, 2020)

Renewed partnership: Cote Saint-Luc EMS and Urgences Santé

An important partnership was rededicated recently. No ordinary agreement, this handshake will benefit Cote Saint-Luc (CSL) residents more than others. In fact, this one is guaranteed to save a life.

CSL’s all-volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is the only such municipal service to work hand-in-hand with the regional ambulance authority, Urgences Santé, to provide first responder services. Elsewhere, the Montreal Fire Department serves as first responders. CSL benefits from a high quality, professional volunteer emergency service for 9-1-1 health-related calls on its territory.

 Philip Chateauvert, directeur de la Protection civile de la Ville de / City of Côte Saint-Luc, et le président et directeur général par intérim d’Urgences-santé, Mathieu Campbell, CRIA (photo: LinkedIn)

Many CSL residents may not realize how fortunate they are to be served by the unique, volunteer, life-saving service. In operation for nearly 60 years, CSL EMS began as a post World War II civil security operation under the banner of EMO, or Emergency Measures Organization. Through the decades it transformed into a rescue service and adjunct of the former CSL Fire Department and auxiliary public security service. However, it always kept its vocation of being ready to assist the community during medical emergencies, even educating thousands of CSL students and residents in CPR training as well as use of AED (automated external defibrillators).

Glenn J. Nashen riding aboard Cote Saint-Luc’s first Rescue Medical Fire vehicle RMF-11, 1981

Since 1980, EMO mainly focused on first response and by 1990 the name changed to EMS and its first professional staff person was hired as director. Call coverage moved closer to round the clock and hundreds of local young adults received training and certification as First Responders.

With the forced municipal mergers in 2001 CSL faced the grim reality that it would lose control of its first responder service and that it would be transferred to the newly expanded, island-wide Montreal Fire Department. A very protracted and public political campaign ensured that CSL would uniquely manage its EMS thanks to a special law adopted in the Quebec National Assembly following the demerger in 2006.

Saving EMS at the Quebec National Assembly (2007)

And through these decades our extraordinary volunteers have responded to tens of thousands of emergency calls (over 3000 per year) and saved countless lives. I’m proud to have been associated with this incredible service since 1979 and played a significant role in its evolution along with so many notable leaders and volunteers.

While, this latest agreement with the ambulance service is important for the continued operation of CSL EMS, it’s equally important to recognize the organization’s history in arriving at this point in time.

Congratulations to all the volunteers, staff and community leaders, past and present, who have worked so hard to build a first-class, life-saving service that has touched the lives of thousands in CSL and across the region.

You can find out much more about CSL EMS on this blog.