Just two months ago, McGill students raised their voices against the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism hosting a transphobic talk by Robert Wintemute, whose work at the LGB Alliance denies the fundamental rights of trans people under the guise of protection for cisgender gay, lesbian, and bisexual people.[Read More…]
Editorial
SSMU executive candidate endorsements 2023-24
President Alexandre Ashkir Endorsement: Yes, with reservations to Alexandre Ashkir Alexandre Ashkir, U3 Arts, worked for SSMU as Speaker of the Legislative Council for two full terms before running for SSMU President. In addition to his role on Legislative Council, Ashkir currently sits on SSMU’s Board of Directors, giving him[Read More…]
Three meals a day keep the protests away
Fifteen dollars for a box of raspberries. Eleven for a slice of pizza. Eight for a package of popcorn. This is the reality for students eating at McGill cafeterias. On March 7, Let’s Eat McGill, a collective of concerned student activists, held an assembly to discuss and mobilize around the[Read More…]
Parliament Hill must address the root causes of the migrant crisis
Last year, around 39,000 refugees entered Canada through Roxham Road, an illegal border-crossing site between New York and Quebec, which requires an extremely dangerous journey on foot. This past January, almost 5,000 were reported to have crossed the site into the province. The situation has sparked heated debate at Parliament[Read More…]
Journalism’s only vocal when it’s local
On Jan. 26, Postmedia, a Toronto-based media conglomerate and the parent company of over 130 local newspapers across Canada, including The Montreal Gazette, revealed its plan to lay off 11 per cent of its total editorial staff. This devastating decision, made in a Toronto boardroom, will put up to 10[Read More…]
Representation, not impersonation
On Feb. 7, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond returned her honorary degree from Royal Roads University. This is the second honorary degree she has returned—one of 11 she received, including from McGill—after an investigation late last year by the CBC called her claims of Indigenous identity into question. The Canadian lawyer and[Read More…]
Targeting Elghawaby is a bigoted political play
On Jan. 26, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Amira Elghawaby as the country’s first federal representative on combating Islamophobia. Within mere days of her appointment, various politicians and Members of Parliament began calling for the resignation of the Canadian journalist, communications professional, and human rights activist. Elghawaby was accused[Read More…]
Stricter bail is a far cry from justice
On Jan. 13, all of Canada’s premiers signed a letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging him to take immediate action in enforcing stricter bail measures. Such reform would place the onus on the accused to qualify for bail, increase the number of people held in jail without trial,[Read More…]
Privatizing health care won’t fix a failing system
The Quebec health-care system is in a state of crisis. ER wait times are dangerously high, and there is a chronic lack of staff—including nurses who are exceptionally underpaid and overworked. Amidst a similar crisis in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford unveiled plans to increase the role of private clinics in[Read More…]
In debating existence, expect resistance
On Jan. 10, McGill University’s Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism (CHRLP) planned to host a talk entitled “Sex vs. Gender (Identity) Debate In the United Kingdom and the Divorce of LGB from T.” The debate featured Robert Wintemute, a human rights professor and lawyer with ties to the[Read More…]