If the secularism charter ever passes, I would leave Quebec

How

do we know if we should stay or go? I have been proud to be a bilingual Montrealer, Quebecer and Canadian all my life. Recent Quebec politics have forced me, for the first time, to question what it is that has made me so proud and why it is that I cannot feel this way now.

My father moved from Morocco at a young age with his whole family to seek opportunity and my mother found refuge in Montreal as a Jew, during the Suez Canal crisis in Egypt. Recent politics have made me think strongly of leaving Quebec. My life circle is slowly changing, as friends and family move away with distaste. I watch businesses close around me and ask myself: What would make it worth staying here? Why am I still here?

After hours of thought on this topic, my first answer is simple: family. It is one’s natural instinct to want to stay close to family, to take care of one another. I want my kids to know their grandparents and cousins, I want to continue sharing the little things about growing up in Quebec that I loved so much, and allow traditions to continue. I want them to choose from among our fine universities. But, above all, I want them to be proud they are Montrealers, Quebecers and Canadians. I struggle to believe that this could be possible if we continue down the path we are on.

Yet, I also think about the respect I have for Quebec and for Montreal. This is the place that allowed my mother freedom as a Jew, and it is the place my father and his family found a future. Without Quebec, where would my parents be today? It is so hard to leave without fighting to stay.

I am asked whether my worry comes from talk of a separate Quebec, a referendum. While these politics would surely make me question my living here for many reasons, they are not the reason for my reflection at this point: that is just politics.

Discussion of a secular charter, however, is not just politics. Even discussing such a thing insults the very values that have led me to love it here. People, like my parents, come here from all around the world looking for freedom of choice, freedom of religion and a better life for their families. They escape war and prejudice looking for peace, and a right to be who they are, in whatever capacity they want to be. I am proud of the multiculturalism that exists here and of the learning we do from one another.

But, the very politicians that allowed this to be now want to place limitations on these freedoms?

There is a daycare worker who takes care of my son. I see her every day. How could we ask her to choose between her hijab and her job? We have invited multiculturalism to exist by opening our doors to it, and it has been embraced. These demands, which could become law, are sometimes the very thing people living here have escaped in the first place.

I ask myself: If a secular charter were passed, what would we be teaching our chil-- dren? Equality should not be about secularism, but about tolerance and acceptance of others as our peers, no matter the religion or garb.

It saddens me to have to face a decision on whether or not to stay in Quebec. My life growing up here has been incredible, and I would love to offer my family the same. I also feel I owe Quebec a debt of gratitude for taking in my parents and allowing me to be born here and thrive here.

Yet, what do you do when your values as a person are challenged? I don’t think there would be any other choice but to leave my home if such a charter were to be passed. I would not want to go, but I would have to.