Two distinct interpretations of secularism are discussed by Leslie Rosenblood, Secularism Chair of the Centre for Inquiry Canada, and Michel Virard, President of the Association Humaniste du Québec. Moderator: Robert Hamilton, Vice-President of The New Enlightenment Project. Michel’s positionSecularism (laïcité) requires strict state neutrality, especially visible neutrality. Public servants exercising state authority—teachers, judges, police—must not… 

Photo: Archives JF Pagga According to Pascal Bruckner, the fashionable phenomenon of class defectors provides some fine examples of ‘dolorism’. Christian Desmeules, Le Devoir, 13 May 2024 In this age of allergy to constraints, heightened sensitivities, reluctance to accept obligations and martyrdom of all kinds, ‘offensology experts’ seem to be all the rage. “Alfred de… 

Benoît Pelletier. The author is a lawyer emeritus, has a doctorate in law and is a distinguished professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ottawa. March 5, 2024, published in Le Devoir The recent ruling by the Quebec Court of Appeal marked an important victory for the Quebec government in its defence… 

By Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin Former mayor of Gatineau (2013-2021) La Presse, Montreal, February 15, 2024 Radio-Canada’s programme Enquête recently highlighted the fact that while religious organisations are increasingly short of faithful, they are not short of money. The congregations that were the subject of the Enquête report alone have assets worth nearly a billion dollars. The… 

Perhaps you “know” what is “biological sex”, perhaps you still wonder after the deluge of strong affirmations that «sex is a spectrum» coming from the woke quarter. Here is something of use: the transcripts of an expert testimony in a case before of Texas appellate court. Truly enlightening. Before you start reading, some additional info:–… 

by Patrick Moreau, Le Devoir, Friday July 28th, 2023 Rights and privileges should not be confused. Rights, in particular “human rights”, are freedoms granted to all citizens of Quebec and Canada; these shared rights are a fundamental condition of the equality that must reign among citizens in a democracy. A privilege, on the other hand,… 

From Jean-François Lisée’s blog Published on 06/19/2023     Translated from French by DeepL and verified by Michel Virard        Image distributed to teachers by the CSQ (TN: Centrale des Syndicats du Québec – mostly a teachers and health workers union). Sex education has made a strong comeback in our schools. Well done. But it’s accompanied by the… 

Comments on Brette Rushforth 2012 book, by Jean-François Lisée Le Devoir, June 30th, 2023  (TN: bold highlining is mine) At first, the native slaves bought by French settlers almost all ran away. Other settlers told them that slavery was illegal in France and New France*. So they could leave. He (Rushforth) describes the strong interaction… 

By Nadia El-Mabrouk* & François Dugué Letter to Le Devoir, March 29, 2023 When the position of Canadian representative against Islamophobia was announced, many of us pointed out the abusive and militant use of this term, which confuses respect for people of Muslim conviction with absolute respect for the precepts of Islam. The latest Angus… 

By Marie-Andrée Chouinard Editorial. February 18th, 2023 With the introduction this week of Bill 11 on medical assistance in dying (MA), Quebec is continuing a tradition of changes proposed on the basis of wise expertise and prudence, all for the good of suffering people who wish to die with dignity. By extending the eligibility criteria…