Let's Talk About Bill 21

 Let's talk about Bill 21.

This writer has several female relatives who wear the hijab. One of them is working in a hospital where she takes care of the most serious Covid infected patients (something she did from the start of the pandemic). Another works for the Covid response team that is in charge of identifying and dealing with flareups and infection spread. A third one works for the ministry of finance while a fourth is a teacher.

All of these strong women are not only saving lives, they are helping Canada be a better place. Yet none of them are allowed to work in one province of Canada - Quebec. Just because of what they wear.

Today, we see protests in Iran where a woman was killed (and others are getting killed), all because the government wanted to control what this lady was wearing. Our government, PM Justin Trudeau, was quick to announce new sanctions on Iran. Our leader of the opposition, Pierre Poilievre, was quick to denounce Iran. MPs from both parties were quick to participate in the protests in Canada.

Yet, what is our position on Bill 21? A province in our own country, possibly the most racist province of all, does not allow women to work while wearing the hijab. Justin Trudeau has been the Liberal Prime Minister for the last 7 years, and other than "keeping the door open", has not done anything. Erin O Toole, the last leader of the Opposition, did not allow his MPs to criticize this bill, despite many Conservatives wanting to.

It is time for a new direction. I hope the new leader of the Conservative party takes a more active role in opposing Bill 21 (and opposing Quebec in this). There is only so much the federal party can do in a provincial jurisdiction, but they do have some forceful tools in their toolkit. It is time to use them.

And it is also time to take action against other countries that try to regulate women's clothing. India is on its way there, and France already is there. If we are not having sanctions against these countries, why do we have sanctions against Iran?

But first, let's solve our own issue first. Time to deal with Quebec.