The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is furious over a proposal by Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek to use $100,000 to fight a Quebec law..Gondek announced a $100,000 donation is in the works and will ask other municipalities to join in collaboration on a legal challenge of Bill 21 in Quebec..“Taxpayers of Calgary expect their money go to fund important projects in their community like high quality policing, good roads and recreation facilities, not social justice issues in Quebec,” the Alberta Director of the CTF Kevin Lacey told the Western Standard..“People can think what they want about Bill 21, but the mayor shouldn’t be using taxpayer dollars on her own political crusades. If she thinks this is such an important issue, I encourage the mayor to use some her own over $200,000 salary to make a generous donation.”.Passed in 2019, Quebecs’ Bill 21 prohibits some state employees from wearing any religious symbols when carrying out their civic duties..Fatemeh Anvari was a Quebec teacher who was fired for wearing a hijab to work, as the Bill directly mentions face coverings and has a significant impact on Muslim women in the province..Many Calgarians took issue with Gondek’s proposal, turning to Twitter to vent their dismay..“So @JyotiGondek wants to give $100K of tax payer money to help defend religious freedom in Quebec. Not withstanding that religious freedom is a constitutional right, defence of the constitution is a FEDERAL responsibility and for Gondek to proceed is an outrageous over reach,” said Liam Rothwell..“Bill 21 is an abomination, no question. But we’ve got houseless people freezing in Calgary right now. $100,000 could go a long way to addressing that,” Nate Pike pointed out..The proposal goes to council on Monday.
