Sidhartha Banerjee

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Sidhartha Banerjee.

Legault backs minister who said Quebec can't offer asylum from 'all world's misery'

Legault backs minister who said Quebec can't offer asylum from 'all world's misery'

MONTREAL -- Quebec doesn't have the capacity to take in more immigrants, Premier Francois Legault said Thursday amid a surge in the number of asylum seekers arriving at the province's border with the United States.

Quebec suspends random traffic stops by police after court rejects extension request

Quebec suspends random traffic stops by police after court rejects extension request

MONTREAL -- Quebec's Public Security Department announced late Friday afternoon that most random traffic stops by police are suspended, days after the Court of Appeal affirmed that arbitrary road checks lead to racial profiling.

Prime minister among those marking Montreal's St. Patrick's parade 200th anniversary

Prime minister among those marking Montreal's St. Patrick's parade 200th anniversary

MONTREAL -- The streets of downtown Montreal turned green like clockwork on Sunday as its annual St. Patrick's Day parade celebrated its 200th anniversary with the country's new prime minister present.

Montreal man, 89, suffering from hypothermia after being found outside care home

Montreal man, 89, suffering from hypothermia after being found outside care home

MONTREAL -- An 89-year-old man was fighting for his life Wednesday after he was found outside a long-term care home in the city's east end, Montreal police said.

Bill 21 at the Supreme Court: Five things about Quebec's contentious secularism law

Bill 21 at the Supreme Court: Five things about Quebec's contentious secularism law

MONTREAL -- Quebec's secularism law, known as Bill 21, was challenged in court as soon as it was adopted more than five years ago. With the Supreme Court of Canada announcing Thursday it will hear arguments on the validity of the law, here's a look at some of the issues behind the legislation.

Quebec needs people to run for local office. The problem is they keep resigning.

Quebec needs people to run for local office. The problem is they keep resigning.

MONTREAL -- Municipal leaders across Quebec are looking for ways to get young people, especially women, to run for local office in next year's elections, but that is a tall order given the well-documented incidents of harassment and intimidation faced by elected officials in the province.

Montreal dockworkers vote as employer threatens lockout barring deal

Montreal dockworkers vote as employer threatens lockout barring deal

MONTREAL -- The clock is ticking on a threat by the employers association at the Port of Montreal to lockout some 1,200 dockworkers if their union doesn't agree to a deal Sunday on what it calls a final contract offer.

Montreal City Hall removing welcome sign with hijab sends wrong message: Muslim group

Montreal City Hall removing welcome sign with hijab sends wrong message: Muslim group

MONTREAL -- A national Muslim advocacy group says Montreal would send the wrong message if it takes down a welcome sign in the lobby at city hall that generated controversy because it included a woman wearing a hijab.

Quebec politician closes riding office indefinitely because of threats to safety

Quebec politician closes riding office indefinitely because of threats to safety

MONTREAL -- A legislature member with the Coalition Avenir Quebec government is closing her riding office north of Montreal indefinitely because she fears for her safety and the safety of her employees.

Secularism: Montreal to shed city hall welcome sign that includes woman wearing hijab

Secularism: Montreal to shed city hall welcome sign that includes woman wearing hijab

MONTREAL -- A welcome sign in the lobby of Montreal's newly renovated city hall depicting a woman wearing a headscarf will be removed in the name of secularism, Montreal's mayor says, following criticism that the image is offensive.

Court of Appeal upholds Quebec ruling that invalidated random police stops

Court of Appeal upholds Quebec ruling that invalidated random police stops

MONTREAL -- Quebec's Court of Appeal has upheld a landmark 2022 decision that found a law permitting random traffic stops by police led to racial profiling.

Five things about Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante, who won't seek re-election in 2025

Five things about Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante, who won't seek re-election in 2025

MONTREAL -- Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante says she will quit municipal politics after serving the final year of her second term, which comes to an end in November 2025. Known for her trademark laugh and positive energy, here are five things about the municipal politician first elected as a city councillor in 2013.

Legault 'shocked' by Montreal teacher scandal, pledges to toughen secularism measures

Legault 'shocked' by Montreal teacher scandal, pledges to toughen secularism measures

MONTREAL -- Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was "shocked" by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as "Islamist" beliefs.

Classes resume with replacement teachers after 11 suspended at Montreal school

Classes resume with replacement teachers after 11 suspended at Montreal school

MONTREAL -- Eleven Montreal teachers who were suspended for allegedly creating a climate of fear and intimidation inside a Montreal primary school were replaced Monday as the union that represents them rejected criticism from the education minister that it didn't do enough to correct the problem.

Bilingual Quebec communities lose bid to suspend application of language law rules

Bilingual Quebec communities lose bid to suspend application of language law rules

MONTREAL -- Bilingual Quebec municipalities have lost their bid to have several parts of the government's French-language reform suspended while their case makes its way through the courts.

Quebec introduces salmon fishing restrictions amid decline in migration to rivers

Quebec introduces salmon fishing restrictions amid decline in migration to rivers

MONTREAL -- Quebec has introduced new restrictions on Atlantic salmon fishing because of annual fish migrations that are well below average in most of the province's rivers.

Canadian security employ "increased vigilance" after Trump rally shooting: LeBlanc

Canadian security employ "increased vigilance" after Trump rally shooting: LeBlanc

Canada's security apparatus is "exercising increased vigilance" in the wake of this weekend's deadly shooting at former U.S. president Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania, the federal public safety minister said Sunday.