SUS Social Sustainability

11/09/2022

This week, groups contesting Bill 21 - Quebec’s secularism law - argued that it largely discriminates against Muslim women. The law prohibits civil servants and some politicians from wearing religious symbols at work.

"The expert evidence in this case accepted by the trial judge establishes that Bill 21 is likely to increase the prejudice faced by Muslim women more than any other group," Ravon told the panel of three judges, says Perri Ravon, the lawyer representing the English Montreal School Board. Ravon also noted, “In this school board, eight people have lost their jobs or have been denied employment due to Bill 21, and all were Muslim women.”

Conversely, the lawyer for the attorney general of Quebec stated that the right to gender equality is a “general guarantee” but may be overruled by the notwithstanding clause. The lawyer for the secular group Mouvement Laïque Québécois argued that Bill 21 protects religious freedom, as all parents have the right to educate their children about religion according to their beliefs, and the state must not infringe upon this.

To learn more about the ongoing superior court case:

As hearings on Quebec's secularism law continue before the Quebec Court of Appeal, a lawyer for the English Montreal School Board says the law overwhelmingly discriminates against Muslim women.

11/04/2022

ER care in Montreal has been reaching a critical breaking point these past few years, with most healthcare centers experiencing overwhelming crowding and shortages. In a detailed letter from the advocacy group “Regroupement des chefs d’urgence du Québec”, they described the situation as such: "We have not received the support of our management to better distribute the pressure between the different network structures to mitigate the impact on emergency services and on patient care safety."

In response, Quebec's health minister, Christian Dubé, has proposed a three-part plan, the first part being to open two Montreal clinics run by nurse practitioners to give patients other direct healthcare options that are not the ER. The next part is extending the 811 healthcare phone line across the province, as it is currently only available in Montreal. That way, people can phone in for healthcare access, avoiding the ER altogether. Finally, the last part of the strategy would be increasing ER bed space while finding ways to discharge patients faster. Dubé hopes that having more patients recover at home will increase their comfort through being in a familiar environment while simultaneously leaving more hospital beds available.

Regroupement des chefs d’urgence du Québec in the same letter referred to emergency rooms as “the victims of a failing system,” so hopefully, these new strategies are able to help both staff and patients in providing and accessing more efficient healthcare.

To learn more about the care crisis:

Quebec's health minister on Tuesday promised that his new three-point plan to ease emergency room overcrowding will show results in a few weeks, as ER doctors warned that the network has reached a 'breaking point.'

10/26/2022

The C.A.R.E. Centre is a day centre in Montreal that provides recreational and educational activities to adults over the age of 21 who have physical disabilities. The C.A.R.E center's mission is to improve the lives, functioning, and communication of adults with severe physical disabilities. This center seeks to defend and promote the rights and interests of adults with severe physical disabilities living in the Greater Montreal region, including Laval, the Laurentians, and the South Shore. C.A.R.E. works in collaboration with other organizations to provide continuing education and community social inclusion.They provide individuals with a variety of recreational and educational activities aimed at continuing education, improved communication, and social and physical skills. Activities include math, science, arts & crafts, music, current events, personal goals, sports, community-inclusion outings,and many more.

To learn more about this amazing organization check out the link below:

How do we do this?Through a recreational and educational day program that provides continuing education, recreational activities, health and wellness activities, community inclusion activities and meaningful social interactions.

10/19/2022

The city of Montreal has announced a new mission for the Lachine Museum, highlighting conservation, Indigenous presence in the area and European industrialization. This historical museum is built on the Le Ber-Le Moyne heritage site which hosts the oldest complete building from the 17th century and a fur warehouse dating from 1803.

“Focusing the mission around the promotion of history and archeology will allow the Lachine Museum to fully play its role,” said Ericka Alneus, head of culture and heritage for Montreal’s executive committee. “Our museum is strategically positioned to tell the stories of collaboration between Montrealers and First Nations in building modern Canada.”

To learn more visit:
https://montreal.ca/lieux/musee-de-lachine
https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/city-of-montreal-announces-new-mission-for-lachine-museum

“Focusing the mission around the promotion of history and archeology will allow the Lachine Museum to fully play its role."

10/19/2022

At St. Joseph Mission Residential School in the 1970s, Phyllis Webstad had an orange shirt, a gift from her grandma, confiscated. Through the residential school system which were in operation from the 1880s to the late 20th century, many Indigenous children lost their lives and culture, which have led to prevalent devastating effects on First Nations communities today. To remember terrible loss, on September 30th, communities across Canada hosted ceremonies and powwows for Truth and Reconciliation Day, also known as Orange Shirt Day.
The holiday was established last year upon the discovery of several unmarked mass graves in locations of former residential schools near Saskatchewan's Cowessess First Nation and Tk'emlups te Secwepemc nation in BC. In an interview with Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibal, she says she wants the day to focus on the children who were lost and the families who never saw them return. "It's their day, especially those who suffered in those institutions and survived and then I also feel that it's for all the little ones who died in those institutions and didn't make it home," she said."The day is about them as well. It's also a time to reflect. It's a time to learn about Canada's true history."

To learn more:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canadians-reflect-about-residential-schools-on-truth-and-reconciliation-day-1.6090829

https://www.orangeshirtday.org/about-us.html

Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) Residential School (1891-1981) Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in May 2013. This...

09/28/2022

Hundreds of people have been protesting in Ottawa against the Iranian government after an Iranian woman has died in the custody of the morality police. Mahsa Amini, a 22-year old Iranian woman was arrested by Iranian morality police for “improper wear of hijab”. The women of Iran are protesting against the Islamic Republic, and are tired of the system in place. Many Iranians have been experiencing internet outages during global protests against the Iranian government, so they are unable to see what is going on. Global protestors are demonstrating not just against Iran, but to send a message to world about religious and gender-based discrimination.

To learn more visit:

With the death of a young Iranian woman in police custody sparking demonstrations around the world, hundreds of people took to the streets of Ottawa Sunday to protest against Iran's Islamic Republic.

09/09/2022

Interested in equity, world issues, and more? Apply to join our amazing committee!!

Do you want to get involved in the SUS? Apply now for a position under one of the executive portfolios.

Click link in bio for all available positions and application!

Applications are due September 11th at 11:59 PM.

04/05/2022

Come join us!!!

The 2022-23 SUS Appointed Positions Package is here! APPLY APPLY APPLY!
Find the list of available opportunities and application in the link in our bio. Applications are due APRIL 15 @ 11:59PM!

04/01/2022

Hello everyone!

We have partnered with Welfare Avenue, a Montreal-based student organization that provides home-cooked meals, clothing, and more to the homeless community.

Our collaboration project is a Socks and Sanitary drive, where we will be collecting items such as socks, condoms, pads/tampons, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and any other items that would be beneficial to the community. The drive will run from March 31st-April 22nd and will be located outside the SUS office, in the basement of Burnside Hall (room 1B21).

If you have unused items you are willing to donate, please stop by our office!

03/24/2022

💡Weekly Spotlight: Mosque attack💡

This past Sunday, a mosque in Mississauga, Ontario was attacked. The man attacked congregants during an early-morning prayer equipped with an axe and bear spray, spraying individuals assembled in their rows. The attacker had many other weapons, including knives, axes and other harmful objects. The attack is believed to be hate-motivated. Mosques are a place of worship, therefore were shut down during the COVID-19 lockdowns. After the end of lockdowns, people were excited to get back to their communities. Several politicians and community members have shown support for the mosque and the Muslim community in wake of this incident and stand in solidarity with Muslims across Canada.

For more information:

Members of a mosque in Mississauga, Ont., are still coming to grips with what happened after a man allegedly wielding an axe and bear spray attacked congregants during an early-morning prayer, a volunteer at the mosque who witnessed the incident said Sunday.

03/15/2022

💡Weekly Spotlight: Charities supporting Ukraine💡

As of today, bloodshed continues to rage on in Ukraine. A maternity hospital was bombed, Ukraine’s main cities fell under intense air strikes, thousands of lives have been lost, and millions of Ukrainians are displaced. Now more than ever, help is needed.

Attached is a list of organizations that are actively supporting the victims of the war. We understand it can be difficult to decide where to donate given the notorious cases of corruption and deception often broadcasted in the news. The article below details the precise efforts of each organization (i.e. how/when they distribute donations to support those affected by the war in Ukraine). Finally, a reminder that individual small sums may seem insignificant but taken together, it can make tangible differences to the lives of these victims.

To learn more:

On February 24, 2022 Russia invaded Ukraine. This is a full-blown war. In a war, charities have a limited role to be effective. A war is different...

03/10/2022

💡Weekly Spotlight: Women in Ukraine💡

On International Women’s Day, Ukrainian women contemplated their reality. Russia had just invaded Ukraine in pursuit of taking over the country, and millions have had to flee for their lives. This exploratory piece by ABC interviews several Ukrainian women who are now facing challenges they’ve never had to deal with before.

Many women have chosen to flee the country with their children, and have considered whether or not to lie to them about the harsh reality. One mother explained to her child that they are “going on vacation,” a clear falsehood based on their surroundings. President Zelensky acknowledged the hardships that Ukrainian women were experiencing on this day. Although his words were appreciated, there remains an issue with Ukrainian refugees. As men are forced to stay behind and fight for their country, most women and children are fleeing.

The Social Sustainability Committee of the McGill Science Undergraduate Society solemnly condemns the violence and resulting displacement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Regardless of political viewpoints, peace and safety are primary rights for all individuals, and in this violence, we see this right being grossly perverted. The SSC extends our condolences and support to all directly and indirectly affected by the war in Ukraine. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us - whether it be for support or to suggest ways to fulfill our role as a voice for social justice in the McGill community, especially during these difficult times.

To learn more:

International Women's Day is a global day to celebrate women, but many fleeing Ukraine felt only the stress of finding a new life for their children as husbands, brothers and fathers stayed behind to defend their country from Russia’s invasion