No Problem: "Reorient"

"At that point they will have to make a choice, that's for sure. There are people who can help to reintegrate in another job."
"Quebec forms an open, warm, welcoming nation, where every person can aim for the greatest success, in particular new Quebecers."
Quebec Premier Pauline Marois/Parti Quebecois Leader

"If she is elected, I am definitely going to lose my job."
"It is my whole life. It is my faith. It is my priority. If ever someone asks me to take it off (hijab), I will leave my job."
Rabia Haddaji, treasurer, Collectif des femmes immigrantes du Quebec

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson // CFIQMs. Haddaji wears a hijab, she works in a laboratory at a Université de Montréal health institute and she has no doubt what will happen should Ms. Marois win the election on Monday.

"It is really hell. You worry for your career. You worry for your studies. A woman will be obliged to quit her career, her job, to turn inward, just because of this charter."
"I think I will pack my bags. I will look for a place where it is permitted to wear the headscarf."
Yasmine, Algerian-born Montrealer

Parti Quebecois Premier Pauline Marois, visiting a centre dedicated to helping immigrant women find employment appeared proud of herself that she had behaved most beneficently by shaking the hands of some women using the Collectif's services, even though they were wearing hijabs. The volunteer treasurer of the organization was not present that time of day, yesterday.

Her name is Rabia Haddaji, and she wars a hijab while undertaking her work in a laboratory at a Universite de Montreal health institute. She is very well aware that if the Parti Quebecois returns to government through Monday's vote as a majority, they will institute Quebec's promised charter of values, declaring that religious symbols may not be worn by employees of public institutions.

Yasmine, refusing to give her last name, immigrated to Quebec six months earlier with plans to use her nursing training in a Montreal hospital. Should the Parti Quebecois be returned with a majority she too will see her aspirations vanish. PQ candidate Evelyn Abitbol who strongly supports the charter clarified that a Jewish doctor refusing to remove his kippa would see his employment with any hospital vanish.

But Ms. Marois has a solution to all of that; the government would make an effort to aid people who refuse to abandon their religious symbols, to find "other jobs that correspond to their skills" in the private sector. This is called "reorienting" by the imperturbably placidly smiling premier.

Jean-Francois Lisee, minister of international affairs, has given notice of his intention to begin negotiating agreements to recognize professional credentials held by immigrants; for example nurses from the majority Muslim countries of North Africa. He has promised a public awareness campaign with the distinct purpose "to combat racism and discrimination in employment" - oh, at private companies.