Quebec is of two minds about immigration

Although Quebecers say they welcome diversity, we’re also suspicious of Islam in particular and think of it as a threat.

I’ve been hesitant to pursue the whole Bill 21 mess in detail, but Ingrid Peritz provides a good vignette and summary. On Facebook, I read an anecdote – not officially reported or corroborated, so take it for what it’s worth – that two women in hijab were declined for jobs in a daycare, even though the law is not meant to apply to daycare workers: that employers beyond the remit of Bill 21 will feel justified in turning down applications from people wearing religious symbols (which means, for the most part, women in hijab) is to be expected: if the government won’t employ them, why should we?