quebec election - 04.09.2012 | Page 7

Sun, 2012-08-26 14:38

Stockholm

Its very disappointing that Quebec Solidaire is going this route. They had a great opportunity in this election to position themsleves as a progressive party that was interested in social justice above all else. Ideally they would take a CAQ-like ambiguaous position on sovreignty but apparently the battle for that was lost at theiur last convention. Then I was even willing to live with the idea that Yes sovereignty was one of their principles but that they wouldf soft peddle it and make it clear that sovreignty was a "long term project" but that their raison d'etre in contrast to the PQ was that it was not a central priority to them. But now it looks like QS is focusing its whole campaign around being even more "pur et dur" on sovereignty than the PQ is! I get the message loud and clear that if you are a federalist you are 100% unwelcome in Quebec Solidaire and need to look at other options.

Unionist wrote:

[url=http://www.cjad.com/CJADLocalNews/entry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10419583]Big pro-independence rally for Quebec Solidaire[/url]

Sun, 2012-08-26 14:38

#303

Unionist

Hey Stockholm, she corrected herself (see above) and said she loves conservatives.

In fact, the [url=http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/elections-2012/357782/d-autres-difficu... piece[/url] puts it in historical context:

Quote:
[...] le parti fondé par René Lévesque s’est défini comme une coalition qui a toujours courtisé les souverainistes de droite.

Translation: "the party founded by René Lévesque defined itself as a coalition which has always courted right-wing sovereignists."

The problem with Marois was that she was on her way to Gouin, the riding which we all hope will be won by challenger Françoise David, and there, progressive-sounding talk plays better than "we'll balance the budget". She forgot herself momentarily.

Sun, 2012-08-26 14:51

#304

DaveW

I'm so old I can remember when feisty young reformers, like Gerald Godin RIP, would carry the PQ flag in these central Montreal ridings, speak frankly to the popular electorate , and pull off big upsets (Bourassa!)

... now the stale old PQ leader rushes in to make sure none of that happens

Sun, 2012-08-26 17:13

#305

alan smithee alan smithee's picture

So let me get it straight...We've got 3 right wing parties with only QS representing anything ressembling the left?

Sad,sad,sad...But Marois has said that the PQ represents progressives.

Too many mixed messages..atleast I know where Charest and Legault stand.

And BTW,Lévésque is SPINNING in his grave if he can see what his party has turned into.

Sun, 2012-08-26 17:27

#306

Unionist

alan smithee wrote:

So let me get it straight...We've got 3 right wing parties with only QS representing anything ressembling the left?

Well, it depends what scale you measure "left" on. The Liberal Party's policies would be hard to distinguish, on paper or in practice, from many NDP provincial governments I can think of. The PQ, whether in power or opposition, looks and sounds to the left of those same provincial NDPs on many fronts. Maybe most. That doesn't stop us here (as you know) from condemning the PQ every time it sides with the 1%.

Quote:
Sad,sad,sad...But Marois has said that the PQ represents progressives.

However one defines "progressives", there is little doubt that the majority of them vote PQ election after election. So she's right, in that sense.

Sun, 2012-08-26 17:36

#307

lagatta

Godin pulled his upset in the same riding where Amir was elected. He was a great MP too.

Actually, a lot of the speechifying at the rally was devoted to distinguishing the Solidaire position from the pure-laine identitaire stuff Marois has been voicing, and underlying that sovereignty was needed in order to bring about progressive change and not as an end in itself.

I do know left-wing federalists who will vote or have voted (advance poll) QS.

Sun, 2012-08-26 18:10

#308

Ippurigakko

I wonder If Pauline M. already knew about Northern Quebec speak mostly in English? and referendum says no-side in 1995?

If Northern quebec dont want sovereign country, then PQ or QS what they do with it? If Quebec leave Canada and Northern Quebec will part Canada? or become new province of Canada?

Nunavik is my neighbour Nunavut. I have relatives in there.

Sun, 2012-08-26 18:59

#309

Unionist

You think indigenous people feel more warm and fuzzy to Canada than to Québec?

Suggestion: If people want to speculate about what happens if Québec decides to form an independent state, start another thread.

Sun, 2012-08-26 19:47

#310

love is free love is free's picture

in the globe article on marois' latest gaffe (the ludicrous pander to progressive-minded montrealers), there's an interesting note that the leader has visited gouin three times already during the campaign, a stunning number of visits that betrays some serious concerns about the insurgent campaign of a certain co-spokesperson of a certain progressive party.

and from the gazoo:

But Jean-François Lisée, PQ candidate in Rosemont, said he is concerned David, running in the neighbouring riding of Gouin, will defeat Nicolas Girard, whose attacks on the “Liberal daycare scandal” have destabilized the Charest Liberals.

“I would support her if she was beating a Liberal, but she is running against one of the best politicians of his generation,” Lisée said of Girard

HAH! unlikely as it is, i hope that lisée is defeated too. that's what they said about turp too (the otherwise amazing guy that amir nuked in mercier last time around). game is over, only question is how many other seats solidaire can snatch.

Sun, 2012-08-26 20:04

#311

lagatta

Perhaps Marois just likes to shop at Jean-Talon Market?

They even launched their frigging campaign in Gouin. I have no idea where as there are no big halls or venues in this riding - most of them seem just north, south or east of here, in Laurier-Dorion, Mercier or Rosemont. And the nearest big park I go to frequently is Parc Jarry, just north of here in Laurier-Dorion (Villeray), where I used to live.

As for Indigenous people and peoples, the main message I get for them (I work on quite a bit of Indigenous stuff, but obviously I'll be no more specific about clients and jobs) is how committed they are to their own affirmation and autonomy, which is a very good thing. They were most effective in standing up to Marois' crap. But no love lost for Charest's Plan Nord or worse, what Harper is up to.

Sun, 2012-08-26 21:32

#312

Ippurigakko

Unionst, just remember what Romeo Saganash said something about northern Quebec. He said it make him concerns if quebec leave Canada, there is should something to do else.

another thread? i'll looking for it.

Mon, 2012-08-27 09:09

#313

Boom Boom

I remember multiple Quebec sovereignty threads on babble from long ago where we quoted First Nation leaders as saying that if Quebec leaves Canada, the the top two-thirds of Quebec - aboriginal territory - would remain in Canada. And, PQ spokespersons were quoted as saying that Quebec territory is 'indissolvable' or words to that effect. Quebec leaving Canada is just the start of a long fight.

Mon, 2012-08-27 13:46

#314

Boom Boom

Amir Khadir: In conversation with Quebec Solidaire's co-spokesperson

Mon, 2012-08-27 16:50

#315

alan smithee alan smithee's picture

I went to the advanced polling and voted...I was leaning towards the PQ up to the last minute and changed my mind and went with my conscience and voted QS again.

Sadly,I live in a riding where QS has no chance.

Best thing that can happen is a PQ government and I hope that QS can manage more seats this time around.

The bright side to this election is that if QS can pull off 4 or more seats,in the future they may become a force to be reckoned with.

The down side is that a PQ minority could spawn a coalition between CAQ and the PLQ...I know,I'm getting ahead of myself but I can see this happening.

But if that is the case,we may be back at the polls within the next 2 years.

Mon, 2012-08-27 17:01

#316

Boom Boom

QS has no chance here that I am aware of, but I'm voting for them anyway. I've been promoting QS on my Facebook page, but folks in this tiny community (100+ people) are probably going to vote Liberal. Probably because it's mostly an anglophone community.

Mon, 2012-08-27 17:41

#317

Ken Burch

Good. It's worth it.

Mon, 2012-08-27 18:43

#318

Unionist

[url=http://www.radio-canada.ca/sujet/elections-quebec-2012/2012/08/27/011-qu... interview[/url] with Manon Massé, QS candidate in Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques, decades-long community activist and feminist, on the issues facing women in politics and society.

Mon, 2012-08-27 23:16

#319

Unionist

[url=http://www.quebecsolidaire.net/quebec-solidaire-sera-aux-cotes-des-locko...ébec solidaire stands alongside locked-out workers and retirees to protect pension plans[/url]

They have also promised to increase the public Québec pension plan (as per the union movement's campaign) and to make private plan members preferred creditors, ahead of financial institutions, in the event of insolvency.

Tue, 2012-08-28 09:19

#320

DaveW

a good analysis:

http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/elections-2012/357816/la-pomme-empoiso...

in short, each of the 3 major parties would have glaring weaknesses were they to gain power Sept. 4, assuming they were a minority, and 2 of the 3 will be virtually destroyed if they do NOT win...

quite the political landscape

À huit jours du scrutin, il est encore possible que la CAQ gruge suffisamment de terrain pour se hisser au pouvoir. Mais sa faiblesse chronique dans des régions-clés comme l’île de Montréal suggère que, même dans le meilleur scénario, une majorité caquiste n’est pas dans les cartes.

C’est encore plus vrai pour le Parti libéral de Jean Charest. La tendance la plus lourde observée depuis le début de la campagne demeure la détermination d’une majorité écrasante de l’électorat francophone de tourner la page sur le règne libéral le 4 septembre. Dans ce contexte, il faut une grande part de pensée magique pour croire qu’il y a une majorité libérale au bout du chemin (de croix ?) électoral de M.Charest.

Sur papier, une majorité gouvernementale semble à portée de main du Parti québécois. Sauf que le PQ n’a pas nécessairement assez d’élan pour la saisir. Depuis un mois, le parti de Pauline Marois fait du surplace pendant que la CAQ monte lentement.

Si cette tendance se maintenait, le PQ pourrait être plus éloigné d’une victoire majoritaire dans une semaine qu’aujourd’hui.

[...]

Tue, 2012-08-28 09:54

#321

josh

CROP poll:

PQ 33
CAQ 28
Lib 26
QS 7

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1247972--quebec-elec...

Tue, 2012-08-28 12:06

#322

DaveW

Not too much change; I thought it was a repeat.

Crucial is the francophone vote: PQ 36-CAQ 30, Liberals sunk out of sight.

the original:

http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/elections-quebec-2012/201208/27/01-456...

Après répartition des 18% d'indécis, le Parti québécois arrive toujours premier, avec 33% d'appuis, un point de moins qu'il y a 15 jours. Le Parti libéral du Québec (PLQ) perd aussi un point, à 26%, par rapport à l'enquête précédente - des mouvements statistiquement non significatifs. Mais depuis le début de la course, le PLQ accumule désormais un recul de trois points. Québec solidaire et le Parti vert restent exactement au même point, malgré les débats télévisés, avec respectivement 7% et 3% d'intentions de vote.

La CAQ fait le plein

C'est du côté de la CAQ qu'on observe le mouvement le plus important. Le nouveau parti de François Legault obtient en effet 28% des intentions de vote, une hausse de trois points depuis l'enquête précédente, qui s'est terminée le 14 août. C'est sept points de plus que son score de départ, qui était de 21%. Selon Youri Rivest, spécialiste de CROP, «on voit clairement une montée de la CAQ et une baisse des libéraux». Avec des appuis importants dans la région de Québec et auprès des jeunes familles du 450 pour la CAQ, «les contours des élections commencent à ressembler beaucoup à ce qui s'est passé en 2007».

Tue, 2012-08-28 12:33

#323

love is free love is free's picture

the pq finally announces a montreal plan, basically phoned in with little of substance, aside from the promise of a ministry for the city. otherwise, it's basically a re-iteration of the transportation plan, the language plan, the families plan, and some references to increasing manufacturing (yeah right).

http://www.radio-canada.ca/sujet/elections-quebec-2012/2012/08/27/018-pr...

Wed, 2012-08-29 10:40

#324

Boom Boom

Wed, 2012-08-29 11:16

#325

DaveW

I would like to see the PQ bus flip over, too .... a clean sweep!

Wed, 2012-08-29 11:46

#326

kropotkin1951

The Tyee published an interesting perspective on the PQ's secular charter policy this morning. IMO the cross being allowed but no other religious symbol is discrimination plain and simple. I fit into the category of someone who would welcome a secular Charter but understand that the Xians in my midst, like those in Quebec, would never allow such a thing to happen without a special exemption for their religion.

Quote:

The separatist Parti Quebecois is leading in the polls. Their most distinct policy, besides an eagerness to lead Quebec into another referendum, is a proposed secular charter that will banish all religious garments and symbolism from the provincial realm. No head coverings for Sikhs, Muslims or Jews, no religious objects at all except for the cross, described as "a part of Quebec's heritage." Secularism -- the separation of political and religious institutions -- is one of the principles of democracy. A secular charter would be welcome by many in North America. But this charter is not designed to separate religion, but to entrench it, as long as it’s the right one.

It is hard to predict which of these policies will do more to separate Quebec from the rest of Canada. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of religion, and it would be difficult to imagine this kind of discrimination in Alberta where the mayors of the two largest cities are Muslim and Jewish.

http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/08/29/Parti-Quebecois/

Wed, 2012-08-29 12:23

#327

love is free love is free's picture

more bunk about quebec from those analyzing the province based on news reports and analyses of outsiders. the only "cross" that's excluded as "heritage" - for the moment - is the one in the legislature, and one can pretty much assume that'll go once the pq is in office. basically, it's secularizing the public service in terms of outward signs of religious affiliation - so nun teachers, for instance, would no longer be allowed to wear their habit. "entrenching" the catholic faith in quebec? i don't think there's a more secular place in canada, aside from bc maybe, and with this new secular policy, it'll go further still.

Wed, 2012-08-29 12:25

#328

Unionist

kropotkin, that Tyee item about Québec is remarkably ignorant.

ETA: crossposted, fully agree with love is free's comments.

Wed, 2012-08-29 12:35

#329

Boom Boom

I'm confused - I thought the PQ want the crucifix to remain in the National Assembly.

Wed, 2012-08-29 12:37

#330

love is free love is free's picture

wow, on the presse website the interview with marois drops a lot of weird stuff. she says as a matter of course that she wants to eliminate tuition fees - might have misspoke though, she says "les frais de scolarité, je veux les annuler" maybe she meant the increases, but that's not what she said - and unambiguously says "i want public financing for political parties." since the start of the campaign, the pq has drifted to the left to the point well beyond what i can remember in recent years.

Wed, 2012-08-29 13:19

#331

voice of the damned

loveisfree wrote:

the only "cross" that's excluded as "heritage" - for the moment - is the one in the legislature, and one can pretty much assume that'll go once the pq is in office

Why can that be assumed? After the Bouchard-Taylor Comminison recommended that the crucifix come down, the Assembly voted unanimously to keep it up. If the PQ was supporting the crucifix at that time, why would their opinion suddenly change once they got into office?

http://tinyurl.com/bt65agc

Wed, 2012-08-29 13:39

#332

Unionist

Yes, the PQ is clear that it wants the crucifix in the National Assembly to stay. Even their candidate Benhabib, who disagrees with that, had to bow to party policy. I didn't notice that part of love is free's post - there's no reason to assume they'll change their mind once in office.

Wed, 2012-08-29 13:42

#333

Unionist

love is free wrote:

wow, on the presse website the interview with marois drops a lot of weird stuff. she says as a matter of course that she wants to eliminate tuition fees - might have misspoke though, she says "les frais de scolarité, je veux les annuler" maybe she meant the increases, but that's not what she said

Seriously, Marois has been clear from day one that the PQ [b]opposes[/b] free tuition in university. The only hiccup was when she called for all involved in the strike to sit down and explore all options. But when asked straight out about free tuition, she said NO:

[url=http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/elections-2012/357910/marois-ecarte-la... Marois écarte la gratuité scolaire [/url]

Wed, 2012-08-29 13:47

#334

NorthReport

http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/elections-quebec-2012/201208/29/01-4569298-quebec-solidaire-luranium-au-coeur-du-plan-nord.php?utm_categorieinterne=trafficdrivers&utm_contenuinterne=cyberpresse_B9_elections-quebec-2012_1965459_accueil_POS1

Wed, 2012-08-29 13:56

#335

kropotkin1951

Unionist wrote:

kropotkin, that Tyee item about Québec is remarkably ignorant. ETA: crossposted, fully agree with love is free's comments.

I thought as much. It reminds me of Quebec comments about the mythical ROC. The article of course was ignorant of the difference between a cross and a crucifix. That it is only one crucifix in the seat of clvic power tempers my disdain for the discrimination although as an outsider it seems to me that if your societies missions is to become secular through your National Assembly it should be the starting place of the change not the last bastion of the Catholic Church.

he Tyee is BC's progressive news outlet and it has a good comments section that is not fully inhabited by right wing trolls. You should explain your understanding of the law especially the fact that it is only the crucifix in the legislature that is exempted.

Wed, 2012-08-29 14:57

#336

lagatta

I had written this, but couldn't seem to post here:

There is absolutely nothing in the photo illustrating the Tyee article that would be banned in Québec, even under the most stringent versions of a secularism charter. Looking very chic in a beautiful hijab, standing under a tree (in light drizzle, I believe, sort of meditating on the beauty of God's creation - or Nature, as we heathens would call her?

The beautiful young lady does not appear to be acting as a judge, police officer or prison guard - jobs involving direct authority, in which an appearance of neutrality (however defined) is essential.

My memory may be playing tricks, but I do believe Marois or another of the PQ secularism advocates would allow a "small and discreet" cross to be worn.

Québec has come a long way towards secularism, and in general this has been a good thing for religious minorities. When there were only confessional school boards, non-Catholics such as Orthodox Christians but also even Jews and Buddhists, Taoists etc had to attend Protestant schools, and in some cases sing Protestant hymns (not very many Muslim immigrants back then - the early Arab immigrants of over a century ago were overwhelmingly Orthodox Christians).

But we still have a way to go. Removing the Crucifix from the National Assembly would be an important symbolic step. Of course it is a significant historical relic - but it belongs in the Parliament's own museum. Lawmakers of any faith or none should be equal. And the main obstacle to secularism and equality in a historically Catholic country remains the Catholic church, despite our many victories against its domination.

I personally don't have any problem with an MNA wearing hijab or a kippa, but also think that the public and journalists should be able to question any candidate about whether their faith might unduly influence policy decisions - and of course this does not necessarily involve their dress choices. Or they may be well hidden, as in the Mormon "garments" (magical underwear) Mick Romney reportedly wears.

Wed, 2012-08-29 15:36

#337

lagatta

Good thing you got it in time! Where do you vote, at the church?

Wed, 2012-08-29 15:38

#338

Boom Boom

Finally got my electoral's info card in the mail listing all the candidates here. Seven, including one independent. And a party I've never heard of before: Coalition pour la constituante.

ETA: I just noticed Lorraine Richard (PQ) is running again here. She's a really, really nice person, I know her well, and she is fluently bilingual, and very forgiving of my fractured French. The QS candidate here is Jacques Gelineau, someone I know nothing about, and have never met. I have to admit I really am torn - Lorraine is quite popular here. I'm leaning now towards voting for her (again...) because she's a known quantity, and very fair to us here on the Lower North Shore - especially with getting Route 138 extended out here.

Wed, 2012-08-29 15:39

#339

Boom Boom

No, we vote in an empty office at the school. I forgot to mention Lorraine is with the PQ. I think she's getting my vote - again.

Thu, 2012-08-30 12:35

#340

Brachina

This debate reminds me about Sihk mounties and the contrevesy over turbines.

I believed it then and I believe it now, attacking thier freedom of religious expression are being start up racist, they can make all the excuses they want and dress it up, but at the end of the day the message to religious minorities is your second class citizens and you don't belong and I think its disgusting.

Fri, 2012-08-31 09:19

#341

Boom Boom

Someone posted this on my FB wall last night - odd, because language rights aren't really a concern of mine.

Macpherson: Legault’s new proposals clarify his stand on anglos

In an hour-long interview with The Gazette’s editorial board Wednesday, François Legault gave not a single reason why anglophones should vote for his Coalition Avenir Québec instead of Jean Charest’s Liberals.

ETA: Sounds like the Gazette is endorsing Charest. What a bunch of ignorant jerks.

Fri, 2012-08-31 10:19

#342

Unionist

[url=http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/elections-2012/358227/amir-khadir-et-f... Devoir interviews Françoise David and Amir Khadir[/url]

QS discusses how it will act if it holds the balance of power in a PQ minority government situation.

Fri, 2012-08-31 10:30

#343

autoworker autoworker's picture

I listened to Legault's interview, and I didn't get the impression that The Gazette was endorsing Charest, tacitly or otherwise. Actually, I thought Legault acquitted himself well. I especially liked his goal of working towards Quebec becoming a net contributor to equalization. As for an Anglo's reason for voting CAQ: the sweet irony of a few Anglo ridings deciding the outcome of a tight race among Francophones, and sweeter still: denying Marois' craven lust for power at any cost.

Fri, 2012-08-31 11:06

#344

DaveW

Boom Boom wrote:

Someone posted this on my FB wall last night - odd, because language rights aren't really a concern of mine.

Macpherson: Legault’s new proposals clarify his stand on anglos

In an hour-long interview with The Gazette’s editorial board Wednesday, François Legault gave not a single reason why anglophones should vote for his Coalition Avenir Québec instead of Jean Charest’s Liberals.

ETA: Sounds like the Gazette is endorsing Charest. What a bunch of ignorant jerks.

The Gazette is about the biggest burden the Anglo comunity has to deal with .... but then it reflects a deep-rooted hidebound mentality that I run away from as fast as I can

Fri, 2012-08-31 11:13

#345

Boom Boom

The Gazette has the best editorial cartoonist, however.

Fri, 2012-08-31 11:14

#346

lagatta

Even if it means voting in a rightwing, anti-union party?

CAQ has terrible positions on workers' rights to organise and negotiate.

I don't like Marois either, but she has not a whit more lust for power than the other two "leading candidates". Women are always more harshly judged.

Brachina, I don't think all advocates of secularism are covert racists. When we were working for Montreal (then Catholic) school board candidates in the MÉMO party, we were above all fighting the control held by a very retrograde, borderline-fundamentalist Catholic party. And we won. School boards here are now language-based, not religion-based. And the candidate I was working for was a Moroccan, "secular Muslim", Afifa Maaninou. She won her seat and did a great deal to help schools and the student body in Côte-des-Neiges (one of the most multi-ethnic areas in Mtl). Even getting a new school built. And yes, working on "reasonable accomodation" for pupils of different faith backgrounds - for example, many pupils from Muslim and Hindu backgrounds did not want to wear shorts in gym class. Now they can wear long athletic wear - and surprise - more than a few "old stock" QuébécoisEs at the schools also preferred to dress that way - teenagers can be very self-conscious. On the other hand, there was no question of letting any kid be exempted from biology or sex ed.

Fri, 2012-08-31 11:27

#347

Boom Boom

I think I heard Legault in that first debate bash the PQ because they were too close to the unions. Somehow I have the impression that Legault is even more right wing than Charest.

Fri, 2012-08-31 11:34

#348

lagatta

He is; a real "Lucide". Though the funny part is how the collection of alpha males in the CAQ can't keep from fighting one another. Barrette, Duscheneau and a couple of others have publicly contradicted Legault on important points.

Fri, 2012-08-31 12:34

#349

theleftyinvestor

The PQ is sporting a rainbow today on Twitter. Well at least that's one thing we agree on.

[View the story "PQ rainbow logo today" on Storify]

Fri, 2012-08-31 12:52

#350

lagatta

This is indeed a point of pride for the first PQ government, and for Québec as a whole. Discrimination against gay and lesbian people was outlawed here in 1977 (the first PQ government enacted much progressive legislation; later governments were much patchier to say the least).

I don't believe the first law applied to transgender people, but this has been corrected since. Bisexual people would have been covered. I'm trying to find the text of the law; if anyone can help me with that.

Fri, 2012-08-31 13:46

#351

Unionist

lagatta wrote:
I'm trying to find the text of the law; if anyone can help me with that.

As far as I know, it's section 10 of the [url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php... des droits et libertés de la personne[/url]:

Quote:
Toute personne a droit à la reconnaissance et à l'exercice, en pleine égalité, des droits et libertés de la personne, sans distinction, exclusion ou préférence fondée sur la race, la couleur, le sexe, la grossesse, l'orientation sexuelle, l'état civil, l'âge sauf dans la mesure prévue par la loi, la religion, les convictions politiques, la langue, l'origine ethnique ou nationale, la condition sociale, le handicap ou l'utilisation d'un moyen pour pallier ce handicap.

[my emphasis]

This is the 1977 wording. Here's what Wikipedia says:

Quote:
In 1977, the Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is both a charter of rights and a human rights act, was amended to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Thus, the province of Quebec became the first jurisdiction in the world larger than a city or county to prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in the private and public sectors.

I don't know exactly how trans discrimination came to be banned here. I think the tribunal used to make a distinction between transgender (not covered by the Charte) and transsexual (where sex change is complete), but my memory may be faulty. Where are our lawyers??

quebec election - 04.09.2012

Pages