Letters: Opportunity knocks for Pablo Rodriguez and the Quebec Liberal Party
The most recent Léger poll has the Quebec Liberal Party trailing the leading Parti Québécois by just two percentage points and ahead of the Coalition Avenir Québec by 11 points.
What an opportunity for Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez.
For an example, take the sizzling New York City mayoral campaign of young, new political star Zohran Mamdani. His campaign is focused on hope for every citizen, embracing immigrants and a promise 'to reach further, to understand the perspectives of those with whom I disagree, and to wrestle deeply with those disagreements,' as he said in a speech last week.
Voters are searching for enlightened leaders. If Rodriguez can deliver on a similar vision, I think the premiership of la belle province awaits him.
Barry Beloff, Montreal
Redefine limits of academic freedom
Re: ' Prayer rooms, student groups increased tensions over Israel-Hamas war at CEGEPs: report ' (The Gazette, June 27)
The results of a Quebec government investigation into allegations of tensions at Vanier and Dawson colleges are not surprising. A climate of hostility has been reported at universities and colleges not only in Quebec, but across the country since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israeli civilians. Aggressive student groups and course content with a political agenda are driving factors of a well-documented campaign that has taken root in our academic institutions.
The teachers union's contention that CEGEPs must remain spaces where young people can be challenged and feel free to debate is quite valid. However, the present boundaries of academic freedom do not promote this vision. Instead of being encouraged to enter into dialogue, students with differing opinions are shouted down or silenced in classrooms and public spaces on campus. Pluralistic views on the conflict in Gaza are seemingly not tolerated.
It is high time to redefine the limits of academic freedom so that this hallmark of democracy is not used to justify aggression. Students deserve an education, not indoctrination.
Marcy Bruck, the Foundation for Genocide Education, Montreal
Campus prayer rooms aren't the problem
Amid the findings of the government report on tensions at CEGEPs, there was one in particular that I feel is not just misguided, but downright offensive: an argument against the presence of prayer rooms for Jewish and Muslim students on campus.
Let's be clear: Prayer rooms aren't political soapboxes. They're spaces for quiet reflection, for people of different faiths to practise in peace. In a city as proudly multicultural as Montreal, offering them isn't some special 'privilege' to be revoked when situations get tense. It's basic respect.
Lumping prayer rooms in with student groups that use divisive slogans or escalate conflicts is absurd. The two aren't remotely the same. One exists to deepen understanding of self and community. The other actively tries to fracture it.
If we want to cool tensions on campus, removing places for respectful spiritual practice is exactly the wrong move. We should be modelling tolerance and accommodation, not punishing it.
Lindi Ross, Carignan
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Globe and Mail
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Iran's president orders country to suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog IAEA
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Iran has limited IAEA inspections in the past as a pressure tactic in negotiating with the West – though as of right now Tehran has denied that there's any immediate plans to resume talks with the United States that had been upended by the 12-day Iran-Israel war. Iran could produce enriched uranium in a 'matter of months,' IAEA chief says Iranian state television announced Pezeshkian's order, which followed a law passed by Iran's parliament to suspend that cooperation. The bill already received the approval of Iran's constitutional watchdog, the Guardian Council, on Thursday, and likely the support of the country's Supreme National Security Council, which Pezeshkian chairs. 'The government is mandated to immediately suspend all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency under the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its related Safeguards Agreement,' state television quoted the bill as saying. 'This suspension will remain in effect until certain conditions are met, including the guaranteed security of nuclear facilities and scientists.' It wasn't immediately clear what that would mean for the Vienna-based IAEA, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog. The agency long has monitored Iran's nuclear program and said that it was waiting for an official communication from Iran on what the suspension meant. A diplomat with knowledge of IAEA operations, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the situation in Iran, said that IAEA inspectors were still there after the announcement and hadn't been told by the government to leave. Iran's decision drew an immediate condemnation from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. 'Iran has just issued a scandalous announcement about suspending its cooperation with the IAEA,' he said in an X post. 'This is a complete renunciation of all its international nuclear obligations and commitments.' 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They had been concerned that Tehran, in response to the war, could decide to fully end its cooperation with the IAEA, abandon the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and rush toward a bomb. That treaty has countries agree not to build or obtain nuclear weapons and allows the IAEA to conduct inspections to verify that countries correctly declared their programs. Iran's 2015 nuclear deal allowed Iran to enrich uranium to 3.67 per cent – enough to fuel a nuclear power plant, but far below the threshold of 90 per cent needed for weapons-grade uranium. It also drastically reduced Iran's stockpile of uranium, limited its use of centrifuges and relied on the IAEA to oversee Tehran's compliance through additional oversight. The IAEA served as the main assessor of Iran's commitment to the deal. Senate rejects effort to restrain Trump on Iran as GOP backs his strikes on nuclear sites But U.S. President Donald Trump, in his first term in 2018, unilaterally withdrew Washington from the accord, insisting it wasn't tough enough and didn't address Iran's missile program or its support for militant groups in the wider Middle East. That set in motion years of tensions, including attacks at sea and on land. Iran had been enriching up to 60 per cent, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels. It also has enough of a stockpile to build multiple nuclear bombs, should it choose to do so. Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the IAEA, Western intelligence agencies and others say Tehran had an organized weapons program up until 2003. Israeli airstrikes, which began June 13, decimated the upper ranks of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard and targeted its arsenal of ballistic missiles. The strikes also hit Iran's nuclear sites, which Israel claimed put Tehran within reach of a nuclear weapon. Iran has said the Israeli attacks killed 935 'Iranian citizens,' including 38 children and 102 women. However, Iran has a long history of offering lower death counts around unrest over political considerations. The Washington-based Human Rights Activists group, which has provided detailed casualty figures from multiple rounds of unrest in Iran, has put the death toll at 1,190 people killed, including 436 civilians and 435 security force members. The attacks wounded another 4,475 people, the group said. Meanwhile, it appears that Iranian officials now are assessing the damage done by the American strikes conducted on the three nuclear sites on June 22, including those at Fordow, a site built under a mountain about 100 kilometers southwest of Tehran. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC analyzed by The Associated Press show Iranian officials at Fordow on Monday likely examining the damage caused by American bunker busters. Trucks could be seen in the images, as well as at least one crane and an excavator at tunnels on the site. That corresponded to images shot Sunday by Maxar Technologies similarly showing the ongoing work.
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Iran will suspend cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog, president orders
Iran's president on Wednesday ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency after American and Israeli airstrikes hit its most-important nuclear facilities, likely further limiting inspectors' ability to track Tehran's program that had been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels. The order by President Masoud Pezeshkian, however, included no timetables or details about what that suspension would entail. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled in a CBS News interview that Tehran still would be willing to continue negotiations with the United States. 'I don't think negotiations will restart as quickly as that,' Araghchi said, referring to Trump's comments that talks could start as early as this week. However, he added: 'The doors of diplomacy will never slam shut.' Pressure tactic Iran has limited IAEA inspections in the past as a pressure tactic in negotiating with the West — though as of right now Tehran has denied that there's any immediate plans to resume talks with the United States that had been upended by the 12-day Iran-Israel war. Story continues below advertisement Iranian state television announced Pezeshkian's order, which followed a law passed by Iran's parliament to suspend that cooperation. The bill already received the approval of Iran's constitutional watchdog, the Guardian Council, on Thursday, and likely the support of the country's Supreme National Security Council, which Pezeshkian chairs. 3:55 Trump responds to Iran's claim of victory, says U.S. would bomb again if threat resurfaces 'The government is mandated to immediately suspend all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency under the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its related Safeguards Agreement,' state television quoted the bill as saying. 'This suspension will remain in effect until certain conditions are met, including the guaranteed security of nuclear facilities and scientists.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It wasn't immediately clear what that would mean for the Vienna-based IAEA, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog. The agency long has monitored Iran's nuclear program and said that it was waiting for an official communication from Iran on what the suspension meant. Story continues below advertisement Israel condemns the move Iran's decision drew an immediate condemnation from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. 'Iran has just issued a scandalous announcement about suspending its cooperation with the IAEA,' he said in an X post. 'This is a complete renunciation of all its international nuclear obligations and commitments.' Saar urged European nations that were part of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal to implement its so-called snapback clause. That would reimpose all U.N. sanctions on it originally lifted by Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers, if one of its Western parties declares the Islamic Republic is out of compliance with it. Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, and the IAEA doesn't have access to its weapons-related facilities. Details remains unclear It's not known how Iran will implement this suspension. Iran's theocratic government, there is room for the council to implement the bill as they see fit. That means that everything lawmakers asked for might not be done. Story continues below advertisement However, Iran's move stops short of what experts feared the most. They had been concerned that Tehran, in response to the war, could decide to fully end its cooperation with the IAEA, abandon the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and rush toward a bomb. That treaty has countries agree not to build or obtain nuclear weapons and allows the IAEA to conduct inspections to verify that countries correctly declared their programs. Iran's 2015 nuclear deal allowed Iran to enrich uranium to 3.67 per cent — enough to fuel a nuclear power plant, but far below the threshold of 90 per cent needed for weapons-grade uranium. It also drastically reduced Iran's stockpile of uranium, limited its use of centrifuges and relied on the IAEA to oversee Tehran's compliance through additional oversight. The IAEA served as the main assessor of Iran's commitment to the deal. 6:33 Will the Israel–Iran ceasefire hold? But U.S. President Donald Trump, in his first term in 2018, unilaterally withdrew Washington from the accord, insisting it wasn't tough enough and didn't address Iran's missile program or its support for militant groups in the wider Middle East. That set in motion years of tensions, including attacks at sea and on land. Story continues below advertisement Iran had been enriching up to 60 per cent, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels. It also has enough of a stockpile to build multiple nuclear bombs, should it choose to do so. Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the IAEA, Western intelligence agencies and others say Tehran had an organized weapons program up until 2003. Suspension comes after Israel, U.S. airstrikes Israeli airstrikes, which began June 13, decimated the upper ranks of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard and targeted its arsenal of ballistic missiles. The strikes also hit Iran's nuclear sites, which Israel claimed put Tehran within reach of a nuclear weapon. Iran has said the Israeli attacks killed 935 'Iranian citizens,' including 38 children and 102 women. However, Iran has a long history of offering lower death counts around unrest over political considerations. The Washington-based Human Rights Activists group, which has provided detailed casualty figures from multiple rounds of unrest in Iran, has put the death toll at 1,190 people killed, including 436 civilians and 435 security force members. The attacks wounded another 4,475 people, the group said. Story continues below advertisement Meanwhile, it appears that Iranian officials now are assessing the damage done by the American strikes conducted on the three nuclear sites on June 22, including those at Fordo, a site built under a mountain about 100 kilometres (60 miles) southwest of Tehran. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC analyzed by The Associated Press show Iranian officials at Fordo on Monday likely examining the damage caused by American bunker busters. Trucks could be seen in the images, as well as at least one crane and an excavator at tunnels on the site. 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Vancouver Sun
3 hours ago
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U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday night that Israel agreed to the 'necessary conditions' that would lead to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, during which time Washington 'will work with all parties to end the war.' 'My representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza,' the president stated on Tuesday. 'The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring peace, will deliver this final proposal,' Trump stated. 'I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this deal, because it will not get better. It will only get worse.' Marshall Wittmann, the AIPAC spokesman, told JNS that 'we appreciate the efforts of President Trump and Steve Witkoff to work with our ally Israel to reach a hostage deal in Gaza.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Now, it is incumbent on Hamas, which has been the ongoing obstacle to peace, to accept the agreement,' Wittmann told JNS. AIPAC stated that those calling for 'ceasefire now' were silent, 'as Hamas is once again the obstacle to a deal.' AIPAC called that silence 'revealing.' According to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, there was a 'large majority in the government and among the people' for the proposed hostage deal. 'If there is an opportunity to do so—it must not be missed!' the diplomat posted to X on Wednesday morning. However, Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli, in a response to Sa'ar said that the terms of the proposed deal were 'not presented to the government at all.' Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a senior member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government,' also responded: 'Ending the war in Gaza—not a moment before defeating Hamas.' Netanyahu stated on June 21 that 'there are those around the world, and in Israel, who say 'Enough. Come on, end the war,'' per an English translation of the premier's remarks, which his office released. 'I have news for you. I am ready to end the war, according to clear conditions that will ensure the security of Israel,' Netanyahu said. 'All of the hostages will return home. Hamas will lay down its weapons, leave power, its leadership—whoever is left—will be exiled from the Strip. Gaza will be completely demilitarized, and we will carry out the Trump plan, which is so correct and so revolutionary, and it says something simple. The residents of Gaza who wish to leave will be able to leave.' Anyone who calls for Israel to stop fighting prior to achieving those aims 'is, in effect, calling for Hamas to stay in power,' Netanyahu said at the time. 'What does this mean? This means that all of our achievements and all of the sacrifice of our heroic soldiers will have been for naught,' he said. 'Hamas will rebuild, resume its missile production, dig more terrorist tunnels and reposition itself with armed terrorists a short distance from the communities of the Negev,' he added. 'We will receive more abductions, more murders, more rapes and more burning of infants.' 'I will not accept this,' he said.
