MONTREAL - It's just a question of common sense. It appears so obvious.
But a motion will be tabled soon by the deep-thinkers at Projet Montreal to repeal a municipal law that has brought peace to our streets.
The City of Montreal has a bylaw called P-6. It was in response to the student demonstrations of a year ago which left our city bleeding.
Simply put, it requires people who want to protest to let police know where they are going and it requires people to be identified, meaning no masks.
It's quite simple really. Article 1: "Every person has the right to use and enjoy the streets, parks and public places of the city in peace, safety and under law and order."
Now the Canadian Civil Liberties Association thinks this is just terrible.
It says that a law like P-6 has no place in a democratic society.
I will tell you what has no place in a democratic society: citizens fearing for their safety from unruly mobs, businesses fearing for livelihoods and wondering if the next rock will be through their window, traffic chaos, bridges, streets and highways shut down, rule of the street trumping the will of democratically-elected government.
And since police began enforcing P-6 this spring, there has been relative calm.
No one is saying don't demonstrate. Just give a heads up. Protest is fine but it's not a free-for-all.
And no masks. If you believe in something, don't be afraid to show your face. It's not Halloween
Like I say, it’s common sense which I fear sometimes is not too common.
Landry renounces sovereingty
Churchill once said eating his words never gave him indigestion.
I wonder if the same could be said of Bernard Landry and his separatist cronies.
After years of talking sovereignty, they are moving on.
He says that "sovereignty" should be replaced with the word "independence."
Really? Independence speaks to the dignity of a people, he proclaims.
So does being a part of this country called “Canada,” Bernie
They can twist their words as much as they want but the song remains the same, a tired old tune.
Justin Trudeau on the rise
Unless a meteor strikes Earth, Justin Trudeau will be voted in as the new leader of the federal Liberals on Sunday.
He has run a virtually error-free leadership campaign.
Yes, he lacks experience, as his detractors point out, but so did Stephen Harper when he became leader of the Canadian Alliance.
He will have plenty of time to grow into the job and plenty of time to develop policy.
Many people have made the mistake of underestimating Justin Trudeau.
He would never win the Bloc stronghold of Papineau, they said, and he did, twice.
He will never be Liberal leader they said and yet he will be.
He's a lightweight, they say.
Canadians will have to decide whether that is true or not.
But he is the best hope Liberals have to prove that their best days are not all behind them.
