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Editorial, Opinion

Mourning the Queen celebrates a violent legacy

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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CW: Colonial violence

On Sept. 8, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom died following a series of health complications. As a member state of the Commonwealth, Canada has commenced a 10-day national mourning period. The House of Commons was convened on Thursday to pay tribute to Elizabeth and to proclaim the accession of King Charles III to the throne. Yet, the Queen’s death has sparked a global discussion about the monarchy’s problematic past and its relevance today. The Queen’s death presents an opportunity to reflect on her role in the violent history of the British Empire, critique the influence of the monarchy in Canada, and demand more than unquestioning reverence from our peers and institutions.

Today, the monarchy is mainly characterized by antiquated elitism, unaccountability, and scandal. Its sustained impact and legacy, however, have deeply sinister implications as the institution is predicated on exploitation, privilege, and white supremacy. Considering the long history of extractivism by the British Empire at the behest of the monarchy, many countries are still in the process of rebuilding economic systems that, in their colonial eras, existed primarily to sustain Europe’s development. With absolute impunity, the monarchy looted innumerable artifacts and treasures, monopolized trade through annexation and coercion, and caused a famine in South Asia that claimed millions of lives. The reverberations of colonial exploitation still underlie the U.K.’s relationships with many Commonwealth countries.

From the very beginning of her reign in 1952, the Queen actively participated in the colonial regime of her predecessors and brutally suppressed independence movements. The Mau Mau uprising in Kenya began the same year as Elizabeth’s accession, where British colonial troops forced hundreds of thousands of Kenyans into detention camps, subjecting them to monstrous and inhumane conditions. The history of the uprising is still obscenely misrepresented by public British institutions. In the years that followed, the Queen quashed independence movements and supported the torture of anti-colonization activists in Cyprus and in Yemen. Queen Elizabeth never once acknowledged the crimes that Britain and her family committed throughout its history as an invading force, and the majority of Britons maintain that the British Empire is something to be proud of. 

In Canada, those applying for citizenship must swear allegiance to the monarch, and the Crown’s authority is deeply embedded in the constitution. Functionally, the monarch serves as a merely symbolic rubber stamp and a relic of a bygone past. Yet, their presence as Canadian head of state continuously reaffirms their authority and perpetuates indifference towards the violent, systemic, and ongoing colonization of Indigenous peoples and their lands. 

Two particularly problematic arguments have surfaced since Elizabeth’s death. One: Despite her role in the British Empire’s imperial conquests, the Queen, as an individual, deserves our respect. Such perspectives insist that Elizabeth, the person, and Elizabeth, the violent colonizer, can and should be viewed as distinct entities. Two: Yes, she did those things, but the criticism should wait. Both positions deny the importance of the Queen’s imperial history in the context of her remembrance. 

The Queen, to much of the world, represents violence, oppression, and suffering. She orchestrated countless brutal responses to independence movements and refused to show remorse for, or even acknowledge, the crimes of her empire—normalizing an institution rooted in racism, invasion, and resource extractivism.

McGill lowered its flag to half-mast in commemoration of the Queen and the Crown’s “special relationship” with the university. The relationship in question consists of a then-Princess Elizabeth’s visit to the university, once, over 70 years ago. Aside from that, the Queen’s time in Quebec was most notable for the consistent presence of separatist protesters decrying the Crown’s influence over the French province. One could argue that McGill’s response was an insensitive and untimely attempt to flaunt its prestige and historical prominence. Yet, such actions seem wholly unsurprising in their distaste. They are consistent with the deeply problematic pasts and the shameless colonial apologetics of both the monarchy and the university.

McGill must acknowledge that its own conception is borne out of the same destructive ideology that the Queen perpetuated as an imperial tyrant. If it is serious about truth and reconciliation, Canada must use this opportunity to leave the Commonwealth. There is no better time than the present to address the wounds of Elizabeth’s role in a violent colonial regime by holding our institutions and governments to account.

Science & Technology, Student Research

Is Montreal the next powerhouse of AI research?

by Atticus O’Rourke Rusin on

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly commonplace in our society—from its implementation in smartphone apps like Siri and the curation of playlists on platforms like Spotify, to credit score calculations and even works of art. Over the past several years, McGill and, more broadly, Montreal, has emerged as a hub for artificial intelligence research. Companies such as Element AI, Stradigi AI, and Imagia—all companies using AI to push the limits of their respective fields—now call the city home.

In 2016, researchers from Université de Montréal and McGill founded Montreal’s Institute for Learning Algorithms (MILA). MILA has attracted big names in AI research, such as Joëlle Pineau, a William Dawson Scholar and associate professor at McGill specializing in robotics, healthcare, and conversational agents. It has also received generous funding from both the Canadian government and private companies such as Google and IBM. 

“MILA has contributed to the growth of the local AI sector for sure,” wrote Abdelrahman Zayed, a researcher at MILA, in an email to The McGill Tribune. “New students [and] researchers come specifically to Montreal because of MILA’s reputation.”

The positive impacts of AI are already being felt in Montreal. Major talent in AI is coming to the city, searching for the opportunities offered by numerous major tech companies, many of which receive supplemental funding from the government. MILA alone employs approximately 750 people, including industry professionals, students, and faculty members from the different universities involved in the project. 

AI’s effect on the economy is massive. From 2017 to 2021, the industry was responsible for a $1.9 billion increase in Quebec’s gross domestic product alone. The investments from the Quebec government have also led to the creation of 3,000 jobs per year in the sector. The growth of MILA is only one example of how these jobs contribute to innovation in Montreal.

“The environment is super diverse, and full of talented people from all over the world,” Zayed wrote.

“Research is all about novel ideas, so imagine when you put [hundreds of] talented researchers all in the same building.”

The AI industry, however, is not without its flaws. Zayed explained that AI algorithms can mirror some of the negative patterns in human thinking, such as racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination. For example, AI algorithms that are trained on data from historical criminal conviction records disproportionately identify Black and Indigenous cases as high-risk repeat offenders because these groups are already overrepresented in the prison population—not because they are inherently higher-risk individuals. Also, these algorithms can violate people’s privacy, such as in the case of facial recognition systems. 

“When you start deploying AI systems, you will start seeing some undesirable behaviours, such as being sexist, racist, etc.,” Zayed wrote. “They can also violate people’s privacy.”

The implementation of AI could also influence the makeup of the workforce: The highest-paying jobs are often allocated to those who can afford higher-level degrees. Furthermore, competition between companies may become more one-sided, with companies that are quick to implement AI-centric practices gaining an edge over those who do not. Additionally, a major disadvantage with AI in its current state is its limited capability to come up with creative solutions.  

“AI systems still struggle when they see new problems that don’t resemble what was seen before,” Zayed wrote. “We still have not reached our goal of having a system that is as intelligent as humans, or even close to that.”

As a leader in this burgeoning field, Montreal is at the forefront of exploring and developing new and interesting implementations of this technology. But with that comes the responsibility of ethically implementing the technologies developed. For its part, MILA has developed various initiatives that aim to tackle issues such as gender and racial bias, climate change and human trafficking using artificial intelligence. This is only the start for AI research in Montreal. 

Campus Spotlight, Student Life

The ‘World of Chemistry’ courses: Why are they so popular?

by Jiajia Li on

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Word around campus is that if you’re looking for an easy elective to fit into your schedule, Professors David Harpp and Joe Schwarcz’s World of Chemistry Courses are for you. The dynamic duo, Chemistry of Foods (CHEM 181) and Chemistry of Drugs (CHEM 183), have consistently been some of the most popular electives for science and non-science students alike. With curricula including historical, practical, and chemical aspects of food in CHEM 181 and drug history, marketing, and mental illness in CHEM 183, the courses cover a wide range of chemistry-related topics. To help gain a better understanding of their appeal, The McGill Tribune spoke with students who have taken or are currently taking these classes.

Cynthia Wang, U1 Science, is enrolled in Chemistry of Drugs and saw the course as an opportunity to balance out her hectic academic schedule.

“I heard from people that it was a relatively easy class and, as an elective, that’s kind of what I’m aiming for,” Wang said. “My courses are already pretty heavy at times and I don’t think there’s a need to find an elective that requires too much time in my schedule.” 

For Wang, the courses’ reputations as “bird courses”—a reputation built through discussion platforms such as Reddit and Facebook—have been a major selling point. The content is presented through a series of pre-recorded lectures that students are free to watch at their own pace—within reason. As part of the asynchronous learning style, students have access to the transcripts of the videos and can adjust the playback speed to their liking, making for a customizable learning experience. Even better, the exams are taken fully online.

What’s more, says Sonya Colliander, U1 Arts, who took the Foods course last winter term, is that the asynchronous style of the course offers the attractive advantage of flexibility. 

“Because they’re self-directed and there is no actual lecture time—they’re just videos uploaded on MyCourses that can be worked through whenever you want—a lot of students find that good for their schedule,” Colliander explained. 

Of course, students who have taken the courses speak highly about its content. 

“Since I used to study health science [in CEGEP], I still have interest in any subject related to that field,” Wang said. “[This class] allows me to learn about drug history and the effects of medicine throughout time, which I find interesting.”

Despite being science courses, CHEM 181 and 183 are, fortunately, not limited to science students. In fact, classes are composed of students from nearly every faculty on campus, with approximately 50 per cent from Science, 30 per cent from Arts, and 20 per cent from Management, Education, Agriculture/Environment, Music, Law, and Engineering, according to the course information.

According to Sahar Sakhi, U1 Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, little to no chemistry background is required for success in the World of Chemistry courses. Sakhi, who is taking the Drugs course this term, believes that the course is accessible to anyone because it doesn’t go into dense and incomprehensible detail about science or chemistry.

Since the courses are pre-recorded, however, they no doubt lack the essential community elements embedded in in-person classes. 

“I think one of the downsides about this class is that it’s not as interactive as other classes. You don’t see the teachers or your classmates; everything is kind of on your own,” Sakhi said. 

Colliander adds a note of caution that “it is really easy to procrastinate in the class because there are no deadlines throughout the semester, so it is up to you to stay on top of the lectures and quizzes.” 

With classes finally going back in person, students can definitely look forward to learning in a real class setting, with the teacher and classmates up close and personal. If you still want an interesting online science course that allows flexibility, however, the World of Chemistry courses could be just what you need.

McGill Recommendations, Out on the Town, Student Life

Beyond the Bixi in the big city

by Mahnoor Chaudhry on

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Although fall may be the perfect weather to head out for a walk, when you’ve barely woken up and are already late for your 8:30 class, it’s good to know all of your commuting options. For such last-minute panics, the Tribune presents various alternatives to help you make it to your lectures on time, and maybe even stop for coffee. 

1. Biking

Incorporating cycling into your morning routine is not only healthy, but also a time-efficient means of getting to school. Biking is also a fun way to start the day—unless your commute is uphill—with cool morning temperatures making it the perfect time to go for a ride. Luckily, you need not be a bike owner to incorporate this exercise into your daily life. 

Bixi, a public bike-rental service, offers monthly and yearly packages for just $18 and $92, respectively. You can rent a bike from one of their many stations and drop it off at a station near your destination, making it quite a convenient way to get to campus and around the city. There are a few stations near campus, with the most popular ones being on the corners of McTavish and Sherbrooke, and University and Milton. Other stations around campus include those on Sherbrooke and Aylmer, Sherbrooke and Hutchison, and University and Prince Arthur. 

In case you don’t want to commit to a longer membership, Bixi also offers one-way passes for a flat fee of $1, and a variable charge depending on the time of day. The regular bike costs 15 cents per minute, while an electric one is 30 cents per minute. With a membership, the regular Bixi costs 10 cents per minute, after 45 free minutes, and 12 cents/minute for an electric bike. With or without a membership, Bixi bikes are one of the cheaper options to get to campus. 

2. Public transport

The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) offers a range of flexible train, metro, and bus routes to fit into your commuting schedule. You can order a rechargeable OPUS card for $15, which you can load with tickets and passes. For students, the STM offers a reduced-fare OPUS card that you can order online through Minerva, under the student menu. 

For students, the monthly pass costs $56.50, the weekly one costs $29, and a one-way ticket costs $3.50. There are also other fare deals such as unlimited evenings, unlimited weekends, and 24 hours whose fares are accessible on their website. If you plan on making more than 15 trips a month via metro or bus, the monthly pass is definitely the way to go.  

Buses are one of the most convenient and accessible ways to get to campus. The buses most used by students are the 24 which runs on Sherbrooke and has a stop right in front of the Roddick Gates, and the 144 which has stops near the Tomlinson Fieldhouse, the Strathcona Anatomy and Dentistry Building, and the Stewart Biology Building. The metro is also a great option for those who live close to a station. You can get off at the McGill metro station––exiting a couple of streets below Sherbrooke, on boulevard Robert-Bourassa, and walk up to campus. 

3. Communauto

If you live farther away and are in an absolute rush, you can also rent a car from Communauto, a low-cost vehicle-sharing company. Prior to renting, however, you have to sign up for an account and get it verified—a process that usually takes a couple of days. 


While they do offer different memberships, they also have a free plan under which you can pick any of their marked cars off the road (called the FLEX option). This option allows you to drop the car anywhere within their parking zones and costs 40 cents per minute, $12.75 per hour, or $50 per day. With Communauto, you can also reserve a car, which is less costly than their FLEX option. Fuel costs of up to $50 per trip are covered by them, and you can learn more about how their service works here.

Research Briefs, Science & Technology

A new immunocellular therapy at our doorstep

by Maddie Perry on

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According to the Canadian Cancer Society, nearly 7,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with leukemia this year with a mortality rate of nearly 50 per cent. Similarly, over 10,000 will be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma—a specific type of cancer that causes lymphocyte cells to develop abnormally. Many research institutions across the globe have undertaken the challenge of developing a treatment for these cancers, and some have succeeded in creating a quality care program for patients.

This past July, the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) was named one of the leading providers of immune effector cell (IEC) therapy, a revolutionary new treatment for more advanced cases of leukemia and lymphoma. Specifically, the MUHC now offers a new immunocellular therapy for adult patients diagnosed with a form of blood cancer resistant to standard treatments. Referred to as CAR-T therapy, it has been proven to prevent relapses for 60 per cent of patients in studies conducted on children over a five-year period.

Other forms of cancer treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, have been standard approaches to care for years, yet are not always successful with various or new forms of aggressive cancers. 

CAR-T therapy is a form of immunocellular therapy that involves extracting T cells, a type of white blood cell, from the patient’s blood. Following this, the T cells are taken to a lab to be reprogrammed to attack cancer cells by introducing the T cells to a gene that codes for the chimeric antigen receptor, which binds to the surface of a target cancer cell and destroys it. From there, the CAR-T cells can be given to the patient via infusion.

Due to its ability to target cancer cells directly, CAR-T therapy is considered a promising treatment for leukemias and lymphomas that were previously thought to be incurable. The opening of the MUHC CAR-T program to the general public, and its designation as one of the centres in Quebec that provides this cutting-edge therapy, extends the frontiers of cancer research and therapy accessibility in Canada.

“CAR-T treatments are leading-edge therapies that offer a chance of cure for certain patients with lymphoma who have failed conventional therapies, often including high doses of chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplants,” said Dr. Michael Sebag, director of the IEC Therapy Program of the MUHC, in an email to The McGill Tribune. 

Similar to all forms of cancer treatment, CAR-T immunotherapy has several serious side effects. As an intense form of immunotherapy in which the T cells become biochemically altered, the introduction of the gene to the T cells can result in a mass eradication of B cells which produce the antibodies needed to fight off viruses. 

Therefore, patients on CAR-T can become susceptible to other infections. Some reactions to CAR-T therapy may be more severe than others, the worst and most frequent being cytokine release syndrome. This is caused by the fast release of cytokines, small proteins that regulate the immune system, into the blood from the tampered T cells. This causes respiratory problems, nausea, and fever, among other symptoms.

Despite its high success rate, CAR-T cell therapy can be hard to access. The treatment process is expensive and in Canada, it is only offered to those who meet strict needs-based criteria. In Quebec, the government has dedicated $35 million a year to fund this form of therapy, which is expected to help 60 adults and 10 children each year. In Canada, the total cost of CAR-T therapy nears half a million dollars per patient, rendering the therapy less accessible—a major point of criticism.

Despite its drawbacks, CAR-T cell therapy has been nothing short of revolutionary in the field of cancer research. It opens up a new chapter for the longed-for progression of cancer treatment and the advancement of the McGill Cancer Care mission, providing hope and inspiration for both medical professionals and patients around the world. 

“The MUHC University Health Centre is committed to bringing cutting edge therapies [to] our cancer patients,” said Sebag. “We are thrilled to have assembled a talented and dedicated team to deliver these.”

Art, Arts & Entertainment

‘Radiology of the Abdomen for the Surgeon’ connects artistry to anatomy

by Ella Buckingham on

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Located in the Maude Abbott Medical Museum on the second floor of the Strathcona Building, Radiology of the abdomen for the surgeon showcases 10 works of embroidery, each depicting a different abdominal organ.

Split up between two glass cabinets, the exhibition appears unassuming at first, but, on second glance, it reveals beautiful depictions of the human body. It displays organs such as the spleen, the stomach, and the liver, among others, highlighting parts of the body hard at work in our day-to-day lives. A graduate student in biotechnology law at l’Université de Montréal, Catherine Tsatoumas manages to connect both the scientific and the artistic in a unique way that unites these two often disparate worlds.

“I started embroidery when I was a teenager in high school,” Tsatoumas revealed in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “For the past 20 years, I have been doing embroidery professionally, alongside my university studies.”

Radiology of the abdomen for the surgeon came about from her work with the McGill University Health Centre Patient’s Committee. The care and attention Tsatoumas devotes to her work shines through each piece, and, because she is a full-time student as well, each piece takes her a couple of months to complete. Tsatoumas has also taught Greek-Byzantine style embroidery in the Hellenic Communities of both Montreal and Ottawa. Reflecting this, the main stitchwork she uses in her embroidery is called the Byzantine stitch. The exhibit was stitched together from multiple different parts of her background and experience, creating the works people see today.

The true beauty of this exhibit is in its simplicity. Held in only two glass cabinets, the 10 pieces are beautiful in their minimalism. Each organ is carefully hand-sewn onto either turquoise or white silk squares, symbolizing surgeons’ scrubs and radiologists’ robes, respectively. The exhibit takes the inner workings of the human body, normally only pictured clinically in medical textbooks, and represents them in the vibrant medium of embroidery. The resulting work is both whimsical and captivating. Tsatoumas’ interest and expertise in both the human body and embroidery are put on full display.

One of Tsatoumas’ pieces, Radiology for the Surgeon, stood out in particular for its representation of the human abdomen. This piece attracts the eye with its bold, fanciful hand-stitched title and multitude of colours, from pulsing reds to silvery blues. Each organ stands out on the white background, shown in a creative, compelling way guaranteed to intrigue even the most hardened Arts student. 

“[This is] a miniature collection of all the organs of the abdomen,” Tsatoumas explained. “This piece is supposed to be the introduction to the nine pieces of the collection. That is why it is so large, and it encompasses everything.” 

Surrounded by medieval-looking medical tools, sections of brains in jars, and other scary, pointy medical instruments in the Maude Abbott Museum, Radiology of the abdomen for a surgeon offers viewers an alternative look into human anatomy: A warm, inviting exhibit complete with brightly coloured images and playful embroidered fonts. Tsatoumas hopes to continue doing similar work in the future, with plans to create a collage of ailments of the human breast and one of the ear. 

“I would like for all to marvel at the human mind and how it can assimilate its functions and be creative,” said Tsatoumas. “After all, scientific inventions are geared by talented artists and, above all else, draw attention to the wholeness of the human body.” Radiology of the abdomen for the surgeon is on display at the Maude Abbott Medical Museum in the Strathcona Building until Sept. 23.

Commentary, Opinion

Sacrificing academic fulfillment for a 4.0

by Priya Maiti on

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In the midst of add-drop season, any study space at McGill is filled with students frantically scrolling through the McGill course catalogue in search of the perfect class—one that will fit into their packed schedules, help them increase their GPAs, and make their lives a little easier. How much they enjoy the course is only an afterthought. Academic fulfillment is no longer the point or, seemingly, even a prevalent factor in university life. To prevent this, McGill needs to take steps to ensure that students are able to enrich themselves academically without concern for their futures.

As an exchange student from London, the add-drop process itself was a new world for me. In the United Kingdom., studying a program where you “major” in more than one subject or have the option to “minor” is rare, although options are becoming increasingly available. In most degrees, students only have a few elective courses they can take, and there is usually a small pool to choose from. The “shopping period” doesn’t really exist for courses in the U.K. As a result, there is a smaller range of difficulty between courses that are deemed “easier” or “harder”, and, thus, students take courses for interest or to fulfill prerequisites. Even sites like Rate My Professor and the amount of Reddit forums discussing what classes to take were new territory. I’ve spoken to other exchange students who have been equally puzzled by the culture of switching classes and cultivating schedules. 

This raises the question: Why are students at McGill and other North American universities prioritizing their grades over what they really want to study? When students are paying thousands of dollars for their education, it is unclear what they truly gain in picking courses that stray miles away from their majors. 

The overwhelming answer: To be a more competitive candidate. Both the job market and grad schools expect increasingly unrealistic standards from graduates. Perfect GPAs, unblemished academic records, along with an array of internships and extracurriculars are  prerequisites. At Yale Law School, the average GPA for successful applicants is 3.94. When this is compounded with McGill’s varied course examination style and difficulty, it becomes obvious why students are hesitant to challenge themselves with courses that mean long hours and struggling grades when easier routes are available to them. The perceived rewards for high grades and GPA outweigh semesters of intellectually challenging but engaging classes.

But some contest whether this culture of picking “bird” classes is necessarily a bad thing. Not only is the motivation behind this strategy very reasonable, but students may also find themselves learning about subjects outside of their normal scope of academia. So, while I was surprised by the add-drop system, it was refreshing to see how normalized it is for students to take a variety of subjects. Arguing that this encourages a wider breadth of learning, however, can easily be countered when factoring in that most students taking these “easier” classes do not engage quite so vigorously with the syllabus as they might with a course required for their degree.

McGill needs to encourage its students’ focus on academic fulfillment. McGill contributes to the problem by allowing a disparity between course assessment styles, with some renowned for easy marking and lax teachers while others are known for intensive workloads and course content. From “Natural Disasters” (EPSC 185)  to “The Art of Listening” (MUAR 211), students only need to have a browse on Reddit to get a run-down of which classes might be favourable to their transcripts. Generations of students have publicly discussed the pros and cons of certain courses, making it impossible for course reputations to not contribute to future choices. Standardizing more cohesive workloads and attendance policies across the university would be a productive start. As an institution that prides itself in “expanding minds,” McGill allow its students to learn without their grades being the main determinant of their academic journey. 

Along Party Lines, News

Along Party Lines: Quebec’s major parties on Bill 96 and Bill 21

by Alex Jonas on

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In this week’s segment of Along Party Lines, The McGill Tribune looks into the stances of the major political parties regarding Bill 96 and Bill 21.

What are Bill 96 and Bill 21? 

An Act respecting French, or Bill 96, was adopted in the National Assembly of Quebec on May 24. The bill introduces a set of amendments to the province’s Charter of the French Language, Bill 101, to further protect the use of the French language in Quebec. Under the legislation, the enrollment capacity for English-language CEGEPs will be limited to 17.5 per cent of the total provincial CEGEP population and access to English programs in French-language CEGEPs is restricted. The bill also decrees that immigrants can communicate with government agencies in a language other than French during their first six months in the province, after which public services will only be offered in French.

The government also invoked the notwithstanding clause when it ratified Bill 96. Under the notwithstanding clause, Parliament and provincial legislatures may exceptionally enact legislation that is in violation of  certain sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and safeguard it from legal challenges for five years. The clause is generally frowned upon, but the province also invoked it with Bill 21, an Act respecting the laicity of the State.

Bill 21 prohibits public service employees, including teachers and public defenders, from wearing religious symbols—hijabs, turbans, crucifixes, and jewellery, for example—in the workplace. Despite the bill taking effect in 2019, Bill 21 remains a controversial law in Quebec politics and has been criticized for disproportionately targeting religious minorities such as Muslim women.

Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ)

Both Bill 96 and Bill 21 were adopted under the CAQ government led by Premier François Legault. Despite public opposition to the bills, Legault has remained an advocate of both and has vowed to continue protecting the French language. 

Legault’s continued support of Bill 21 stems from his argument that secularism and religious freedom are not mutually exclusive. When Bloc Québécois leader Yves François Blanchet was asked about his support for Bill 96 and Bill 21 during a 2021 federal election debate, Legault was outraged by the moderator’s insinuation that the laws were racist and discriminatory. He defended the bills as exemplifying the “values of Quebec.”

Liberal Party of Quebec  (PLQ)

Liberal leader Dominique Anglade has made it clear that her party is opposed to both bills. 

A resolution was passed at the PLQ’s 40th youth wing convention on Aug. 6 to investigate the impositions Bill 96 places on anglophone and allophone students in English CEGEPs. If elected, Anglade’s government would exempt Indigenous peoples from Bill 96 and repeal the notwithstanding clause, the cap on English CEGEPs, and the six-month deadline imposed on newcomers to learn French. 

Conservative Party of Québec (PCQ)

Éric Duhaime, the Conservative Party’s leader, opposes the new language laws. Although a francophone himself, Duhaime held a press conference—during which he spoke English and French—condemning the bill’s linguistic policies. He hopes to bridge the Anglo-Franco divide and recognizes bilingualism as an asset for the province, not a weakness. He plans to repeal Bill 96 if elected. 

However, Duhaime is in favour of Bill 21, arguing the government and its officials should remain secular before the citizens of Quebec.

Québec solidaire (QS)

Despite proclaiming that language issues should not be at the forefront of the provincial campaign, spokesperson of Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, voted in favour of Bill 96. Québec solidaire is critical of some of its provisions, including the six-month learning period for newcomers and the neglect of Indigenous languages. The party plans to reverse the six-month grace period for immigrants and to consult with Indigenous leaders to officially protect Indigenous languages in Quebec, if elected. 

Nadeau-Dubois also promised to contest Bill 21 if Québec solidaire wins the majority.


Next week on Along Party Lines, The Tribune/will break down how these parties compare on Indigenous issues, separatism, and pan-Canadian relations. 

Commentary, Opinion

Point-counterpoint: A debate on the aesthetic of Burnside Hall

by Sarah Kayed & Alexander MacKenzie on

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Burnside is the vision of practicality – Alexander MacKenzie

A quick glance towards Burnside Hall reveals nothing striking about its immediate design. Perhaps the most observant of oceanographers or astrophysicists studying in the building could casually point out its warm sandy colour, and wavy texture adorning the walls outside. Likely only the oceanographer, not without some degree of self-contempt, would remark that the building is shaped like sand waves on a beach. But  since most students entering the building are not architects, features of this sort would go, for the most part, unnoticed. Despite having nothing extraordinary or jarring architecturally, there remain many appreciable things about the building worth students’ attention.

By far, the most enticing feature is that Burnside is located right on top of an extensive underground tunnel system, providing passages to the rest of the buildings in the science and engineering complex. The basement makes for a fantastic refuge and student space, offering a sizable yet cozy study area full of computers, which add a sentimental cybertech ambience. When the lower-level Soupe Café is open, Burnside’s basement is filled with the smell of freshly-baked pastries. Most of McGill’s sandwich enthusiasts already know about the coveted Burnside basement grilled cheese. 

When entering the building from underground tunnels, students might notice the appreciable lack of crowding around and within the three spacious red elevators. The upper levels generally consist of narrow, colour-themed hallways, with space for hundreds of small rooms, many of which are typically unoccupied. Also, there are great study spaces on the fifth and 11th floors, the latter featuring cozy soundproof rooms and eight-foot-tall windows overlooking both McGill campus and Mount Royal.

Burnside Hall also possesses other purposes on McGill campus. The building was designed to allow for five additional stories if McGill were to ever need more space on campus. The top of the building houses meteorological equipment for use by students of the Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences to observe the night sky over Montreal.

As far as the average McGill student is concerned, Burnside Hall is a convenient, practical, and pleasant space. It is an invaluable centre for student life on campus and allows astrophysicists and oceanographers, along with the occasional Mathematics or Statistics student, to study, grow, and prosper at McGill.

Burnside can burn –  Sarah Kayed

When it comes to Burnside Hall, McGill’s attempt at Brutalism “fakes it, but never quite makes it”. Most students consider this science faculty building to be ugly, if not depressing. From an architectural perspective, Burnside attempts to imitate the style of Brutalism and fails quite miserably, instead existing as a bleak space unfit for educational needs. 

Brutalism is often characterized by an exposed concrete exterior of little ornamentation, constructed so that the interior serves as a space for social gathering. Additionally, this design approach was connected to ideas of social reform and collectivity within architecture, through a desire for equality. When looking at Burnside, one cannot help but wonder—what ever happened to political architecture? 

Typically, this architecture style adopts inward-facing repetitive windows paired with hidden entrances. At Burnside, however, the façade is primarily glass, taking the spotlight away from the raw concrete exterior. The windows—spanning floor-to-ceiling across all floors—overshadow the concrete’s texture and grain, moving it away from the Brutalist concrete style.

It seems that the only actual Brutalist features of this site are the hidden entrances and the underground tunnels for ease of accessibility. The inside of the building, on the other hand, resembles a labyrinth seemingly impossible to navigate. For a structure to embody equality, accessibility becomes a key element, and, in Burnside, navigational difficulty is the most pressing design issue. No McGillian wants to be lost in a concrete dungeon looking for a lecture hall or computer lab.

A better example of the Brutalist style on campus is McLennan Library. The prefabricated concrete library incorporates a spacious interior with easy access from floor to floor; almost every aspect of the space is visible and students can complete their work in a suitable environment. Comparatively, Burnside is a naive, even hypocritical, imitation of Brutalism that creates an oppressive space for students and faculty.

Off the Board, Opinion

Why everyone deserves therapy

by Abby McCormick on

More in Off the Board:

Therapy. There, I said it. A word that, despite its immeasurable benefits, carries the heavy weight of unrelenting stigma everywhere it goes.

In the industrialized world, 25 per cent of adults experience significant mental health problems each year that require intervention in the form of psychotherapy and/or medication. In particular, university students are disproportionately affected by mental health issues such as anxiety—with 56.8 per cent of McGill students reporting a mental health disorder in 2021. These shockingly high rates are largely attributed to the extreme levels of academic stress that university students experience.

While mental health conditions make up an incredible 14.3 per cent of deaths worldwide, according to one estimate, the majority of adults suffering do not seek treatment, citing self-doubt and the fear of judgment from those around them as major deterrents.

Such feelings of self-doubt are becoming increasingly common amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health impostor syndrome, when someone feels like they are not “suffering enough” to seek mental health treatment, is one of the most common modern-day barriers to accessing care. 

In stark contrast to the stigma surrounding mental health, societies around the world place significant importance on physical health and wellness. From going to the gym in the mornings to brushing one’s teeth twice a day, to routine checkups at the doctor’s, people spend hours every day preoccupied with their physical bodies. 

Yet, when it comes to their minds, people are less willing to take preventative measures to invest in their mental wellness. Mental health challenges can be as severe and as deadly as physical ones, and the two can even exacerbate each other..

When it comes to treating mental illnesses, it has been shown over and over that the most effective means is therapy, while therapy paired with medication is more effective than either method alone. 

Despite initially being designed to help people struggling with mental health issues, therapy can provide anyone with a plethora of techniques to enhance their daily life. From distraction strategies like  stress-relieving activities to breathing exercises and  mindfulness, therapists can offer a personalized toolkit to help better manage one’s unique challenges. Further, therapists are trained to be unbiased and confidential listeners that can aid in navigating a broad scope of circumstances. 

Think of the number of times that you have been to your family doctor for routine checkups or mild symptoms like a sore throat or cough. Just as we go to our family doctors when we are feeling physically well, we should encourage the practice of going to a therapist when we are feeling mentally well. Attending therapy regularly can help alleviate future mental health crises while identifying particular issues that one may need to work through.  

Regardless of society’s portrayal of therapy as something reserved for those with the most severe mental illnesses, everybody can benefit from the techniques and tools that a therapist can provide. Even those who do not feel that they need therapy could always benefit from adding another caring and supportive individual to their circle of trust if they are able to do so. 


It is important to acknowledge, however, that therapy is not available to everyone for various reasons, including economic and accessibility factors. Reaching out to mental health professionals and taking the first step can  feel impossible when therapy sessions in Montreal range from $90 to $150. However, there are networks that offer sliding scales and accommodations based on income level and identity.Otherwise, there are other options for students in Montreal, such as the Canadian Mental Health Association and a range of telehealth services. With offerings ranging from free phone and in-person services, there has never been a better time to reach out for help.

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