Marois believes Quebec will rally behind controversial secular charter – The Globe and Mail

Looks like it will be an ugly fall, with the PQ clearly planing to push their exclusionary and xenophobic Charte des valeurs québécoises. While I understand the particular sensitivities of Québec being a francophone minority in Anglo-Saxon (and Spanish) North America, excluding a wide-range of people from participating in government work has no justification.

Marois believes Quebec will rally behind controversial secular charter – The Globe and Mail.

Initial poll below is not encouraging (75% support for these restrictions) – but we shall see how the debate progresses in Québec and the degree to which the more open, tolerant and welcoming nature of Québec gets expressed.

Laïcité: fort appui au PQ  

Federal Multiculturalism Minister concerned about Quebec religious-symbols ban – The Globe and Mail

A bit less strong than his tweet earlier this week, but recognition that the federal government cannot sit on the sidelines on this one.

My upcoming book, Policy Arrogance or Innocent Bias, has a section that covers the multiculturalism/interculturalisme debates and some of the earlier challenges at both the political and official levels in deciding how and what level to respond.

Federal Multiculturalism Minister concerned about Quebec religious-symbols ban – The Globe and Mail.

Charte des valeurs: des juristes pro-laïcité éprouvent un malaise | PAUL JOURNET | Politique québécoise

Some interesting reserves from partisans of laïcité.

Charte des valeurs: des juristes pro-laïcité éprouvent un malaise | PAUL JOURNET | Politique québécoise.

Accommodements: la CAQ suivra les traces de Bouchard-Taylor | Jean-Marc Salvet | Politique

Encouraging. The Bouchard-Taylor Report was a voice of reason in Quebec debates,  laicisme-ouvert was a reasonable way to find a balance between personal expression and respect for the neutrality of the state, limited to when the state was in a position of authority and enforcement.

Of course, how it will play out ….

Accommodements: la CAQ suivra les traces de Bouchard-Taylor | Jean-Marc Salvet | Politique.

Quebec has a strange view of secularism – The Globe and Mail

As always, Quebec is different on how it handles reasonable accommodation issues, not to mention the double standard between expressions of Catholicism and other religions.

Quebec has a strange view of secularism – The Globe and Mail.

Marois’ Charter of Secularism backfires in less than 48 hours – Canada, Quebec Election – Macleans.ca

Marois’ Charter of Secularism backfires in less than 48 hours – Canada, Quebec Election – Macleans.ca.

Constitutional lawyer: PQ Charter an empty fantasy – Quebec Election – Macleans.ca

Constitutional lawyer: PQ Charter an empty fantasy – Quebec Election – Macleans.ca.

Marois more incoherent than intolerant

Marois more incoherent than intolerant.

Quebec Votes 2012: The most dangerous election in decades – Canada, Quebec Election – Macleans.ca

Quebec Votes 2012: The most dangerous election in decades – Canada, Quebec Election – Macleans.ca.