At the "CATHII" March meeting, Mme Nicole Filion, representative from the 'Ligue des droits et libertés' (League for Rights and Freedoms) presented the summary of the Report on the state of human rights in Quebec and Canada. 

This report, drawn up in 2013, is the result of the collaboration of more than 30 organizations and was endorsed by 45 national organizations, one of which is CATHII. The common thread of the report is rooted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 28 states that a Nation which adheres to the Declaration is committed to creating an environment in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

 
Mme Filion told us that the report identifies the economical, social and political model of Canada and Quebec as being the prime source of human rights violations. In this model, policies give priority to economic growth over all other criteria with respect to collective choices. The market-based approach permeates all sectors of human life: health, education, food and shelter.

In Canada and in Quebec, we note an important democratic deficit: the government frequently uses gag laws and epic laws, reminding us of Bill 12 and Bill 78; access to information has also undergone serious setbacks. Groups are controlled by cutting off their funding. To conclude, there is a general decline of human rights in Canada and in Quebec. 

To learn more, with the benefit of concrete examples, you can go to the website:

http://liguedesdroits.ca/?categorie=rapport-dh    (in French)

Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Claudette Bastien, S.N.J.M.