Culture and Citizenship Quebec Program: Two Observations
Nadia El-Mabrouk For Board of Directors of Rassemblement pour la laïcité (RPL, Alliance for Secularism) 2023-08-26 We are delighted with the changes made to the new version of the Culture and Citizenship Quebec (CCQ) program in connection with secularism. Following…
Quebec judge denies request to appeal decision maintaining school prayer space ban, Jacob Serebrin, CTV News, 2023-07-26-court. A Muslim organization and a civil rights group seeking to suspend Quebec’s ban on prayer spaces in public schools have been denied leave…
2023-04-29: Atheist Society of Melbourne, Talk by David Rand
Atheist Society of Melbourne, AustraliaTalk by David Rand “Stillbirth, The Failure of Secularism in the English-Speaking World” Publication Date: 2023-05-05 The following video is an on-line talk, given for the Atheist Society of Melbourne, on 29th April 2023. This talk…
We have learned from the secretary of Secular Ontario that the Board of that organization has adopted a resolution in support of Quebec Bill 21. “Be it resolved that Secular Ontario supports the secular (laicite) legislation of the Quebec National…
2023-04-01: Warsaw, Atheist Days, Talk by David Rand
Comparison of English and French Models of Secularism and the Importance of Universalism David Rand Publication Date: 2023-04-15 The following presentation was given by the author at Atheist Days 2023 in Warsaw, Poland, an event organized by the Kazimierz Łyszczyński…
Les députés québécois unanimes: pas plus de racisme au Québec qu’ailleurs (Quebec MNAs Unanimous: Quebec No More Racist than Elsewhere), Geneviève Lajoie, Journal de Québec, 2023-03-15. Members of all political parties in the National Assembly are unanimous: there is no…
PRESS RELEASE, 2023-02-02
For immediate release AFT denounces Trudeau’s appointment of a religious fundamentalist to the role of combatting “Islamophobia” Montreal, 2nd February 2023 — Atheist Freethinkers (LPA-AFT), an association which defends the rights of atheists and promotes secularism, denounces the appointment, by Prime…
Talk at Book Launch of Stillbirth
David Rand Publication Date: 2023-01-23 The following is the talk given by David Rand, author of the book Stillbirth, The Failure of Secularism in the English-Speaking World at the launch event held at Le Port de tête bookstore, in Montreal,…
What exactly are opponents of Bill 21 advocating?
This is an English translation of an article which appeared in La Presse on 15th November 2022 under the title Que défendent au juste les opposants à la loi 21 ?. Nadia El-Mabrouk, President of Rassemblement pour la laïcité (Alliance for…
Secularism in Quebec: Questions for the Political Parties
A general election will be held in Quebec on October 3rd. The Rassemblement pour la laïcité (Alliance for Secularism) has some important questions for the various political parties. The text below is a translation of an article which appeared in…
Blog 139: Priorities for Secularism in Quebec
David Rand 2022-06-04 The following is a list of priorities as I see them. This is an important topic of discussion. You are invited to leave your comments. This list is of course not exhaustive and the order of priorities…
2022-05-23: Patriots’ Day
23rd May 2022: National Patriots’ Day “That any union between Church and State is hereby declared to be dissolved, and every person shall have the right freely to exercise such religion or belief as his/her conscience dictates.” — Declaration of Independence…
Blog 138: Three Inconvenient Facts about Secularism
David Rand 2022-04-14 There are three important facts which need to be faced if we are to make serious progress towards secularism. The U.S. Constitution is not a good model of secularism. Islamists weaponize the “antiracism” movement in order to…
Toronto man sues City Hall over $100k donation to Quebec Bill 21 challenge, Andrew Lawton, True North, 2022-03-24. A Toronto man has filed a lawsuit against the City of Toronto to scrap its $100,000 payment to a legal fund fighting…
Blog 136: Multiculturalism and Colonialism
Pierre Marchand 2022-01-27 Canadian multiculturalism is pure colonialism. The descendants of British colonists and American loyalists who took refuge here are the masters of the country, regardless of which political party is in power. Nowhere is this colonialism more patent…
Blog 135: Four Myths about Quebec Bill 21
David Rand 2022-01-23 Here are four falsehoods which are regularly heard concerning Quebec Bill 21. The word “myths” in the title is perhaps too weak—the term “lie” would be more appropriate—as opponents of the Bill blithely repeat them. [1] Bill…
Blog 133: Is Quebec Bill 21 Discriminatory?
David Rand 2021-12-28 If you check the text of Quebec’s Bill 21 (officially named An Act respecting the laicity of the State, where “laicity” is a bad translation and should be “secularism”), you will see that the religious symbol ban…
RPL Press Release, 2021-12-12
Press Release, Rassemblement pour la laïcité (Alliance for Secularism) Veiled Teacher at Western Québec School Board RPL Denounces Political & Media Exploitation 2021-12-12 12th December 2021 — The Rassemblement pour la laïcité (RPL) denounces the media and political exploitation of the…
Loi 21: création d’une Direction de la laïcité de l’État (Bill 21: Creation of a Directorate of State Secularism), Marc-André Gagnon, Journal de Québec, 2021-12-03. The government of Quebec has announced the creation of a Directorate of State Secularism whose…
Blog 125: The Inappropriate Modesty of Quebec Secularists
David Rand 2021-11-02 In the fall of 2016, the Liberal Party of Quebec government held parliamentary hearings in Quebec City to study Draft Bill 62 (Session 41) which ostensibly affirmed State religious neutrality but was extremely weak—although too much for…
PRESS RELEASE, 2021-10-25
For immediate release Atheist Freethinkers welcomes the new CCQ program announced by Minister Roberge Montreal, 25th October 2021 — Atheist Freethinkers (LPA-AFT), an association which promotes secularism and supports the rights of atheists, welcomes with enthusiasm and relief yesterday’s announcement by…
RPL Press Release, 2021-10-24
Press Release, Rassemblement pour la laïcité (Alliance for Secularism) Quebec Culture and Citizenship A promising new course for social cohesion 2021-10-24 The Rassemblement pour la laïcité (Alliance for Secularism, RPL) enthusiastically welcomes the draft, announced today by the Minister of…
Legault relaunches session with promise to end state of emergency early in new year, Isaac Olson, CBC, 2021-10-19. One of the ways he will change education is by strengthening “national cohesion” by replacing the province’s ethics and religious culture curriculum…
RPL Press Release, 2021-10-18
Press Release, Rassemblement pour la laïcité (Alliance for Secularism) Quebec Bill 21 : The English Montreal School Board seeks an exemption from the usual rule of law in order to hire teachers wearing religious symbols. 2021-10-18 18th October 2021 : Today the…
AFT Challenges CFIC to a Debate about Quebec Bill 21
2021-10-15 We, Atheist Freethinkers (AFT) sent the following message today to the Centre for Inquiry–Canada (CFIC), challenging them to a public debate about Quebec Bill 21. 2021-10-21, UPDATE, Reply received from CFIC: “Unfortunately, we will have to decline your invitation.…