Articles by Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press

Oct 7 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MONTREAL — An independent report released Monday has found evidence that Montreal police show "systemic bias" in conducting street checks, with people from certain racialized groups much more likely than others to be stopped. Montreal's police chief said he'll take action following the release of the devastating report, which found serious discrepancies among the people who are most often […]

Oct 4 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MONTREAL — Two Quebec parents are seeking the right to launch a class-action lawsuit against the makers of the popular video game Fortnite, alleging it was purposely made highly addictive and has had a lasting impact on their children. Montreal-based Calex Legal is seeking to sue Epic Games Inc., the U.S. company behind the popular online multiplayer […]

Sep 30 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MONTREAL — A Quebec inquiry that examined relations between Indigenous communities and the provincial government delivered a scathing final report on Monday that called on the province to apologize to First Nations and Inuit peoples for systemic discrimination. The Viens Commission laid out 142 recommendations, or calls to action, for the Quebec government and urged the province to move on them.  "It seems […]

Sep 30 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MONTREAL — A Quebec inquiry that examined relations between Indigenous communities and the provincial government delivered a scathing final report on Monday that called on the province to apologize to First Nations and Inuit peoples for systemic discrimination. The Viens Commission laid out 142 recommendations, or calls to action, for the Quebec government and urged the province to move on them.  "It seems […]

Sep 27 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — Montreal was hit by Greta-mania Friday as teen Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg took the city by storm, bringing her message that urgent action is needed against climate change. Arriving via New York City, driven in an electric car provided by former California governor and Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger's, she marched in a climate protest that was part of a global movement she helped spark just […]

Sep 27 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — Montreal was hit by Greta-mania Friday as teen Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg took the city by storm, bringing her message that urgent action is needed against climate change. Arriving via New York City, driven in an electric car provided by former California governor and Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger's, she marched in a climate protest that was part of a global movement she helped spark just […]

Sep 26 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MONTREAL — The English Montreal School Board will be the latest group to attempt a legal challenge of the application of Quebec's religious symbols legislation. The board's commissioners have voted to hire a law firm to determine the "appropriate legal recourse" against the provincial government over the validity of the law known as Bill 21. "There has already been an effect on being […]

Sep 26 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MONTREAL — The English Montreal School Board will be the latest group to attempt a legal challenge of the application of Quebec's religious symbols legislation. The board's commissioners have voted to hire a law firm to determine the "appropriate legal recourse" against the provincial government over the validity of the law known as Bill 21. "There has already been an effect on being […]

Sep 20 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MONTREAL — Canada Post has honoured the late, legendary singer Leonard Cohen with a set of commemorative stamps that will be released to the public on Saturday, which would have been the icon's 85th birthday. The set of three stamps, unveiled Friday evening at an event at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, are distinct designs to […]

Sep 17 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MONTREAL — A Montreal man who pleaded guilty just 12 days ago to fatally stabbing his unborn child told a Quebec Superior Court justice on Tuesday that he now wants to withdraw his plea. That was one of the comments from Sofiane Ghazi as he informed a Montreal court he'd fired the lawyers who represented him throughout the case, alleging […]

Sep 10 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MONTREAL — The English Montreal School Board is taking the Quebec government to court over whether the forced transfers of schools infringes on English minority linguistic rights. The board also called on the province Tuesday to seek an opinion from the province's highest court ahead of its plan to table a bill doing away with the province's school […]

Sep 6 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MASCOUCHE, Que. — A Quebecer who spent more than two years in legal limbo in Cuba following the death of a fellow Canadian tourist returned home last week after being liberated by Cuba's highest court. Toufik Benhamiche returned to Canada last weekend a free man after the Cuban Supreme Court granted him an exceptional authorization to leave the […]

Sep 5 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MONTREAL — A Montreal man pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder in a stabbing attack that killed his unborn child and seriously injured the baby's mother. The surprise guilty pleas came on the second day of the murder trial of Sofiane Ghazi, 39. In an agreed statement of facts, Ghazi admitted to stabbing his wife 19 times with a carving […]

Sep 4 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MONTREAL — A Montreal man charged with fatally stabbing his unborn baby had been fighting with his pregnant wife the evening prior to the attack, a jury trial heard Wednesday. Sofiane Ghazi, 39, is charged with first-degree murder of the infant, referred to in court simply as "Baby Ghazi." He is also charged with attempted murder in the alleged […]

Aug 15 2019 — Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press — MONTREAL — A Canadian is among a group of LGBTQ content creators who have launched a class action lawsuit against YouTube in the United States, alleging the popular video-sharing website is censoring their content. The group of eight, which includes several prominent U.S. creators and Montreal-based transgender YouTuber Chase Ross, announced it is taking a stand against the […]