Simply put, a niqab does not have a place in our democratic institutions.
And College St Laurent was right in expelling a student who refused to remove it.
How accommodating do we have to be? How can a student communicate in a language class if their face is covered? How can you teach a language if you cant even see the student's lips?
She didn't want the male students in the class to see anything but her eyes.
She gave her presentations with her back to the class. The situation just became intolerable.
That's one thing.
The other, of course, is a broader issue.
In our society, men and women are equal.
And I have not found anyone to convince me that the niqab is anything more than a sign of oppression. And in many parts of the work it is a symbol of growing radicalism. In a pluralistic society such as ours, we cannot tolerate this.
The niqab has nothing to do with freedom of religion but with basic human rights. And don't forget -- they can also be pose security problems because identification of someone is pretty tough
I don't care what you do in your home. Wear what you want or don't. But to expect our public institutions to accept the wearing of niqab, that is way beyond reasonable and way beyond what this country is about.
Starving the system
Well they are setting the table for slamming shut any hope helping out the English school system in Quebec.
All it needs is a little oxygen.
But the advisory body on language is telling the Charest Government to extend the language law to unsubsidized private schools.
The Supreme Court gave Quebec a year to find a solution, after finding Bill 104 unconstitutional.
So armed with this expert opinion, the Charest Liberals will indeed find a way closing the loophole allowing some immigrant children to attend English schools.
So don't be surprised because to many in this province, including some Liberals, the English school system is an annoyance. To us, it's a lifeline.
Olympic Triumph
And a final word on the Olympics.
Canada showed the world what we are all about, what we are made of. What we can do.
And was it good.
I have never in my lifetime seen this country so alive. So proud.
And yet Canadians weren't brash or obnoxious about it. We can still be polite patriots. Can't we?
Finally we were able to speak as one. Naysayers be damned -- bring on the Podium program. Bravo to the Harper government for increasing funding. For a small country, we did so well. Pas pire.
A time to remember. A time for the ages.
A time where, yes, the true north strong and free shone brightly.
Oh Canada indeed.
