Neuvième concours annuel de rédaction

La justice a bonne mine

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NDLR - Au terme du neuvième concours annuel de rédaction juridique à l'intention des étudiants des niveaux primaire et secondaire de l'île de Montréal, le Barreau de Montréal et la Centrale de l'enseignement du Québec ont fait connaître le nom des vainqueurs lors d'une cérémonie tenue au Complexe Desjardins dans le cadre de la Semaine du Barreau de Montréal, qui avait lieu du 13 au 16 avril dernier. Les gagnants ont alors fait la lecture de leurs textes au public. Le thème choisi cette année était C'est votre tour... dont le but était d'engager une réflexion sur l'amélioration que peuvent apporter les lois à la société.

Ainsi, à l'approche de l'an 2000, les organisateurs ont demandé aux étudiants d'imaginer qu'ils soient eux-mêmes le législateur et de choisir deux lois qu'ils aimeraient promulguer afin que les citoyens vivent dans un monde meilleur au XXIe siècle. En rédigeant leurs textes, les étudiants étaient invités à réfléchir aux problèmes ou situations que les lois choisies viseraient à améliorer ou à modifier, à la différence que ces lois accompliraient et aux moyens nécessaires pour en assurer le respect (information, sanctions).

Les règlements

Cette neuvième édition s'adressait à trois groupes pour chacun des secteurs francophone et anglophone, soit aux élèves du deuxième cycle primaire, ceux du premier cycle secondaire et ceux du deuxième cycle secondaire. Un gagnant a été choisi dans chacun de ces secteurs.

Les élèves participants devaient rédiger un texte d'au plus deux pages et le faire parvenir au Barreau de Montréal au plus tard le 26 mars 1999. C'est un jury formé de membres du Barreau de Montréal qui a sélectionné les gagnants. La fidélité au thème, l'orthographe, la grammaire, la syntaxe, le vocabulaire, l'analyse personnelle et l'originalité étaient les principaux critères évalués.

Julia Barette,

13 ans, Secondaire I,

École Jean XXII

Julia Barette, the leader of the political party presently in power, sat at her desk. She was lost deep in thought. One of her campaign promises was to make Canadian society a better place before the year two thousand. She had nine and a half months left to find a couple of laws that would improve people's lifestyles and have them legalised and put into practice. Just then, her secretary came into her office, a lighted cigarette in his mouth. Barette jumped up cursing. "How many times do I have to tell you, Cummings, don't smoke your disgusting cigarettes in here!" Suddenly, her expression changed. "Cummings, you genius, why didn't I think of it sooner!" She started writing furiously on a piece of scrap paper. Cummings walked out of the room, muttering to himself.

The next day in the House of Commons she unveiled her idea. "For the good of the public, I propose the installation of a new law prohibiting smoking in all public buildings such as restaurants, train stations, and community centres. There won't even be the exception of a smoking room. "Of course, the opposition was quick to find flaws in the idea, and reasons why it shouldn't exist but Prime Minister Barette's party had a large majority. To those who did not agree with her she stated three simple facts:

1. Non-smokers have a right not to have to inhale second-hand smoke in public buildings.

2. Restaurants often have no separation between their smoking and non-smoking sections. To fully respect the rights of non-smokers, there should be no smoking section what so ever.

3. It has been clinically proven that second-hand smoke causes several diseases.

Two months later, law 4921 was passed. Smoking in public buildings was now illegal. Police officers in all regions enforced this law and people could pay heavy fines for breaching it.

Casey Schneider was leafing through the October, 28th morning paper when a certain headline caught his eye. It read: "Law 4822 accepted." He continued to read. "The new law proposed by Prime Minister Barette in May has finally been accepted. It consists of creating jobs by eliminating certain job stealing machines. Included on the list are bank machines, snowblowers for private companies, self-serve gas stations, and there are many more. Many people are furious, but government officials say that many new jobs will be created by the time this law is completely put into practice. More information on page K13." But this was all Schneider had to hear. He had been on welfare for just over three years now and he wasn't going to pass over this chance for a job. He set out immediately to offer his services at the local self-serve gas station.

Prime Minister Barette sat back in her chair. She had managed to keep her campaign promises. Well, at least one of them. Still, her mind would be at ease during the now fast approaching Christmas holidays. If everything worked out as she planned she would have a good chance of being re-elected.

Casey leaned back in his chair looking at the small and sparsely decorated Christmas tree. "It's not much", he thought to himself, "but it's better than what I had during the last three Christmases." Actually, they had been spent without a tree or a nice dinner. Now that he had a job at the local gas station he was able to take night courses in view of a better paying job. He was working hard to be able to support himself and kiss welfare goodbye. "And this," he said to himself, "because of a law!"

Sophie Zoé Dorais,

16 ans,

Collège Rachel

Dans le cadre de mon cours de droit, j'ai été amenée à réfléchir sur les situations de la vie courante qui auraient intérêt à être améliorées. Voici donc deux suggestions qui pourraient nous rendre la vie plus agréable: l'abolition de la sollicitation et l'instauration de la journée famille. Et quoi de mieux qu'un projet de loi pour nous faire réfléchir? Une loi pour nous faire agir!

Projet de loi no 1 : Sollicitation bannie!

Du porte à porte au sondage téléphonique, qui n'a jamais été victime de sollicitation? Cette conspiration qui nous fatigue tous aurait dû être bannie de notre société depuis fort longtemps. Mon projet de loi vise à rendre illégale cette sollicitation.

Avec ma loi, nos familles pourront enfin souper tranquillement, car c'est un fait, ce phénomène se produit toujours à l'heure des repas. De plus, qui aime se faire déranger le dimanche matin par ces représentants qui vous supplient d'acheter leur aspirateur, leurs vadrouilles ou encore de devenir membre de leur secte? Personne.

Pour faire respecter ma loi, toute personne qui ferait de la sollicitation serait amenée à payer une amende sévère et si leur infraction se répète à plus de trois reprises, il pourrait même être contraint à faire quelques jours de prison. Ma loi nous permettrait ainsi de vivre dans un monde beaucoup plus respectueux et nous ne serons plus obligés de trouver toutes sortes d'excuses pour nous débarrasser de ces solliciteurs.

Projet de loi no 2 :
La journée famille!

Dans la société moderne, nous avons de moins en moins de temps à consacrer à notre famille. Nous sommes tous pris par notre travail, les courses à faire, les tâches ménagères ou encore les études. C'est pourquoi j'ai décidé de créer une nouvelle loi intitulée: la journée famille!

À chaque mois, une journée sera congé pour tout le monde afin de nous permettre de passer plus de temps avec notre famille. Cette journée ne sera pas comme les autres: tous les bureaux seront fermés et les écoliers n'auront aucun travaux à faire. Il y aurait une foule d'activités organisées: des sports de plein air, du cinéma, des visites dans les musées. Toutes ces activités seront gratuites lorsque les enfants seront accompagnés de leurs parents. Avec cette loi, toutes les familles pourront se réunir et passer plus de temps ensemble.

Cette nouvelle loi rendrait les familles plus unies et pourrait ainsi éviter plusieurs séparations de couple. De plus, la journée famille ferait sûrement diminuer le niveau de stress des familles et pourrait éviter les dépressions. Les valeurs de partage et de fraternité seront à l'honneur. C'est ainsi que ma loi aiderait notre société à vivre en meilleure harmonie, beaucoup plus détendue et rapprocherait les familles. Pour faire respecter ma loi, tous les moyens sont bons: tous les bureaux et écoles devraient donner congé sous peine d'amende. Les activités seront gratuites pour toutes les familles. Les valeurs de notre société seront axées sur le partage, la fraternité et non plus sur la course à la performance et à la consommation.

Le but d'une loi est de favoriser l'harmonie entre les citoyens. En bannissant la sollicitation, les gens ne seront plus harcelés à tout bout de champ. Avec la loi journée famille, ils pourront vivre des moments privilégiés d'harmonie et de fraternité. Voici deux façons toutes simples d'améliorer le sort de la société.

Matthew Shuster,

17 years old, Secondaire V,

Macdonald High School

In recognition of the invaluable contributions to the movement of urbanism made by the Torontonian author Jane Jacobs; the American journalist James Howard Kuntsler and the Montreal architect Moshe Safdie, I present the JKS law project with the goal to improve the quality of life for all Canadians.

A massive wave of construction following the Second World War added a ring around the centres of major North American cities; suburbia. This exclamatory boom was fuelled by a rapid growth in population, as well as a common demand for a world which would have only the "good life" to offer. At the time, most argued this strategy to residential building would be the ultimate solution to housing. However they failed to realise the long term effects of this trend, some fifty years ago.

Presently, many Canadians call suburbia home. The reality today is that suburbia is far from utopia. The concept of giving everybody their own house on it's own plot of land backfired. This physical separation has created, as many homeowners have come to realise, a mood of isolation and standoffishness among neighbours. There is no sense of continuity, no true sense of community as there is in the inner city. Furthermore, suburban life is uninspiring and monotonous. The homes are built the same, one after the other with virtually no let up. Families who reside in the outskirts do not often venture from suburbia, with the exception of commuting to and from work in the downtown core. Therefore, suburbanites often become disconnected, not only with one another, however also with their heritage, culture, and more importantly, the outside world.

The JKS act would be very simple and straightforward. It would: a) Erase all current zoning laws and reinstate those in use prior to World War II. Pre war zoning laws were not designed with the suburban landscape in mind. They allowed for lush greenspaces, small businesses and residences to boarder, and even share the same space with each other; b) Set up a central panel, formed by urbanists who either practice or profess, in each major metropolitan centre. All prospective construction projects would have to be passed before the above said panel, which would screen the projects for any characteristics of typical suburban planning, and either accept or reject projects for construction.

Enforcement of the law would be equally simple. Any developers who initiate construction without first consulting the panel will be subject to strict fines. Should the project, already in progress not be accepted by the panel, all work must cease and any completed work would be destroyed at the developer's expense.

Tiananmen Act

In memory of those who died in Beijing, China in 1989, fighting for the fundamental rights which we take for granted here in Canada, I respectfully present the Tiananmen law project. The objective of the Tiananmen Act would be to ensure truth, justice and peace around the world. The Tiananmen Act would consist of three parts and would require, to a certain degree, international co-operation.

Firstly, under the Tiananmen Act, any person who wishes to immigrate to Canada may do so if they are from a nation which does not guarantee the same rights as accorded in Canada, and in addition the said person has not gained refuge in any other nation which grants the same rights as accorded by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A person may also enter into Canada if he or she is from a nation involved in war, in such a situation the person's life would be at risk. For example, the Chilean refugees who took shelter in a Montreal church in 1998 to avoid deportation would have been considered legal citizens the minute they set foot within Canadian boarders.

The second part of the Tiananmen Act, which would require international co-operation, would be comprised of an agreement to cease all trade and impose strict embargoes and sanctions on nations which do not grant their citizens the same rights as accorded by western democracies and as found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The third part of the Tiananmen Act would be to form an international truth and reconciliation committee, similar to the council in South Africa. The committee would hear all those who have either committed crimes against humanity, which in Canada would be in violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, or who have passively committed such acts through orchestrating and/or participating in actions which have deprived individuals of liberties which are accorded to Canadian citizens under the above said charter.

The first part of the Tiananmen Act would be fairly simple to implement. Although history has shown us that injustices around the world are often tolerated, especially by major powers, there in a common consensus within the global community that such acts must not be dismissed. In response, politicians, who are constantly seeking a favourable election platform have began, and will continue to respond by taking action against nations which abuse human rights and civil liberties. Therefore, implementing the remaining sections of the Tiananmen Act should pose little challenge. In effect, the United States took the first step in implementing the final section, in November 1998 when it began disclosing, thereby admitting to their involvement in the Chilean coup d'état, which resulted in some of the most horrendous atrocities to date.

 

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