Welcome to Canada. Bienvenue au Canada. The true north, strong and free, where you can celebrate living in one of the greatest places on Earth and do it in disguise.
The federal court ruling this week on the niqab is shameful.
The court ruled that a woman can cover her face while taking her oath to join the Canadian family.
It makes no sense.
It’s not a matter of minority rights or freedom of religion.
The case was brought by Zunera Ishaq, an immigrant from Pakistan, who refused to take part in a citizenship ceremony because it meant she could not hide her face.
Face coverings have nothing to do Islam.
They have everything to do with gender inequality and with women being the property of men. Women must stay hidden.
From everything I have read, covering the face is not a religious requirement for Muslim women.
It is a symbol of subjection and segregation.
It is not compatible in any way shape or form with Canadian values.
Natalie Roy of the CAQ is spot on.
“That’s not a good sign we send out to the world. Come in Canada, no problem, we don’t see you. Keep the niqab, keep the burqa, no problem. And that’s not our values,” she said.
It’s disheartening to see that both the NDP and the Liberals are on the wrong side of the issue.
I am not sure what is motivating Tom Mulcair and Justin Trudeau to plea for face coverings in citizenship ceremonies.
The Conservatives promise to pass a law on this if re-elected and that pledge might find some resonance with voters.
Jason Kenney is right.
“At that one very public moment, of a very public declaration of one’s loyalty to one’s fellow citizens and country, one should do so openly, proudly and publicly, without one’s face hidden,” he said.
That’s all that is required at that one very public moment.
What you do in your private life and in your home is your business but, at that one very public moment, show your face openly, proudly and publicly.
True heroes
When I was a kid our sports heroes were demigods.
In the days before social media and the loss of privacy, all we saw and all we knew were what they did on the field and how we hung on every word they uttered.
To this day Giants centerfielder Willie Mays remains my ultimate superstar. Even today I would be speechless if I met him.
Too often in this modern world, the veneer is peeling away, with steroids, and scandal, and money, and excess.
Many of our heroes have become ordinary, many have fallen from grace.
But this week we saw something different. Something so special. So wonderful, it is almost beyond words.
“Everyone needs to help, all I’m doing to trying to help as much as I can,” said PK Subban as he donated $10 million to the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Thank you PK Subban.
Thank you for helping the children.
Thank you for your generosity.
But most of all, thank you for restoring our faith in our heroes.
