On Feb. 25, members of the Montreal community gathered at a vigil held on campus to pay their respects to the 21 Egyptian victims killed in Libya. A video released by Libyan Islamic State extremists on Feb. 15 showed the alleged execution of 21 captured members of Egypt’s Coptic Christian[Read More…]
Montreal
Over 1,000 march against austerity cuts in provincial education funding
Approximately 1,500 people protested against austerity cuts in education on Feb. 28. The march from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) to McGill University was organized by several student unions, including the provincial student unions Fédération étudiante Universitaire du Québec (FEUQ); Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec (FECQ), the Labor Union[Read More…]
Cities We Need conference highlights importance of municipal autonomy
The McGill Institute for the Study of Canada (MISC) opened its 20th annual two-day conference on Feb. 19, focusing on the challenges cities across Canada face. Elected officials from cities across the country, scholars, and representatives of non-governmental organizations gathered to discuss topics including governance, culture, infrastructure, citizenship, and social[Read More…]
Scholars examine racial discourse and practices in Canada, United States
A panel discussion on the history and development of anti-black racial practices in Canada and the United States was held on Feb. 16 as part of the David A. Freedman Speaker Series. Titled “Discourses of Race: The United States, Canada, and Transnational Anti-Blackness,” the event was organized by the McGill[Read More…]
McGill experts discuss Supreme Court decision on physician-assisted death
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Feb. 6 against the criminal ban of physician-assisted death has sparked questions amongst McGill experts regarding Canada’s future legislation on the issue. According to the Supreme Court judgment, the Criminal Code that currently bans individuals from assisting others in suicide is in contradiction with[Read More…]
Bill 10: MUHC concerned about new network structure
On Feb. 7, Bill 10 was passed in the National Assembly of Quebec. The Bill is set to abolish the 18 regional health agencies, which are currently responsible for coordinating the health care and social services of a given area. These include child protection services, elderly care, hospitals, and other[Read More…]
Public school teachers protest austerity measures, proposed changes to contract agreements
On Feb. 9, the Montreal trade union of kindergarten to high school teachers, the Alliance des Professeures et Professeurs de Montreal (APPM), staged a protest outside Roddick Gates. The APPM represents teachers’ interests before the Commission Scolaire de Montreal (CSM), the Montreal public school board. According to APPM members, the[Read More…]
Removal of Viger Square homeless encampment by SPVM spurs reaction from Anonymous
Following the Jan. 7 bulldozing of a homeless encampment in Viger Square, the Service de Police de la ville de Montreal (SPVM) has responded to subsequent backlash. In Nov. 2014, Anonymous, a hacker collective, began an initiative called Operation Safe Winter (OpSafeWinter). The initiative’s goal was to protect the homeless community[Read More…]
Thousands march in Montreal and Quebec City against provincial austerity measures
Tens of thousands of protesters participated in a march against the Quebec government’s proposed austerity measures on Saturday, Nov. 29. According to the organizers of the protest, the Collectif Refusons l’Austerité, over 125,000 people participated in both Montreal and Quebec City. Protesters included representatives from student unions, employees of the[Read More…]
Demonstration draws crowds of thousands in protest against austerity
Last Friday, thousands of people including students, unions, and social service organizations gathered for a one-day strike and protest on the austerity measures being imposed by the Quebec government under Liberal Premier Philippe Couillard. The demonstration was declared illegal by the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) about 30 minutes after it[Read More…]
