A Montreal community open letter against Quebec’s Bill 21

This collective community letter against Quebec’s Bill 21 was published within the context of the international week of action against racism 2021 surrounding the global day against racial discrimination, as recognized by the UN, on March 21. 

After one year of the pandemic and the urgent need for all in society to collectively consider our total interconnectedness, for both our survival and the health of society, it is honestly incredible that Bill 21 still stands.

Today, I am sharing an open letter that I co-wrote with Ehab Lotayef and Saskia de Boer as part of attempts to sustain and continue to articulate collective opposition in Quebec to the racist Bill 21. Beyond violating both the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Bill 21 enforces, socially and politically, systemic racism and white supremacy in Quebec society. We say no to white supremacy, no to racism, no to Bill 21.

This law speaks to toxic elements of the Quebec political class. The CAQ pushes to enforce violent colonialist frameworks of racism that work to classify and criminalize communities already experiencing systemic oppression.

The fact that Bill 21 is “on the books” right now doesn’t mean that it can’t be defeated. There are many court cases in progress, and many are doing incredible work on that front. It is also important that we continue to publicly assert our collective rejection of this racist law and work together to ensure that it is fully defeated. 

Please read below for the full letter and list of signatories.

—Stefan Christoff, March 22, 2021

The erosion of the Quebec Charter is an attack on our values

March 21 has been designated the “International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.” It provides an opportunity for every nation to reflect on its evolution in the long battle against bigotry, oppression and inequality. Here, in Quebec, we regard our Charter of Rights and Freedoms as proof of our commitment to equality and justice, but we must also reckon with the fact that we have recently fallen short.

Quebec knows the progress that can come from a good reckoning. For centuries, the Catholic Church exerted more control than the will of Quebec’s own people; it took a “Quiet Revolution” and a social movement of protest and mobilization to affect change. It was with an eye to break with tradition in favour of breaking new ground that the National Assembly enacted the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms in 1975.

In that document it was written that: “Every person is the possessor of the fundamental freedoms, including freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.”

This predates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by seven years. We did not need the federal government to step in and tell us what we already knew. Yet nearly 45 years later, the CAQ government chose to reverse course.

In 2019 they passed Bill 21, which bans people whose religious expression includes a hijab, kippah or turban, among others, from certain positions in the public service. This unjustifiably violates the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Quebec Charter.

In order to protect Bill 21 from Quebec Charter based challenges, the CAQ government used the derogation mechanism in the Quebec Charter. It also modified the Quebec Charter and the “Act to foster adherence to State religious neutrality”, thus weakening the protections originally offered to religious freedom and equality rights.

As we ponder the true nature of Quebec values, it is worth noting that the 1975 Charter was adopted by the members of the Quebec National Assembly unanimously, while the 2019 amendments were passed by a simple majority.

We believe that Quebec should strive to remedy the mistakes of the past and become a modern, diverse and inclusive society. We are hopeful that we will be able to fulfill our boundless potential and continue to progress while we remain a society that protects the rights and freedoms of all its citizens. This can only be achieved by expanding the protections provided by our Charter, not eroding them.

Sincerely, 

Saskia de Boer, Documentary Film/TV Writer 

Stefan Christoff, Artist and community activist 

Ehab Lotayef, President, Citizens’ Rights Movement & NL21 co-founder

Signatories

1. Charles Taylor, professeur, philosophe et écrivain
2. Vincent Romani, professeur, Département de science politique, UQAM
3. Catherine Larochelle, professeure, département d’histoire, Université de Montréal
4. Alexandre Boulerice, député NPD de Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie
5. Robert Leckey, Dean of the McGill University Faculty of Law
6. Samuel Gale, professeur, Faculté de droit, Université McGill
7. Mark S. Goldberg, PhD, professeur, Département de médecine, Université McGill
8. Giuliana Fumagalli, mayor of Montréal’s Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension
9. Dinaïg Stall, professeure, École supérieure de théâtre/ UQAM
10. Ollivier Hubert, professeur titulaire, département d’histoire, Université de Montréal
11. Heather O’Neill, Auteur
12. Ann-Marie MacDonald O.C., auteure, dramaturge, actrice
13. Rev. Diane Rollert, Église unitarienne de Montréal/Unitarian Church of Montreal
14. Louigi Addario-Berry, professeur agrégé, Université McGill
15. Hasana Sharp, professeure de philosophie, Université McGill
16. Rachel Berger, PhD, professeure agrégée d’histoire, Université Concordia
17. Derek Nystrom, professeur agrégé, English, McGill University
18. Samira Laouni, Présidente-Directrice C.O.R. et coordonnatrice de la Semaine d’actions contre le racisme
19. Michelle Hartman, professeure, Institut d’études islamiques, Université McGill
20. Mary Ellen Davis, artiste, enseignante (Université Concordia), travailleuse culturelle
21. Darin Barney, titulaire de la Chaire Grierson en communications, Université McGill
22. Anna Pringle, étudiante en droit à McGill, militante avec Solidarité sans frontières
23. Amanda Ruiz, artiste interdisciplinaire, member du Centre des travailleurs immigrants
24. Airick Asher Woodhead, Artiste + Musicien (Doldrums)
25. Khaoula Zoghlami, doctorante et chargée de cours, UdeM et UQAM
26. Dolores Chew, membre fondateur du Centre communautaire des femmes sud-asiatique (SAWCC).
27. Yasser Dhouib, Vice-président, CQFA-AACQ Association amicale canadienne qatari
28. Marlene Hale, Wet’suwet’en, militante pour la justice climatique (Chef Maluh)
29. Andrea Levy, PhD, auteure et éditrice
30. Ishita Tiwary, professeure adjointe, École de cinéma Mel Hoppenheim, Université Concordia
31. Laura Cliche, Responsable des partenariats, À propos de Pour 3 Points
32. Jessie Stein, musicienne et étudiante au doctorat, CUNY Graduate Center Earth and Environmental Sciences Department
33. Rahul Varma, directeur artistique, Théâtre Teesri Duniya
34. Lori Schubert, Directrice générale, Quebec Writers' Federation (QWF)
35. Devin Brahja Waldman, musicien
36. Julia Eilers Smith, Curatrice de la recherche, Galerie d’art Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery, Université Concordia
37. Meryam Haddad, avocate & militante pour les droits humains
38. Kathleen Winter, auteure
39. Mohamed Kamel, ingénieur et militant pour les droits humains
40. Hanadi Saad, Justice Femme
41. Dr. Michael A. Dworkind MD.CCFP.FCFP., professeur agrégé de médecine familiale et de soins palliatifs, Université McGill
42. Karen Boyles, artiste (Karen Tatouage Neuf doigts)
43. Thomas Martial, artiste
44. Ben Patrick Stidworthy, musicien
45. Victor Tardif, membre – Courage Montréal
46. Maya Khamala, auteure
47. Louise Burns, CKUT Radio, 90.3 FM
48. Catherine Pappas, Directrice générale par intérim Alternatives
49. Clara-Swan Kennedy, animatrice, CKUT Radio, 90.3 FM
50. Savanna Craig, CUTV
51. Myriam Cloutier, communications et mobilisation, Alternatives
52. Sandrine Desforges, secrétaire générale de la Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l’Université de Montréal (FAÉCUM) 
53. Chinois progressistes du Québec
54. Zahia El-Masri, Fondation Canadienne-Palestinienne du Québec (FCPQ)
55. Shirin Radjavi, Doctorante, Institute of Islamic Studies – McGill University
56. Naomi Bénéteau Goldberg, coordinatrice du Hub de mobilisation pour la justice climatique
57. Patricia Gélinas Boushel, travailleuse culturelle
58. Kevin A. Gould, professeur agrégé, Department of Geography, Concordia University
59. Mostafa Henaway, auteur, organisateur communautaire, Centre des travailleurs immigrants
60. Abdelali Essaouis, photographe
61. Raphaël Foisy-Couture, musicien, Small Scale Music
62. Guillaume Vallée, cinéaste
63. Robert Green, militant, candidat du Parti Vert pour NDG-Westmount, 2019
64. Meredith Fowke, auteure, producer
65. Irmak Bahar, militant communautaire, organisateur syndical
66. Aidan Girl, musicienne, Godspeed You! Black Emperor
67. Miriam Ginestier, co-directrice Studio 303
68. Jade Marcil, présidente de l’Union étudiante du Québec (UEQ) 
69. Dustin Finer, musicien (DF)
70. Elena Razlogova, professeure agrégée, Department of History, Concordia University
71. English-Language Arts Network (ELAN)
72. Alternatives
73. Black Rose Books
74. Lara Khattab, Docteure en sciences politiques, chargée de course en justice et droits de la personne, Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, Carleton University
75. Saeed Kamjoo, Musicien
76. Antoine Bustros, Musicien
77. Sabrina N Jafralie, Docteure, Chargé de cours et enseignante au niveau secondaire
78. Lousnak Abdalian, Artiste
79. Karine Jean St-Gelais, enseignante au collégial
80. CKUT Radio, 90.3FM
81. Doug Taylor, scénariste, Foolscap Films
82. Norman Nawrocki, Musician
83. Esther Bourdages, Auteure, commissaire art sonore, musique expérimentale
84. Sarah Teixeira St Cyr, Researcher and film curator
85. Nadine Altounji, Musician
86. Sarita Ahooja, Community activist
87. Faiz Abhuani, Director, Brique par brique
88. Claire Lyke, Musician
89. Adam Kinner, Musician
90. Isabella Salas, BIPOC Artist, creative director and producer
91. Genevieve Heistek, business owner, Empire Exchange Inc
92. Jordan J. Arseneault, Artist (SéroSyndicat)
93. Claude Rioux, Éditions de la rue Dorion
94. Alexia Avina, Musician
95. Will Eizlini, Musician
96. Lisa Djevahirdjian, Labour Activist
97. Thomas Boucher, Teacher, Visual Artist
98. Steve Baird, community activist
99. Noémie Beauvais, organizer at the Immigrant Workers Centre
100. Fred Burrill, PhD Candidate, Concordia University
101. Maya Cardin, Artist (Mayamorphosis)
102. Nabil Abu-Thuraia, CRM
103. Noëlle Didierjean, community organizer at the Immigrant Workers Centre
104. Ian Ilavsky, Constellation Records
105. Liliane Chlela, Artist, DJ
106. Jade Barshee, Theater Artist
107. Sarah Pagé, Musician
108. Sarah Mangle, Artist
109. Bianca Mugyenyi, Director, Canadian Foreign Policy Institute
110. Benoît Scowen, community organizer at the Immigrant Workers Centre
111. Mamadou Barry, co-founder of Statut pour les guinéens campaign
112. Tamara Vukov, Filmmaker, Professor, UdM, Communication Department
113. Santiago Bertolino, Filmmaker
114. Kasim Tirmizey, Part-Time Faculty, Concordia University
115. Freda Guttman, Artist, activist
116. J.B. Gerald, Artist
117. Kiva Stimac, Popolo Press
118. Joey Calugay, Community Organizer Immigrant Workers Centre
119. Will Prosper, Hoodstock co-founder
120. Evelyn Mondonedo, PINAY (Filipino Women’s Organization in Quebec)
121. Andrea Mercier, Musician (Bolduc Tout Croche)
122. Eliza Kavtion, Musician 
123. Ludvic Moquin-Beaudry, professeur de philosophie au collégial
124. Jesse Freeston, Filmmaker
125. Sarah Albu, Artist
126. Christeen Francis, Artist
127. Joseph Sannicandro, Sound Artist
128. AnneMarie Papillon, Artist
129. Sean Michaels, auteur
130. Laura Dunn, animatrice communautaire, Courage Montréal
131. Yves Engler, auteur
132. Paul Cadieux, producteur de films
133. David Homel, écrivain, journaliste, traducteur
134. Dr. Mohamed Gamal Abdelhameed, président du Canadian Institute for Strategic Studies & Development
135. Duha Elmardi, coordonnatrice à l’éducation et à l’implication à Sustainable Concordia / Collectif Bienvenue
136. Rustum Choksi, Professeur, université McGill
137. William Clare Roberts, professeure associée, université McGill
138. Dayna McCleod, artiste
139. Adam Leith Gollner, écrivain
140. Susan Doherty, écrivaine, Quebec Writers’ Federation
141. Adam Gwiazda-Amsel, étudiant à l’université McGill, vice-président AÉUM, intervenant
142. Dr. Alladin Abou Sharbin, CRM
143. Zoë Thomas, MD FRCPC, psychiatre, Hôpital général juif / professeure auxiliaire, université McGill
144. Bronwen Low, professeure, université McGill, Dept. of Integrated Studies in Education
145. Ryan Van Huijstee, rédacteur et poète
146. Stacey Tenenbaum, Cinéaste, H2L Productions
147. Linton Garner, président, Quebec Federation of Home and School Associations (au nom du Conseil d’administration)
148. Chinois progressistes du Québec
149. Dr. Bachar El Solh
150. Janette Jorgensen, animatrice et co-hôte, The Lawn Chair Soirée
151. Stephen Brown, membre du CA du CNMC / représentant syndical du SCFP
152. Travis Ross, enseignant à l’école publique et résident de Montréal
153. Danji Buck-Moore, artiste, chercheur, organisateur communautaire
154. Michael Prupas, PDG, Muse Entertainment Enterprises
155. Julie Girard, recherchiste, film et télévision
156. M. Jean-Paul Acco, artiste, secteur de la santé de Montréal
157. Wiebke von Carolsfeld, cinéaste et auteure
158. Daniel Áñez, musicien
159. Darren Ell, enseignant et photographe
160. Brooklyn Frizzle, étudiant à l’université McGill, VP Affaires universitaires, AÉUM 
161. Mauro Pezzente, musicien, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, co-propriétaire de la Casa Del Popolo
162. Jan Doering, assistant-professeur de sociologie
163. Anna Jane McIntyre, artiste visuelle
164. Christian Favreau, militant Coalition Courage, Justice Climatique Montréal, auteur freelance
165. Nadine Thiruchelvam, musicothérapeute et éducatrice en musique, Giant Steps School
166. Rose Marie Whalley, enseignante à la retraite, Older Women Live CKUT 90.3FM, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
167. Cayley Sorochan, membre de Courage Montreal / PhD Communication Studies, université McGill
168. Juliette Chesnel, directrice, Commissaire aux affaires francophones de l’AÉUM
169. Nick Schofield, musicien
170. Martin Lukacs, auteur et journaliste
171. Andreas Iakovos Koch, organisatrice pour Divest for Human Rights Coalition, université McGill
172. William Aeron Lewis, musicien
173. L. Alexis Emelianoff, musicienne
174. Camille Patry-Desjardins, travailleuse du communautaire
175. Catherine Debard, Musician (YlangYlang)
176. Brett Howie, Musician
177. Claire Abraham, Musician
178. Feroz Mehdi, Alternatives
179. Rukaya Achhal, Community activist
180. Émilie Monnet, directrice artistique / artistic director ONISHKA & Scène contemporaine autochtone
181. Lucas Huang, Musician
182. PINAY, Filipino Women’s Organization in Quebec, Organisation des femmes philippines du Québec
183. Pierre Guerineau, Musician, Essaie pas, L’Œil Nu.
184. Chris Robertson, Artist, La Presse du Chat Perdu.
185. Ted Rutland, Associate Professor, Concordia University
186. Nizar Koubaa, community activist, Anti Racist Football Montréal
187. Catherine Lamoureux, Musician (Valeda)
188. Nadia Moss, Artist
189. Mariana Marcassa, Artist
190. Mariana Frandsen, Cultural worker
191. Mireya Bayancela, Artist
192. Nathan McDonnell, community activist
193. Asma Ahsan Khan, Artist
194. Tim Lafontaine, Musician (CopCarBonfire)

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