The furor in the francophone media in regards to the latest court ruling over Quebec's Bill 21 law (which bans certain religious wear in certain public and para-public jobs) is just such a case.
A media tempest in a teapot.
While the ruling mostly supports the use of the famous opting-out 'notwithstanding clause' and allowed the government to move forward with the restrictions, it did make an exception for those serving in the National Assembly and likewise for the minority English-language school boards of Quebec.
In other words, the court ruled that the government could ban Hijabs, kippahs and other religious regalia in certain occupations, like teachers, judges and others in positions of authority.
But an exception was made on constitutional grounds that the ban cannot apply to English school boards or elected officials because the notwithstanding clause cannot override constitutional guarantees.
This ruling sent French language nationalists off the rails, with the usual gang of whingers raising holy Hell.
The arguments offered to oppose this court ruling are the same tired ones used to sell sovereignty for the last 50 years, that is, the old canard of the supposed collective humiliation inflicted upon Quebec by a vengeful and evil federal government, out of touch with Quebec language and cultural aspirations.
These tired and repetitive arguments have faded into banality and insignificance over the decades. One would think the proponents of a sovereign Quebec would adopt a new tack, given the failure to launch of the old. Replaying the humiliation card is desperate and sad, the very definition of insanity is repeating the same hackneyed monologue over and over again and expecting a different result.
I get that militant nationalists are furious over the court ruling, it describes a different society than what they support. Some people like the colour red while others blue, no justifications or explanations needed.
But making illogical and incoherent arguments against the ruling, such as those made by the likes of Mathieu Bock Coté and company is sadly comical, the crux of that argument is that the court ruling makes for two classes of citizens and that the idea that a law can apply to some but not others is inconsistent with democracy.
"Il s’agit désormais de découper le Québec en communautés rivales et de créer deux catégories de citoyens." Mathieu Bock-Coté
("From now on, it's a question of dividing Quebec into rival communities and creating two categories of citizens.)
Really?
And what exactly does Bill 101 do if not that?
The essence of Quebec's language law does exactly what Bock-Coté decries, that is, the creation of different categories of citizens depending on language.
Arguing that the two aren't the same because Bill 101 applies to everyone and now Bill 21 does not, is splitting hairs.
Imagine a law that mandates that all schools must teach students to use only their right hand to write. While that law may satisfy Monsieur Bock-Coté's criterion that law must apply equally to all, it is in fact, only the lefties who are adversely affected!
At any rate, practically all laws, rules and regulations have exceptions and to pretend otherwise is nonsense.
Once again, I repeat, Sovereigntists have every right to decry the court ruling because it doesn't suit them and their grand design for an independent Quebec. Fair enough.
What galls them the most I assume is that the ruling is a stark reminder that Quebec remains part of Canada and that it cannot through its National Assembly create a world of its own design, divorced from the essence of Canada.
As for rising up in rage and defiance in the face of this insulting court ruling, many nationalist pundits have reminded Quebecers that this is the price they are paying for not voting for independence and that perhaps they should now show some backbone.
Really?
This non-news story is a lesson on how divorced from reality these entitled and cloistered journalists remain. Making a mountain out of a molehill is a just description of the fantasy world within which they reside. While these entitled pundits cash paycheque after paycheque while living comfortably in their Plateau oasis, they are out of touch with the people of Quebec who are in fact suffering. Not from language oppression but Covid-19 related financial difficulties and mind-numbing mobility restrictions.
"Many Quebecers endure these humiliating follies because Canada is relatively prosperous and comfortable. How sad ! A comfortable mental asylum remains a mental asylum." Joseph Facal
Yup....
