Both shameless

Trudeau's reasons for appointing an unnecessary, special representative to fight Islamophobia in Quebec are shameless, but so are Almira Elghawaby's for accepting the nod.  "The noxious effects of identity politics have been on full display in Canada since Justin Trudeau's nomination of Almira Elghawaby as his government's special representative on combatting Islamophobia," writes Konrad Yakabuski in today's 'Globe and Mail', adding that it's all about votes.

Trudeau is doing it to get special interest votes in Quebec and Elghawaby is accepting it for the money -- all $162,500 per year.  Elghawaby, you'll recall, is -- or, as she now claims, was -- a rabid anti-Quebecker, who regularly calls out the province for it's anti-Muslim views.  She bases this on Bill 21, which prohibits provincial public servants from wearing religious symbols that ensure the principle of the Separation of Church and State and the impartiality and objectivity of employees paid out of the public purse.  The principle states that the public must not know the religion of a public servant when accessing goods or services.  

This principle is widely held, but has been attacked by Muslims and other religious spokespersons who accuse the government of prejudice -- mainly against women who wear the hijab.  It is, of course, nothing of the sort.  It bans all religious symbols and has even gone so far as to remove the historic crucifix from the provincial legislature.  Kirpans, crosses and yarmulkes are also banned.  So much for singling out Muslims. 

Bernie Farber, ex-CEO of the Canadian Jewish Congress, for some bizarre, out-of-character reason, co-wrote a 2019 op-ed piece with Elghawaby that claimed 88% of Quebeckers were anti-Muslim or anti-Semitic.  Naturally, premier Blanchet is calling for Elghawaby's removal, claiming (rightly, in my opinion) that Quebeckers are among the most tolerant and welcoming people in the world, citing immigration and refugee figures that prove it.

Eghawaby actually had to issue a public apology to the people of Quebec for her defamatory columns and opinion pieces over the years, but Trudeau -- true to his (non)principles -- is doubling down, saying he has full confidence in her objectivity.

Really?!  How can he have?  Moreover, how can Ms. Elghawaby promote understanding and tolerance of Muslims among Canadians if she starts out from the defensive crouch she has taken in her writings? Asks Yakabuski.  He adds, "Ms. Elghawaby's job mainly involves preaching to the converted.  She has already shown herself to be very good at that."  

It's all ludicrous, bare-faced, naked and crass politics.  Oh, that and money.  As the marvelous Cathal Kelly wrote in 'The Globe and Mail' today, "Not everyone loves their job, but everyone loves money."  He was talking about Canada Soccer coach John Herdman, who is rumoured to be moving to New Zealand to coach for more money, but he could as well be talking about Elghawaby's miraculous Pauline Conversion since her lucrative appointment.

As the saying goes:  Money talks, but bullsh-t walks.  As I said, shameless:

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A word about another shameless move by our inept PM.  In late 2020, he announced a $173 million grant to Quebec pharmaceutical company 'Medicago' (vote-rich Quebec, of course) to develop a COVID vaccine.  Health Canada approved the vaccine, but the World Health Organization did not because of Medicago's ties to tobacco giant Philip Morris.

Duh!  Would you not think Health Canada would have checked with the WHO before it started manufacturing the vaccine?  Wouldn't that have been a first, basic step?  Oh yeah, forgot, Theresa Tam is at the helm, so I guess not.  Another of her brilliant moves during COVID!

Now Medicago has announced it is closing the plant and throwing 300 people out of work.  Yep, another fiasco wherein the feds hand a company millions just before it closes.  So appalling.