Bouchard-Taylor commission’s report: what’s new?

Over 35 recommendations were made by the duo of Charles Taylor et Gérard Bouchard, but St. Laurent’s politicians, community workers and school board commissioners alike didn’t wait for the unveiling of the report to get involve with the numerous multicultural groups living in the borough.

St. Laurent High School Principal Louise Chénard was somehow disappointed by the report as the suggestions made by the Marguerite-Bourgeoys School Board (MBSB) in the essay they handed in to the commission were only discussed in the last part of the report. “We can easily see the difference made between interculturalism and multiculturalism and also the open secularism principle. It would have been difficult to follow a strictly French system with absolute secularism while respecting the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms”, said Mrs. Chénard. According to the principal of the school with one of the highest number of immigrant students in the province, conflicts are rare and remain exceptions.

But overall, she thinks that the report’s conclusions will lead to other debates, whether successful or not.

When asked if the report was not only saying what we already knew, MBSB President Diane Lamarche-Venne answered ironically “that’s a nice way to put it”. “We came to the conclusion that the results of the report were basically going in the same direction as what we mentioned in the essay we gave the commission. But we never though there were any problems”, she insisted. “We have to understand that an accommodation and integration policy can’t be created in one day.”

For Mrs. Lamarche-Venne, it must not start “from the head, but from the people”, but still she thinks the Bouchard-Taylor commission was a “very good group therapy”.

The President of the MBSB finds it odd that some of the recommendations include new rules for religious ritual rooms in schools. “Nobody ever asked us about this kind of thing!” Considering that more than 150 different ethnic groups are represented in the MBSB schools and that those students subscribe to many different faiths, such recommendation shouldn’t even be considered.

St. Laurent Mayor Alan DeSousa thinks the borough remains a “privileged area with an intercultural municipal policy that serves as a model, even if it can always be improve.”

The report’s conclusions will be examined by the council.

In the council room, there’s a catholic cross on one of its wall and a moment of respect is observed prior to the meeting. “I see the cross as an historical element of St. Laurent’s past, which was build by the Sulpicians”, said the mayor. “They were the first to settle down here and many public buildings are connected to them. Even the name of the borough reminds us of the old Christian community.”

Mr. DeSousa also added that the cross is located in “a pretty discrete place”.

As for the moment of respect, he believes it’s a good way to open up to people. “Everybody can participate in it, whether they’re religious or not. It also allows us to be closer to people who are more practising.”

All in all, Mr. Bouchard and Mr. Taylor’s report could very well be illustrated with examples coming from this borough.

(Translated by Pascal LeBlanc)



(Photo: Archives)