British Prime Minister David Cameron’s most recent language policy is aimed at mitigating extremism in Britain by improving the English skills of Muslim women. It requires that migrants to Britain on spousal visas pass an English test after residing in Britain for a certain period of time. The penalty for[Read More…]
Opinion
Opinions from our editorial board and contributors.
Kevin O’Leary’s legacy of ashes
Dragon. Shark. Mr. Wonderful. These are all nicknames of Canadian entrepreneur and TV personality Kevin O’Leary, the unfiltered personification of capitalistic inhumanity. More than usual, he has been artificially inserting himself into the nation’s headlines. O’Leary has offered the tidy sum of $1 million in investment to the Alberta energy[Read More…]
Jaywalking: Another side of street crime in Halifax and Montreal
Halifax is in the grips of a terrible crime wave, or so the Nova Scotia Legislature seems to believe. Last month it voted for a dramatic increase in fines for a certain offence in order to punish Haligonians—yes, that’s really what they’re called—for their criminal ways. But the targets of[Read More…]
Renovations threaten what it means to be a McGill Student
School spirit is traditionally displayed at homecoming games and by students donning their university’s insignia. McGill instead possesses a unique type of school spirit, binding students together in a way that no football game or homecoming party ever could: Coping with the school’s decrepit and aging facilities. But with the[Read More…]
SSMU Winter 2016 Special Referendum Endorsement
SSMU Membership Fee increase: "Yes" with reservations The Tribune endorses a “Yes” for this quesetion insofar as it will improve the Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) financial sustainability and maintain its ability to provide services for students; however, the presentation of the motion is currently too ambiguous. If SSMU[Read More…]
An endeavour for a representative and legitimate Parliament
Canada’s electoral system is in need of a reboot. It discourages people from voting by the simple fact that a majority government may be formed without a majority of the popular vote. Andrew Coyne, columnist for The National Post, summed the system up, saying that it sustains “false and exaggerated[Read More…]
On the emptiness of ‘post-national’ values
Being Canadian has never been so confusing. According to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada has transcended the nation-state paradigm to become the first ‘post-national’ state, where ‘openness,’ ‘respect,’ ‘compassion,’ and ‘willingness to work hard’ are the country’s only distinguishing values. Trudeau’s presumable aim is to counteract bigotry and divisiveness by[Read More…]
New name for the McGill bookstore, “Le James,” should stand
The decision to rename the McGill bookstore’s new iteration “Le James” raises the question of the value in using the names of past figures who were known to be racists, misogynists, or bigots on campus. While these questions began to be asked at universities in the United States, such conversations[Read More…]
In defence of Ebenezer Scrooge
As the holiday season becomes more distant, reflecting on the value of a particular Christmas trope is no less valuable. If Christmas is the season of selflessness, then surely one of the great symbols of Christmas is Ebenezer Scrooge. Contrary to common belief, however, he should be known for his[Read More…]
Editorial: McGill advising does not provide sufficient tools for students to carve their own path
With add/drop coming to a close, students’ laments of academic advising at McGill are likely to abate. But at the moment, undergraduate students bemoan the bureaucratic advising system. The fundamental flaw with the McGill mindset is that students are expected to be independent without necessarily having been provided the tools[Read More…]