Latest News

McGill, Montreal, News

Kanien’kehà:ka Kahnistensera file 141 pieces of evidence in court case against McGill

by Shani Laskin on

More in McGill:

CW: Mention of sexual assault and abuse

The Kanien’kehà:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) filed 141 pieces of evidence and three affidavits at the Montreal Superior Court on Aug. 25 in their ongoing legal battle with McGill over the New Vic project. 

The Mothers presented this evidence in the hopes of winning an interlocutory injunction, which would halt renovation of the Royal Victoria Hospital and Allen Memorial Institute (AMI) grounds while court proceedings are underway. This suit is distinct from their earlier federal lawsuit, which was dropped in March 2022. The next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26, but the Mohawk Mothers are concerned about McGill beginning construction prior to that date.

The affidavits submitted by the Mothers suggest there could be unmarked graves on the site left behind by Dr. Donald Ewen Cameron’s MK-Ultra experiments in the mid-1900s. One affidavit, written by anthropologist Philippe Blouin, examined past research about the possible burial site which faced difficulties due to the secretive nature of the MK-Ultra experiments and the destruction of some archival evidence.

Lana Ponting, one of the few remaining survivors of Dr. Cameron’s experiments, wrote another affidavit. Ponting was a patient at the AMI in 1958 and described her experiences as a subject of nonconsensual drug experiments, sexual violence, attempted brainwashing, and inhumane living conditions. In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Ponting explained that many victims of the experiments have not received justice for the abuse they faced, and pointed to the disregard of the Canadian government, which funded the experiments.

 “It’s not just justice for me, it’s for all the victims of the Allen,” Ponting said. “I’m hoping that we can bring the attention to the government of Canada to fully realize they need to have an inquiry as to why this happened. Why did they allow this to go on for years and years?”

Since their legal struggle began in January 2022, the Mohawk Mothers have refused to hire lawyers, as self-representation is part of their cultural form of justice. In an interview with the Tribune, Kahentinetha, a Mohawk Mother, reiterated that they will not waver on this issue. 

“We do not intend to change our minds at all on representing ourselves,” Kahentinetha said. “We intend to continue in our way to get justice for those children and for us, because we are all together. They are dead, we are alive, but they are still our relatives.”

Member of the Indigenous Law Association and Beausoleil First Nation, Daniel Tamblyn-Watts, 4L, expressed support for the Mohawk Mothers’ decision not to hire lawyers in an email to the Tribune.

“At a fundamental level the Canadian legal system with its roots in Western thought should not be determining the procedures or final judgments in cases like this one,” Tamblyn-Watts wrote. “Only Indigenous legal systems have the legitimacy and jurisdiction to effectively respond to these claims. Indigenous legal systems must be acknowledged and respected as standing on their own.”

While the Mohawk Mothers do not feel that McGill has listened to them, the administration maintains that it is working to address the concerns of Indigenous groups.

“We are committed to collaborating with governments, the Société Québécoise des infrastructures (SQI) […] and Indigenous community leadership to undertake the work necessary to investigate the concern,” wrote Frédérique Mazerolle, a McGill media relations officer, in an email to the Tribune.

The Mohawk Mothers announced in an Aug. 31 press release that they intend to conduct a search using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) sometime in September. They assured that the search will not be invasive or damage the grounds. 

Those in need of support can reach out to the Montreal Indigenous Community Network by email at [email protected] or phone at 438-992-4589. A 24-hour helpline for residential school survivors and their families is available at 1-866-925-4419. For those seeking support for sexual violence, OSVRSE can be reached at 514-398-3954 or [email protected].

McGill, News

McGill law professors ‘feeling very positive’ following final union certification hearing

by Dima Kiwan on

More in McGill:

On Aug. 31, Quebec’s labour relations tribunal, the Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT), held its final hearing regarding McGill’s law professors’ efforts to unionize. Since the Association of McGill Professors of Law (AMPL) filed to certify their union in November 2021, the university administration has been fighting the unionization on the grounds that a faculty-specific union is “inappropriate.” 

During the hearing, McGill’s legal team, led by Corrado de Stefano, cited several previous decisions where the Tribunal rejected faculty-specific unions at other Quebec universities, such as efforts by engineering professors at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières or by law professors at the Université de Montréal. 

AMPL argued that McGill’s case failed to address the relevant central question before the Tribunal—whether any form of union could be recognized. The team also claimed that McGill cited previous Tribunal decisions that were not applicable to the situation at hand, and that this case is fundamentally distinct because it represents a “greenfields” context, where no collective representation currently exists. 

McGill law professor Evan Fox-Decent, interim president of AMPL, elaborated on the importance of considering the greenfields context in an email to The McGill Tribune.

“In all [the cases presented by McGill], the TAT and the courts were not deciding whether or not a union or bargaining unit would exist,” Fox-Decent wrote. “[The courts were] determining the shape of the union or bargaining unit against the background presumption that some form of collective organization either already existed or would emerge.”

AMPL is not attempting to split from an existing general professors’ union, nor is it trying to compete against other unions for certification. In this case, the question becomes whether any form of union will be recognized, not whether the union structure proposed—in this case, a union specific to the Faculty of Law—is appropriate compared to others.  

Fox-Decent believes that McGill also failed to consider how Canadian labour case law has evolved since the right to collective representation became constitutionally protected. He explained that today, landmark cases in greenfields contexts place a heavy burden on the employer to prove that the proposed union is not capable of representing its members—a question McGill barely addressed. 

“The eight labour law cases presented by McGill were from the 1970s and 1980s,” Fox-Decent wrote. “None of them referenced the Canadian or Quebec Charters [or] freedom of association as a constitutional right.”

According to a tweet from AMPL during the hearing, law professors felt optimistic about their case against McGill. Charlotte Sullivan, President of the McGill Law Students Association, told the Tribune in an email that law students are proud of AMPL’s case for union certification. Many students have shown continued support for their professors’ efforts to unionize by attending hearings or writing letters to the McGill administration.

“We have yet to know the outcome, but the AMPL and their lawyer, Mr. Ataogul, put together an excellent case,” Sullivan wrote.

McGill law professor Richard Gold has been closely following the hearings and believes that unionization would strengthen his faculty. During an interview with the Tribune, however, he emphasized that professors in the Faculty of Law are not all consumed by the cause and are primarily focused on providing the best possible education to their students as the semester begins. 

“I anticipate that once AMPL is certified, it will bring a new sense of purpose, more energy, and greater creative thinking about how we organize ourselves to deliver the best education, scholarship, and policy development possible.” 

Along Party Lines, News

Along Party Lines: Quebec’s provincial elections, explained

by Lily Cason on

More in Along Party Lines:

Introducing “Along Party Lines,” a new series at the The McGill Tribune aimed at unpacking Quebec and Canadian politics. Up first are the essential details you should know as Quebec’s provincial elections rapidly approach.

Quebec provincial elections will take place in under a month on Oct. 3. In accordance with the Quebec Election Act, McGill classes, labs, and exams will be cancelled on election day. Advanced polling will be available on campus starting Sept. 23. 

What are provincial elections?

Provincial elections occur every four years on the first Monday of October and determine the makeup of the Quebec National Assembly. Each of the 125 seats in the National Assembly is filled by a representative from one of the 125 electoral divisions. The party with the most seats in the National Assembly forms the government, and the party leader becomes the Premier of Quebec. If this party has 63 or more seats, it is considered a majority government; if it has fewer than 63, it is considered a minority government. The Premier chairs the cabinet and appoints the ministers who fill it.

Who can vote and how can they register?

You are eligible to vote if you are a Canadian citizen, over 18, have had a Quebec address for at least six months prior to the election date, and have registered on the list of electors. You can register for or change your address on the list of electors online or by mail until Sept. 19 and in person from Sept. 12–29 at the office of your returning officer.

Where can I vote and what should I bring to the polls?

Polls will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day at predetermined locations. Early voting is also an option, with advanced voting centres open on Sept. 25 and 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling centres are based on one’s home address and can be found on the Elections Quebec website. 

Part- and full-time McGill students have the additional option of early voting on campus at 680 Sherbrooke Street West from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 23, 27, and 28, or from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 29. Students can vote on campus regardless of what electoral division they live in and will be required to present their McGill ID to enter. 

No matter where you vote, it is recommended to bring a government-issued ID, such as a provincial driver’s licence, health card, or Canadian passport. Voters are also advised to bring their notice of entry or yellow reminder card, which is sent by mail at the start of the election period, as it will speed up the voting process.

What if I have to work on election day?

As per the Election Act, employers in Quebec are required, upon the individual’s request, to give any full- or part-time worker four consecutive paid hours off between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. in order to vote on election day. 

What if I have COVID-19 or require other accommodations?

Those self-isolating with COVID-19 and those with underlying health conditions that would put them at significant risk if they contracted the virus are eligible to vote by mail. Requests to do so can be submitted online before 5 p.m. on Sept. 25 or by calling one’s returning officer before Oct. 3.

Although advanced polling stations are guaranteed to be accessible, election-day stations are not. Those with reduced mobility, however, can be granted special permission to vote at a different polling station if the one they are assigned to is not accessible. For those who experience other barriers to voting, there are further systems in place to facilitate the process, such as hearing or visual aids.

Next week on “Along Party Lines,” a rundown of where the major parties—the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ), the Quebec Liberal Party, Québec solidaire, the Parti Québécois, and the Conservative Party of Quebec—stand on issues such as immigration, Indigenous rights, language laws, affordable housing, the minimum wage, and more.

Commentary, Opinion

Shattering the political illusion of Legault’s anti-immigrant policy

by Dima Kiwan on

More in Commentary:

The Quebec provincial election campaign has officially kicked off and, as election day approaches on Oct. 3, voters have much to consider after a tumultuous four years.

This fall, immigration is top of mind. Businesses want more immigrants to relieve the province’s major labour shortages, Bill 96 has stirred intense debate over cultural integration, and there has been rising tension with the federal government as Quebec seeks more autonomy over immigration to the province. Premier Legault’s Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) has maintained a nefariously conservative stance on immigration. But, voters should know that the CAQ’s immigration policies are both hypocritical and exploitative.  

With Legault taking credit for Quebec’s falling deficits and post-COVID economic growth, the CAQ is projected to add even more seats to its majority. Indeed, it has always branded itself as the productive Quebec party focused on economic advancement instead of old questions about separating from Canada. The CAQ has repeatedly defended its decision to cap immigration at 50,000 these last four years, citing the province’s limited capacity for integrating newcomers. Legault has framed high immigration as a cultural and economic threat to French Quebec, but reports reveal that without immigrants’ economic contributions, the province’s output would be nine per cent less in 2021 alone. 

As for other major parties, only the Quebec Liberals have pledged to increase annual immigration to a base of 70,000, and to engage with different regions of the province about how many immigrants they would welcome. The Conservatives want to further decrease immigration with a hand-wavy plan to increase automation and the province’s birthrate to fill labour vacancies instead. Meanwhile, the Parti Québécois is calling for “objective” analysis and less polarization on the issue, despite itself helping to fuel the narrative of a cultural-linguistic threat.

The CAQ wants voters to consider the thriving economy and restrictive immigration policies together, and to conclude that Quebec does not need immigrants. On the surface, it appears that the party’s new nationalist brand is effective and sustainable, further strengthening its record against the opposition parties. 

Unfortunately for the CAQ, however, this is a manufactured political illusion. For one, Legault’s “thriving” economy ignores the elephant in the room—an urgent labour shortage across the board that leaves hospitals short-staffed, impedes technological development, and makes matters worse for struggling small businesses. Representative associations of several critical industries continue to plead to the CAQ government to increase and facilitate immigration, to no avail Among them are the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and the Quebec Manufacturers and Exporters organization, the latter calling for parties to increase the annual immigration threshold to 90,000 if elected. 

Further, the recent make-up of immigration in Quebec reveals that the CAQ’s policy exploits immigrants’ labour by favouring temporary work permits over granting permanent status. A recent study by the Institut du Québec found that temporary immigrants’ share of total international immigration to the province increased nearly seven-fold from 2016 to 2019—from nine per cent to 64 per cent. These temporary workers are not treated the same as full-status immigrants. They tend to face poorer wages and substandard working conditions, less awareness and enforcement of their labour rights, and extremely long and uncertain wait times for permanent status applications. Many are not adequately considered in long-term government decisions about housing, education, healthcare, or public transit. 

In other words, the CAQ caps immigration and frames it as a cultural issue on the campaign trail, only to quietly optimize the economic return on its low quotas through a surge in temporary immigrant work. Considering the status implications and systemic barriers faced by these workers in both society and the workplace, Quebec under the CAQ has no intention of “culturally integrating” the majority of its immigrants. 

This fall, voters should consider that immigration is becoming more of a political and economic issue than a cultural one, and they should question the ruling party’s stakes in framing it this way. The CAQ’s hypocrisy undermines its proclaimed Quebec-first ideology and suggests that the party is, indeed, no different than its supposedly unproductive counterparts. 

News, The Tribune Explains

Tribune Explains: The search for McGill’s new Principal

by Juliet Morrison and Shani Laskin on

More in News:

During a media roundtable on Aug. 24, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Fabrice Labeau answered questions about the changing leadership at McGill ahead of Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier’s departure on Sept. 6. //The McGill Tribune// asked all the burning questions about the responsibilities of this crucial campus figure. 

What is the role of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor? 

As the chief executive officer of McGill, the Principal serves as the university’s representative to external bodies such as research boards and global forums. They also work to improve and maintain the university’s status as a leading research institution by directing McGill’s operations and finances. The Principal holds seats on McGill’s Board of Governors (BoG) and Senate. Every Principal serves a five-year term with the possibility of renewal at the end of their first term. In their role as Vice-Chancellor, they also serve as the deputy to the Chancellor, taking on some of their duties such as presiding over convocation and representing the university at official events. 

During her tenure, Fortier’s priorities included providing all students with a stimulating education, supporting research, creating and upholding community relationships, building a healthy workplace environment for staff members, and transforming the campus into a safer and more sustainable environment. To achieve these goals, Fortier launched projects such as SKILLS21, My Healthy Workplace, and the Sustainability Sciences and Technologies Initiative. 

Who will take over the duties of the Principal once Suzanne Fortier leaves?

Current Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi will serve as Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor while Deputy Provost Labeau and Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies) Angela Campbell share some provostial duties. 

This arrangement will last until a new Principal is appointed by the BoG based on nominees recommended by the Advisory Committee for the Selection of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, which was formed in March. Despite the personnel changes, Labeau stressed that the university will continue to run smoothly.

“All [of our initiatives] will continue without being interrupted,” Labeau said. “The fact that our Principal is currently stepping down and there will be another Principal in a few months doesn’t mean that everything in this university stops. We will basically continue what we are doing.”

What is the Advisory Committee and who are the members?

The Advisory Committee is in charge of finding and nominating candidates for Principal to the BoG. It is composed of 14 members led by the Chair, Maryse Bertrand, and Chancellor John McCall MacBain. The remaining 12 members were either appointed or elected by different university stakeholders, including the BoG, the Senate, the McGill Alumni Association (MAA), the McGill Association of University Teachers (MAUT), the administrative and support staff, and student associations. In addition, the committee includes a Secretary and two Search Consultants from the executive search firm Perrett Laver. 

What is the Advisory Committee looking for in a candidate? 

The Advisory Committee has several criteria guiding its search, such as experience with directing institutional change and the “ability to ensure the financial sustainability of a large and complex organization.” According to Labeau, these criteria exist to ensure the candidate can fulfill McGill’s institutional priorities, including elevating its stance as a global leader and maintaining positive relationships with the Government of Quebec. 

When will a new Principal be named? 

Though timelines may vary, Labeau anticipates the search to be completed within the next couple of months. He said, however, that the McGill community should expect to live with uncertainty surrounding the process; the committee’s proceedings are confidential and a new Principal may not be able to start right away. 

“The variability that comes from this is that, once this committee has a recommendation for the Board [of Governors] and a preferred candidate is identified, it may take a while before this person can actually start up,” Labeau said. “Or it may happen right away, depending on the circumstances of the [appointed candidate such as] where they are from, where they are employed, et cetera.” 

Recipes, Student Life

Summertime snacking: Recipes to keep you cool through the summer

by Mahnoor Chaudhry on

More in Recipes:

With sweltering heatwaves and sky-rocketing summer temperatures, cool and refreshing snacks have become a necessity. Luckily, the Tribune has compiled a list of must-try fruity recipes before we wave goodbye to the Montreal summer. 

  1. The one that invigorates — The simple fruit salad

There’s nothing more energizing than a fresh fruit bowl in the summer. This is one of the easiest dishes to put together for those crunched for time, as it only involves cutting and assembling. For this fruit salad, you will need:

  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ½ tbsp brown sugar
  • ½ cup pineapple, cubed
  • ½ cup strawberries, sliced
  • 1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
  • 1 banana, sliced
  • ½ cup oranges, peeled and sectioned
  • ½ cup blueberries
  • Some grated orange zest for additional flavour

Put all the sliced fruit in a large bowl and add the lemon juice and brown sugar to it. Toss the salad to combine the ingredients and let it sit in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to cool. Mix well before serving and enjoy!

  1. The one that cools down — Watermelon popsicles 

Popsicles are the way to go for those hot summer afternoons that never seem to end. The watermelon popsicle is a favourite due to the extra coolness added by the fruit. The ingredients needed for this recipe are:

  • 3 ½ cups cubed, seedless watermelon 
  • 2 ½ tbsp granulated sugar 
  • ½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup canned coconut milk, well shaken
  • 6 medium-sized kiwis 
  • ½ tbsp mini chocolate chips
  • Popsicle moulds 
  • Blender 

Blend the watermelon, 1 tbsp sugar, and lemon juice until well pureed. Remove the foam and pour the remaining puree into popsicle moulds until they are two-thirds full. Add the chocolate chips to the mould and push them down with the popsicle sticks so they are visible once frozen. Insert the popsicle sticks and let them sit in the freezer for about three and a half hours. 

While you’re waiting, whisk the coconut milk with ½ tbsp sugar until the sugar dissolves and put it in the refrigerator for half an hour. If the consistency is too thick to pour, you can add in a couple of tablespoons of cold water to thin it out. 

Once cooled, add a tablespoon of the coconut milk mixture to each popsicle and put them back in the freezer for another 45 minutes. 

Meanwhile, scoop the flesh from the kiwis and blend with 1 tbsp sugar until well pureed. Put the mixture through a strainer to remove seeds and chill it for half an hour. Once cooled, add a tablespoon of this mixture to each popsicle and let them sit in the freezer until solid (about two to three hours).

Remove popsicles (using warm water over the moulds is the easiest way to go) and serve!

  1. The one that delights — Frozen Banana Bites

If you’re someone who often craves something sweet but in small amounts, these bites are the perfect snack for you! All you will need is:

  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 4 bananas, sliced into 1-inch rounds
  • 1 oz semisweet chocolate
  • ⅓ cup toffee baking bits
  • Wax paper

Start by placing the wax paper on a baking sheet and spreading the banana rounds on it. Thinly layer each banana with some peanut butter, put a toothpick through them, and place the baking sheet into the freezer for 30 minutes (or overnight). 

Melt the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water, making sure it doesn’t scorch or form clumps by constantly stirring it. Take the bites out of the freezer and coat each one in chocolate, sprinkle with the toffee bits and place them back in the freezer to let them set—it will take at least an hour before you can serve them. 

You can also store them in the freezer to eat later—just be sure to let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before you do. And voilà, you have homemade dessert bites for your sweet tooth cravings over the summer! 

Soccer, Sports

Montrealer Noah Eisenberg continues his soccer journey across Europe

by Karan Kumar on

More in Soccer:

Montrealers are known to be international go-getters—whether it be through academics, sports, or the arts. From Leonard Cohen to Georges Saint-Pierre, the city has a variety of talented individuals to showcase to the world, even in the world of pro sports. The Tribune sat down with Montrealer Noah Eisenberg, a pro soccer player who has been competing in top European Leagues since 2018.

Apart from being a pro athlete, Eisenberg has recently entered the area of sports entrepreneurship where his platform FINDME connects soccer scouts across North America with talented youth in Montreal.

“[Soccer showcase platforms] are a massive business in the United States, but in Canada they have only touched the surface, ” said Eisenberg. “My platform was not just a random game where coaches watch and leave. It was more of a camp setting, there was an actual intimacy between coaches and players.” 

For the successful launch of the FINDME showcase, Eisenberg leveraged his networks in the worlds of pro and college soccer. The platform included scouts from teams in the United Soccer League (USL) and CPL. Teams such as Toronto FC, Detroit City, Halifax Wanderers, and over 20 Division I schools such as Harvard, Dartmouth, and Stetson were part of Eisenberg’s showcase. In the coming months, Eisenberg plans to host showcases in the city for women soccer players interested in competing in pro soccer leagues across North America and Europe.

Eisenberg believes that aspiring young Canadian soccer players of all genders should get equal opportunity in showcasing their talent to play in the pro sports world. He recommends discipline, training hard, and being realistic about one’s goals. 

As for Eisenberg, the central attacking midfielder is yet again starting down a new path on his European soccer journey. The 24-year-old Canadian, known for his ball control and positional play, has continued in the first division of the Gibraltar League, moving from Europa Point FC to College 1975 FC in the January 2022 transfer window.

But the transition to College 1975 FC, a superior club in the domestic league, was not a smooth one. During the 2021-22 season, College 1975 FC hired a Spanish-speaking manager and the language barrier made it difficult for Eisenberg to communicate his thoughts as a player.

As a result, Eisenberg felt he didn’t organically fit in the first team of the club and struggled to communicate his presence in training sessions in order to get selected for domestic league matches. 

However, given the challenging training environment at College Point FC, Eisenberg sees his stint in the club as a valuable learning experience that improved his abilities as a player. The coach valued him, and as result he learnt a lot in the training sessions.

One of Eisenberg’s favourite memories in the Gibraltar League is the encouragement and motivation he received from his former coach in Europa Point FC. 

“The [coach] gave me an amazing evaluation letter,” said Eisenberg. “He was the ex-manager of Real Madrid’s reserves. [It feels really good] when someone of that calibre values me as a player and rates me and tells me I am doing something right.”

Eisenberg plans to build on the lessons learned in the Gibraltar League, and wants to remain in Europe unless a rewarding opportunity presents itself in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) or Major League Soccer. Currently a free agent, he is exploring options in Israel, Ireland, and Malta to continue this adventure in European soccer.

In order to evolve as a player and stand a chance of being selected for the Canadian Men’s National Team, Eisenberg acknowledges the need to further his own exposure to different styles of play in European soccer. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding immigration due to COVID-19 has complicated his plans, but he hopes to navigate these obstacles with cautious optimism.

McGill, News, SSMU

McGill student sues university, SPHR McGill and SSMU with support of B’nai Brith

by Madison Edward-Wright on

More in McGill:

Jewish service organization B’nai Brith Canada announced on July 27 that it will back a lawsuit filed against McGill University, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), and Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill (SPHR) for “participating in creating an antisemitic environment.” The lawsuit, filed by Jonah Fried, U3 Arts, claims that attempts to implement the Palestine Solidarity Policy not only contradict McGill’s Memorandum of Agreement with SSMU, but also violates SSMU’s own constitution. 

Fried, the plaintiff, officially filed the lawsuit on July 22 in the civil division of the Superior Court of Quebec. He is receiving financial support exclusively from B’nai Brith’s Legal Defense Fund though he declined to clarify whether his attorney, Michael Bergman, is associated with the organization. In an email to The McGill Tribune, Fried claimed that McGill failed to properly address the “discriminatory” Palestine Solidarity Policy.

“We [Fried and B’nai Brith] are suing because McGill’s administration is not enforcing its anti-hate policies—which the Palestine motion violates—allowing antisemitism to fester,” Fried wrote. “We want to show all Canadian universities that, with the help of B’nai Brith Canada, the Jewish community will not stand for this any longer.”

Fried also said that “Jewish students need to see that they are not alone, and that there are legal resources available to challenge antisemitic prejudice.”

Riley* and Blake*, two representatives from SPHR McGill, told the Tribune in an interview that SPHR has yet to gain access to a copy of the lawsuit; the plaintiff has not sent the group a copy and, despite the lawsuit being part of the public record, an electronic version of the document has not been made available online. In fact, SPHR members only learned of the lawsuit after it was reported on by several media outlets. 

“We do not have more details than what the press has released,” Riley said. “We do not even know if [Fried] is actually going to go through with it [….] We have not looked into [obtaining a lawyer] yet because we do not know what we are faced with […] but so far we have been offered legal support.”

The lawsuit did not come as a surprise to Riley and Blake, however, as they explained that backlash against pro-Palestinian activists is commonplace. 

Blake shared that SPHR has received lots of support from organizations outside the McGill community. This support extends from the willingness to provide legal aid to requests for interviews about the struggles Palestinian students have dealt with on and off campus. Media organizations and non-profits have also asked for resources that provide in-depth information about the injustices Palestinian people and their supporters face. 

One organization that has openly and proudly supported SPHR and the larger Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement is the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute (CFPI). On July 14, CFPI hosted a virtual rally, during which it invited members from SPHR McGill to share their stories about pro-Palestinian advocacy and the attacks they have faced—such as having personal information posted on the pro-Israel watchdog website Canary Mission—as a result of such work. 

In an interview with the Tribune, Yves Engler, board member and fellow of CFPI, explained that the webinar was preceded by the publication of a letter in support of the Palestine Solidarity Policy signed by CFPI, Just Peace Advocates, and Roger Waters, among others. According to Engler, the rally was not only about supporting students, but also showing organizations like B’nai Brith, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and the McGill administration that they cannot suppress the will of the student body without facing external backlash.

“There needs to be pushback against the hard, aggressive, outside lobbying of these anti-Palestinian, pro-apartheid organizations,” Engler said. “It is important that B’nai Brith and these other bullies do not get their way.”

Engler, along with representatives from SPHR, expressed confusion over why Fried filed his lawsuit, since the Palestine Solidarity Policy was ultimately abandoned by  SSMU. Richard Gold, a law professor at McGill, explained in an email to the Tribune that the basis of the lawsuit is unclear. He pointed to the passing of Bill 32 earlier this year, which protects an individual’s right to freely participate in discussions and debates on campus without being persecuted for their “doctrinal, ideological, and moral” beliefs. 

“Whether one agrees or not with the substance of the referendum […] you cannot sue because someone tried to run a referendum that never had any effect,” Gold wrote. “I see no obvious legal basis for the claim against McGill and the student organizations, [it] would seem to run against Quebec’s Bill 32.”

Riley and Blake questioned whether other Jewish students at McGill felt the same as Fried. Both SPHR members clarified that they do not consider themselves to be antisemites and explained that their pro-Palestinian activism is only ever geared toward raising awareness about the killing of innocent Palestinians, not spreading hate. 

Hillel McGill told the Tribune in a written statement that it took issue with the Palestine Solidarity Policy, but relied on the mechanisms in place at McGill and within SSMU to address their concerns. The student group clarified, however, that it is not opposed to the lawsuit.

“This is one individual’s approach, his way of doing things, and that is his right,” the statement read. “At Hillel we are committed to working with students on the ground to build bridges, fight antisemitism and work to affect change ensuring everyone can enjoy a good campus life [….] That is why it was so important for us to participate in in the process that led to McGill’s Initiative Against Islamophobia and Antisemitism.”

Some, on the other hand, such as Liam*, BA’ 20 and former member of Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) McGill, find Fried’s claims of antisemitism brought on by the Palestine Solidarity Policy to be unfounded. IJV is a Canadian Jewish organization that bases itself on the principle that supporting the pro-Palestine movement does not make one antisemitic. As a member of the Montreal chapter, Liam expressed dismay at Fried’s decision to go to court in an email to the Tribune. 

“There is a difference between being uncomfortable and unsafe, and university is supposed to be a place where you can be exposed to a diversity of opinions,” Liam wrote. “Given the serious incidents of antisemitism that have happened around the world in past few years, the focus should be on combatting actual antisemitism. Attempting to stifle students’ free speech criticizing Israel’s policies by claiming that it’s antisemitic is not going to make a safer environment for Jewish students.”

Liam’s position on the lawsuit, as well as those of Engler, Riley, and Blake, is not shared by McGill. As demonstrated by its threat to terminate its Memorandum of Agreement with SSMU, the McGill administration felt that the Palestine Solidarity Policy sowed further divisions on campus. Claire Loewen, a McGill media relations officer, detailed in an email to the Tribune that McGill attempted to rectify the division caused by the referendum question by creating the Initiative against Islamophobia and Antisemitism (IAIAS). 

“The Final Report of the IAIAS contains a series of bold and concrete recommended actions that we will implement over the coming years. The University will act on each of these recommendations immediately to enhance inclusion and belonging for Muslim and Jewish members of our university community,” Loewen wrote. “Our diverse identities are not only accepted at McGill but honoured and celebrated; no one should ever feel that they must hide who they are to feel that they belong on our campuses.”

As of yet, no date has been set for when the lawsuit will be heard in court. SSMU did not respond to the Tribune’s request for comment and the McGill administration declined to directly address the lawsuit. 

*Riley’s, Blake’s, and Liam’s names have been changed to preserve their anonymity.

Student Life, Word on the Y

Word on the Y: Migrating to Montreal

by Abby McCormick on

More in Student Life:

With the end of August fast approaching, thousands of incoming first-year students are preparing to begin their studies at McGill and, for many, their new lives in Montreal. While this period of transition can be daunting, upper-year students have been through the same thing: Facing the struggles of missing home, making new friends, and adjusting to the city. The Tribune gathered some of these students’ best advice on how to ease the transition of moving to Montreal.

Being in Montreal alone for the first four weeks was simultaneously the best and worst weeks of my life. It was the first time I had spent more than a few days away from my family members, and the friends I had from high school that were also at McGill seemed to be moving on without me. However, I started to notice a change around one to two weeks before Thanksgiving, as I ended up joining an intramural frisbee team with some people I had started getting close to. To my surprise, I not only got closer with those people but also with the same high school friends I once thought were going to “leave” me. To me, moving away from home allowed me the space to be able to find out who I am and enter a sort of “personal metamorphosis,” if you will. The relationships I forged are the best I have ever had, and my personal acceptance and happiness have grown so much from what they used to be.

— Amanda Klunowski, U1 Arts

Deferring my application and starting my academic year during the winter was a challenge! From friend groups already being formed to the harsh snow, it was not easy. However, getting involved in classes and finding people that have similar interests to me made the process way smoother. Moving from Brazil to Canada, and experiencing the snow was so fun—like a movie! I usually get annoyed with the snow, but [it’s] nothing that a good winter jacket can’t fix! Don’t forget the snow boots, otherwise, your feet will become so wet. In order to make friends, I would recommend participating in class or at least sitting next to someone who seems interesting. I made good friends from small talk. Another thing about Montreal that I love is that I never get bored. From clubs and bars to thrift stores and little cafés, there’s something for everyone.

— Julia Gaspar, U1 Arts

I was shocked by how quickly everything moves. Not only classes, but your interests, the people you meet, and your perspectives. It’s a pretty big adjustment at first, but once you figure out what works for you and find the people who feel like home, things slowly start to fall into place.

— Ellie Mota, U1 Arts

I had a pretty different but good experience moving to Montreal for my first year. Around two weeks before school started I was able to move into an apartment with my older sister who also attends McGill. Being able to stay with her this school year, especially at the very start, really allowed me to feel comfortable adjusting to the new city since it was my first time moving away from home. As someone who stayed off campus, I wasn’t able to make friends right away through residence, however, I ended up meeting so many great people in my classes. I think my first year was an awesome experience getting to meet so many different people, making friends, exploring the city, focusing on academics and experiencing independence for the first time in my life.

— Sadie Wang, U1 Science

Montreal was a very new and cool city compared to where I lived most of my life! With so many things to do within walking distance, I definitely can see why it’s ranked quite highly as a student city. I’ve felt pretty safe walking alone at night since the first day here, and overall, the location is one of the big reasons why I am super happy that I chose this university. It was a newer experience putting myself out there because I never left my little group in high school but everyone I met was super friendly. If I could go back in time I would have told myself to stress less about meeting people, and instead look forward to fun experiences. Welcome and best of luck with your arrival to McGill!

— K.R Sun, U1 Science

Out on the Town, Student Life

Auprès de ma blonde falls short on Mediterranean delights

by Harry North on

More in Out on the Town:

Score: 1/5 stars
Price: $$

For those who aren’t familiar with it, Mediterranean cuisine is a complex term. I mostly think of it as Greek––and while Greek food is Mediterranean, not all Mediterranean food is Greek. There’s a big slice from Turkey, the South of Italy, France, North Africa, and the Levant, too.

I’d been meaning to find a good Mediterranean spot in Montreal when I came across Auprès de ma blonde on St. Denis. It looked like a sliver of the Cretan coastline, with its sunshades and rustic bistro chairs on the front terrasse, so I stopped by.

It was one of those unbearably hot and humid days. That’s the thing about Canada actually: Everyone talks about the winters, but no one mentions the summers—they make you sweat like Prince Andrew in Café Campus. Sweltering, I went inside and sat by the window, as it was too hot to sit outside on the terrasse. There was another outside area at the back too, which was less run-down than the front, but again, it was too bloody hot.

For a late lunch on a Saturday, the inside dining room offered the same warm and welcoming hospitality as a shabby casino in Paphos. It had this eerie light brown colour scheme, and not the trendy kind in pricey Scandinavian furniture stores, but the unpolished, decrepit kind Legault has in his living room. The chairs were out of an 1980s Hilton and were in desperate need of a pension—and a Hoover. But the art on the walls took the cake. Utterly, utterly bizarre. One was of a sullen witch sitting behind a steering wheel—the sort of painting I imagine Marjorie Taylor Greene would cheer “girl power” to.

(Harry North / The McGill Tribune)

A selection of mains

Beef burger wth Tzatziki, feta, salad – $16

Couscous (vegetarian, lamb, chicken) – $13- $24

Fish and chips – $19

Souvlaki pita (chicken, pork, vegetarian) – $7.50

Steak and chips  – $24

The menu was reasonably priced and fairly expansive. To start, I got the soup of the day, which the waitress described as a “mushroom herb soup.” What arrived was a puddle in an ashtray. Grey as it was gloomy, with herbs floating on the surface like life jackets, doused in resolve, without the faintest idea how they’d be getting out of this alive. 

Through the surprising thickness, I managed to make out a mushroomy flavour. It had the same pizzazz as a SSMU email. Oh, and just in case my eyes and taste buds were deceiving me, I could see my live reactions by the mouthful in the soup’s reflection: A fierce grimace followed by a look of despair as I pondered how I’d stomach the next.

(Harry North / The McGill Tribune)

For a main, I was swayed by the half page of burgers over the fish, and opted for a beef burger with tzatziki, salad, and fries on the side––hold the feta. 

Burgers are best when they’re simple and made with fresh ingredients. And to its credit, this burger was simple. It didn’t collapse and the bun was lightly toasted. The patty, though, had been left in the freezer long past its bedtime. Not vile, but far, far worse: Dry, insipid, stomach-tickling in a bad way, clinging to the back of my mouth like a new astringent L’Oréal exfoliating cream. Then there was the tzatziki, which was bitter to the point of being outright hostile. I didn’t blame it, though. I felt the same. 

The fries on the side were Mediterranean-style, too—medium thickness and sprinkled with herbs. Most of them needed Viagra, poor sods. There was the side salad as well but by that point my stomach was aching and my patience withering. 

Tell me, how does Auprès de ma blonde make money? If you have to be a local retiree to return, how does it stay in business? I’ve spoken to a number of restaurants in the Plateau recently, and inflation is biting and margins are slimming. My sneaky suspicion is that they aren’t making money and that their days are numbered. My other sneaky suspicion is gigolos come here to play board games, but that’s more of a gut feel than anything else. 

Places nearby to try instead:

Auprès de ma blonde

3845 rue St. Denis  (25 minutes walk from McGill’s downtown campus)

Read more of Harry North’s restaurant reviews on Instagram: @roasting_reviews

1 … 261 262 263 264 265 … 1,363

Read the latest issue

Read the latest issue