Quebec Mayor to Muslim ‘Immigrants’: We Don’t Adapt to Your Culture, You Adapt to Ours
Let’s hear it for the Quebec mayor!
Muslim ‘refugees’ demanded the abolition of pork in all the school canteens of a Montreal suburb.
The mayor of the Montreal suburb of Dorval has refused, and the town clerk sent a note to all parents to explain why…
“Muslims must understand that they have to adapt to Canada and Quebec, its customs, its traditions, its way of life, because that’s where they chose to immigrate.
“They must understand that they have to integrate and learn to live in Quebec.
“They must understand that the must change their lifestyle, not the Canadians who so generously welcomed them.
“They must understand that Canadians are neither racist nor xenophobic; they accepted many immigrants before Muslims (whereas the reverse is not true, in that Muslim states do not accept non-Muslim immigrants).
“That no more than other nations, Canadians are not willing to give up their identity, or their culture.
“And if Canada is a land of welcome, it’s not the Mayor of Dorval who welcomes foreigners, but the Canadian-Quebecois people as a whole.
“Finally, they must understand that in Canada (Quebec) with its Judeo-Christian roots, Christmas trees, churches and religious festivals, religion must remain in the private domain.
The municipality of Dorval was right to refuse any concessions to Islam and Sharia.
“For Muslims who disagree with secularism and do not feel comfortable in Canada, there are 57 beautiful Muslim countries in the world, most of them under-populated and ready to receive them with open halal arms in accordance with Sharia Law. Ref:http://www.planetbros.com/quebec-mayor-muslim-immigrants-dont-adapt-culture-adapt/
Japanese child fails to jump the barrier four times Can we create a
culture like this? Never give Up
Japanese child fails to jump the barrier four times .Look at the
reaction of his class mates. The CULTURE of a country is built and
developed in Class Rooms.
1. Master Coaching or Learning from Experts ( his teacher encourages him
to go for it again and again)
2. Always surround yourself with positive people ( his friends/class
mates are cheering him in his first,second, third,fourth and fifth
attempts)
3. Set your goal higher than your ability ( that boy could have easily
jumped in his first attempt, if he would chosen a smaller jumping pad)
4. Patience ( The organizer of the event had patience to allow his
master/teacher to give permission for this boy to go for it again and
again. There might be many students in the queue to do the same act)
5. Positive Impression on the parents watching it ( This event gives a
re-assurance to the parents watching this act, that they have chosen a
good institute for their children )
6. Persistence ( That boy could have got depressed and could have left
the scene after repeated failures/shame in front of the parents, class
mates, school mates etc. Yet he went for it again and again.)
7. Hope and Inspiration for others ( this bunch of events is going to
give a lot of hope to the other students who are going to face the same
issue again when their turn comes up)
8. Fake it until you make it ( the boy tried to fake the outcome of the
act in his second attempt, yet his teacher interwined and gave him a
third chance)
9. Life is all about going one more round ( after the third attempt, the
boy starts to cry, losing all hope, the teacher asks him to go for one
more round)
10. The uphill may be difficult, but the view from the top is beautiful (
if the boy has to recollect his experience later on, in his life - he
wouldn't think of the difficulties of this event, rather he would think
of how beautiful it was to win that moment and see it from an algother
different and positive perspective)
11. Enthusiasm is infectious ( the parents sitting in the first row are
taking a video of all these events, they are certainly going to show
this to their friends and family on how patience, persistence,
encouragement can have beautiful effects on the life of others( may be
that is how this video landed on our whatsapp group or some other social
media websites))
12. "Giving example isn't another way to teach, it is the only way to
teach"-Albert Einstein ( this video is going to be great example/
lesson to the people who are going to watch it in whatever perspectives
they choose to see it.)
13. Books are not the only form of education, solo/group activities like
these can shape the thought process of the children/students in a great
many ways.
14. Life is like a combinational lock, you may not know the exact
combination of when you are going to unlock it ( the boy reaches his
success in his fifth attempt. The 5th attempt is not an ordinary one, he
is surrounded by many of his classmates and they are all encouraging
him to go for it. They would have done something different in the 6th or
7th attempt)
15. Gratitude ( a feeling of being thankful ) towards masters/teachers (
The boy hugs the teacher after his success. This also reminds me of
what vanathi mam told us in her last speech to our batch " As a teacher,
our only happiness is hearing from you that, you are doing well in your
job and life....Stay in touch with us.... "))
16. Learning from the mistakes of the others. We may not get many life's
to live our life again and again. We need to learn, not only from our
mistakes, but also from the mistakes of the others. ( The classmates who
are watching the event would have been watching all these things from
the side, they would have made a guess by now, on what different did he
do in his final attempt and what mistakes did he do in his inital
attempts. They would be in a better position to avaoid those mistakes
when their turn comes up)
17. heard of the Golden Rule ? "One should treat others as one would
like others to treat oneself" ( this boy is going go back to his
classmates and he is going to encourage them the same/better way on how
he was encouraged in his attempts)
18. Life is how you see it. If you feel that this video has nothing in
it. Then you are right. If you feel that this video has lot of things to
learn in it, then also you are right. As Henry Ford rights states "
Whether you think you can, or think you can't, in either way you are
right "
The overall decline was a result of
fewer civil marriages, though the number of Muslim marriages went up.
INGAPORE: There were a total of
27,971 civil and Muslim marriages registered in 2016, 1.2 per cent lower
than the 28,322 marriages registered the year before, according to the
latest figures from the Department of Statistics (Singstat).
According
to Singstat's Statistics on Marriages and Divorces Reference Year 2016
released on Tuesday (Jul 18), the overall decline was a result of fewer
civil marriages, which fell from 22,544 in 2015 to 22,017 last year.
This was more than the rise in Muslim marriages, which went up from
5,778 to 5,954 over the same period.
It added that the general marriage rate has remained
relatively stable since 2014, with the rate for males at 44.4 marriages
per thousand unmarried males aged 15-49 in 2016, up from 40.5 marriages
in 2013. Similarly for females, the rate was 41.6 marriages per thousand
unmarried females aged 15-49 years, up from 36.9 marriages over the
same timeframe.
Conversely, there were 7,614 divorces and
annulments in 2016, a 1.2 per cent increase from the year before,
according to Singstat.
Civil marriage dissolutions rose from
5,855 in 2015 to 5,912 in 2016. Muslim divorces also grew, from 1,667 to
1,702 over the same period.
The general divorce rate in 2016 was
unchanged from 2015, Singstat noted, adding that there were 7.1 male
divorcees per thousand married males above the age of 20. For females,
the rate was 6.6.
The report also found a "prominent shift" in the age profile of divorcees towards the older age groups in the last decade.
The
proportion of divorcees over the age of 45 rose from 31.4 per cent in
2006 to 42.3 per cent in 2016 for males, and from 20 per cent to 28.4
per cent for females, Singstat said, adding that this is in tandem with
the ageing population and higher divorce rates for the older
population.
The median duration of marriages that end up in
divorce is 10 years, Singstat found, adding that 29.9 per cent of
divorces involved marriages that lasted between five to nine years.
Singstat also found that the wife instituted 62.4 per cent
of civil divorces last year. The top two reasons for civil divorce were
unreasonable behaviour (53.5 per cent) and having lived apart or
separated for three years or more (42.5 per cent).
Looking at
Muslim divorces, those filed by the wife constituted almost seven out of
10 of them last year. This is the same figure as in 2006, Singstat
said. Both male and female plaintiffs cited infidelity or extra-marital
affair as the top main cause of the marriage breakdown.
' CONSIDER ATTENDING A MARRIAGE PREPARATION PROGRAMME: TAN CHUAN-JIN
In
a Facebook post, Minister for Social and Family Development Tan
Chuan-Jin said his ministry will continue its core work of strengthening
and supporting marriages, as "they are the basis of families and
society".
He also said those who are planning to get married or
have just tied the knot should consider attending a marriage preparation
programme.
"A marriage preparation programme called PREP is
offered as a complimentary lunchtime talk for couples getting married at
the (Registry of Marriages), and the full PREP workshop is available in
the community. Our marriage education partners also offer other
marriage preparation programmes in the community," he said. Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/fewer-marriages-more-divorces-in-2016-singstat-9040550
In a divorce, what happens to your property, and more specifically your HDB flat?
The property that you and your spouse share will most likely be the
largest asset that has to be divided. This guide will explain the
consequences of a divorce, with regard to what happens to your HDB flat
and whether you can keep it.
Is Your HDB Flat a Matrimonial Asset to be Divided?
Your HDB flat is most likely a matrimonial asset, which will be divided upon divorce.
The Women’s Charter defines “matrimonial assets” to be an asset of any
nature acquired during the marriage by one or both parties.
If the asset was acquired before the marriage by only one party, or
by both parties, the asset will only be a matrimonial asset if:
The asset is ordinarily used or enjoyed by both parties or one or more of their children
while the parties are living together for shelter or transportation or
for household, education, recreational, social or aesthetic purposes;
and
The asset has been substantially improved during the marriage by the other party or by both parties to the marriage.
If the HDB flat is a gift from a family member, or inherited from a
father who has just passed away, it will not be a matrimonial asset
whether or not it was acquired before or after the marriage. However, it
will be a matrimonial asset if the gift/inheritance becomes the
matrimonial home or if the gift/inheritance has been substantially
improved during the marriage by both parties to the marriage or by the
other party.
Can You Keep Your HDB flat?
If the marriage is void (due to e.g. the non-consummation of marriage) or has been annulled, you have to dispose of the HDB flat. The exception is if either side’s parents were originally listed in the application to buy the flat.
For other cases of divorce, divorcees can retain the flat in the following situations:
Situation 1: Either parties’ parents are originally listed on the flat application
The party whose parents’ names are on the flat application will
retain the flat. If the names of either parties’ parents are not on the
flat application, you have to return the flat at the prevailing
compensation price, subject to HDB’s approval.
Situation 2: The parties’ children are living with you
The divorced party who has the parties’ children living with him/her
will be able to retain the flat. However, as mentioned above, this is
still subject to the preliminary requirements, that the marriage cannot
be due to an annulment of marriage.
Situation 3: The divorcee is eligible under the Single Citizen Scheme
If the divorced parties have no children, the flat can still be
retained under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme, if the divorced
party is:
A Singapore citizen
At least 35 years old
The matrimonial flat is a resale flat purchased from the open market without the CPF Housing Grant for Family
For matrimonial flats bought directly from HDB and resale flats
bought with the CPF Housing Grant for Family, the 5 year minimum
occupation period must be satisfied before the flat can be retained
under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme.
Other situations: HDB’s Prevailing Conditions and Schemes
For divorcees who do not qualify for the Single Singapore Citizen
Scheme, one party can include another person to retain the flat with if
it qualifies for HDB’s prevailing schemes.
What If You Cannot Meet the Situations Mentioned Above to Keep Your HDB Flat after Divorce?
If you cannot meet the conditions stipulated above, you have to dispose of your HDB flat upon your divorce.
If you and your spouse have completed the minimum occupation period
of 5 years, then both of you can sell the flat on the open market.
However, if the period of 5 years has not been met, then the parties
have to return the flat at the prevailing compensation price, subject to
the HDB’s approval.
Division of Matrimonial Assets
If you have to sell off your HDB flat, then a division of the sale
proceeds (the matrimonial assets) will be relevant. It is crucial to
understand that the starting point for the division of assets is not an
equal division of assets, and the division of assets ultimately depends
on numerous factors. It should also be noted that a spouse cannot claim
that he has an interest in a property owned by the other spouse simply
because they were both married.
The extent of contributions each party has made in terms of money,
property or work towards acquiring, improving or maintaining the
matrimonial assets
Any debt owing or obligation incurred or undertaken by either party for their joint benefit of any child of the marriage
The extent of contributions each party has made towards the family’s
welfare, such as looking after the home or caring for the family or any
aged relative dependent on either party
Any agreement between the parties with respect to the ownership an
division of matrimonial assets made in contemplation of divorce, such as
the deed of separation
The assistance given by one party to the other (this can be material
or immaterial), including assistance that helps the other party to
carry out his job or business
Any period of rent-free occupation or other benefit enjoyed by one
party in the matrimonial home to the exclusion of the other party;
The child’s needs
The marriage’s length
Each party’s financial needs
These factors are not exhaustive. Instead, the court will take all
circumstances of the case into account and divide the proceeds from the
sale of the HDB flat accordingly.
Case Studies
In one case, a husband financially contributed much more to the
purchase of the HDB flat (their matrimonial home) by contributing 80% of
the purchase price of the house, with the wife contributing 20% of the
price. The couple had been married for 18 years.
The contribution ratio alone does not mean that the husband will
obtain 80% of the proceeds. The court took into account non-financial
contributions of the wife, such as her looking after the home and caring
for the family, and the court gave her due credit in such a case. In
addition, the court took into account the long marriage of the couple,
which lasted 18 years, along with payments made by the wife for
children’s clothes, furniture and other family items.
The court eventually ordered the proceeds of the sale to be divided
60/40, with 60% going to the husband, and 40% going to the wife.
It should be noted that there are instances of the court dividing matrimonial assets equally.
The individual circumstances of the case matter, especially the
financial and non-financial contributions each party has made during the
marriage.
Where the marriage was brief, the courts would prefer to divide the
assets according to the parties’ respective financial contributions to
their purchase.
Ultimately, the court will try divide the assets in the fairest way possible.
Singapore, with fewer people getting married and divorce at a 10-year high, statistics on marriages and divorces for 2016 show.
Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin said on
Facebook: "My ministry will continue its core work of strengthening and
supporting marriages, as they are the basis of families and our
society."
Mr Simon Neo, marriage counsellor at The Psychotherapy Clinic, was not surprised by the drop in marriages.
"Nowadays there are so many open relationships... Commitment is a big issue," he said.
As for the increase in divorces, he said: "Couples these days don't
know how to articulate expectations of each other. It comes out in
defensiveness and contempt, and they are too busy fighting. The hectic
schedule here contributes to it too."
Mr Neo also said that people are more open to inter-ethnic marriages
now "because they want to go for what they feel is really good for
them".
Getting a Divorce
A divorce is the legal procedure that ends a marriage. To
get a divorce, you will need to file for a divorce with the Family
Justice Courts (civil marriages) or the Syariah Court (Muslim
marriages).
Civil Divorces
To get a divorce, you need to file for divorce with the Family
Justice Courts and comply with the legal requirements of divorce. The
law on divorce for civil marriages in Singapore is governed by the
Women’s Charter.
To better protect the interests of children affected by their
parents’ divorce, divorcing parents with minor children below 14 years
of age (to include children below 21 years old at a later phase), who
disagree on divorce and ancillary matters, will need to attend a
mandatory parenting programme before they can file for divorce. The
programme will cover a range of issues that may affect their children
including housing, finance, care arrangements and positive co-parenting
after divorce. Applicants are able to apply for this programme online
via the MSF divorce support microsite from end November 2016.
For More Info:
Family Justice Courts
Established in 2014, the Family Justice Courts (FJC) are a
restructure of our Court system to better serve litigants by bringing
together all family related work under a specialised body of courts.
FJC is comprised of the Family Division of the High Court, the Family
Courts and the Youth Courts and is administered by the Presiding Judge
of the FJC. The cases dealt with by FJC include those relating to
divorce and ancillary matters, family violence, maintenance, adoption
and guardianship, youth court, mental capacity and probate and
succession. Its mission is to make justice accessible to families and
youth through effective counselling, mediation and adjudication
To file for a divorce, you need to apply at the Syariah Court (SYC)
and comply with the requirements under the Administration of Muslim Law
Act (AMLA). Parties applying for divorce will be required to attend
marriage counselling at one of SYC's appointed counselling agencies.
Divorce may have negative effects on the affected couples, on their
children, on their families and on the community at large. Hence, Islam
discourages divorce.
If couples decide to proceed with divorce after attending
counselling, they will be required to attend mediation. The aim is to
help couples settle the ancillary issues amicably. If parties cannot
reach a settlement, the Court schedules a hearing and makes the
appropriate orders on divorce and related issues under the provisions of
(AMLA).
The Ministry has appointed four DSSAs in January 2015 as a
recommendation of the Family Justice Committee to provide support and
care to divorced/divorcing families, in the form of services and
programmes. DSSA staff are equipped with specialised skills to handle
divorce issues.
Child-Centric Approach
With a strong child-centric approach, DSSA services and programmes help parents:
Make an informed decision on divorce
Come to terms with the divorce
Be equipped with positive co-parenting skills
Resolve underlying conflicts in the best interests of the child
Learn skills to manage challenges that may result from divorce
Services and Programmes
The DSSAs provide services such as:
information and non-legal advice on divorce-related financial and housing issues
case management
counselling
family dispute management
support on child access
support groups
They also run evidence-based programmes to help parents and children cope with changes in family structure.
Divorce Support Specialist Agencies offer programmes which adopt a
child-centric approach. These programmes are delivered by specialist
counsellors and social workers to help divorcing and divorced families
understand the impact of divorce on children.
A. Mandatory Parenting Programme
The Mandatory Parenting Programme is a one-to-one consultation
session for parents with minor children before they file for divorce. It
is designed to encourage divorcing couples make informed decisions that
prioritise the well-being of children.
This is a two-hour session by counsellors from Divorce Support
Specialist Agencies (DSSAs). All parents with minor children
are required under the Women’s Charter Section 94A to attend this
programme if they do not have a signed formal agreement pertaining to a
parenting plan and all other divorce matters.
The consultation aims to help parents understand:
the financial challenges of divorce
how divorce impacts living arrangements
child custody and access
the importance of co-parenting and having a parenting plan
For more information on the Mandatory Parenting Programme, please click here.
B. Parenting PACT
Parenting PACT is a one-time consultation session for divorced parents with children who are 21 years old and below.
The session aims to help parents:
understand the impact of divorce on their children,
learn cooperative co-parenting strategies
practise self-care, and
get more information about the community support resources available
This is a two-hour session conducted by family counsellors from the Divorce Support Specialist Agencies.
Divorced parents who are required by the
Courts to attend this parenting programme will get a notification to
attend Parenting PACT by post.
C. Children in Between (CiB)
Children in Between is a programme for parents and their children who are between 6 to less than 15 years of age.
The workshops under CiB cover topics for both parents and children:
CiB for Parents
CiB for Children
Practical Co-parenting skills
Positive ways to cope with their parents' divorce
Ways to reduce parental conflict
Exploring feelings and fears, myths and truths
Understanding the needs of their childrenin a divorce situation
Skills to share their feelings
This free workshop is run by family counsellors from the Divorce Support Specialist Agencies.
Both parents and their children are encouraged to attend the workshops in separate sessions.
D. Supervised Exchange & Visitation Programme
The Supervised Exchange and Visitation Programme helps high conflict
families manage difficulties over child access matters. It provides a
safe platform for children who express strong reluctance and discomfort
about meeting their access parent. Counsellors help by mitigating
distrust and working on the complex family dynamics. Supervised
Exchange and Visitation is an interim measure to facilitate families to
work towards independent child access. The end goal is to help parents
co-parent effectively and build secure parent-child relationships over
time without compromising the child’s sense of personal and emotional
safety.
Thye Hua Kwan Centre for Family Harmony and Care Corner Centre for
Co-parenting are the two appointed Divorce Support Specialist Agencies
that offer the Supervised Exchange and Visitation Programme.
This programme is strictly for court ordered cases only.
E. Support Groups and Counselling
During counselling sessions, individuals and families come together
in a safe and confidential platform where they can share experiences and
offer mutual support to one another.
Some free support programmes at the DSSAs are:
Care Corner Centre For Co-Parenting
Enlivened Hearts Women's Support Group
The 4-session group work is designed to help women cope with the pain of divorce and to recover from the emotional trauma.
HELP Family Service Centre
Video Conference
A direct video link service to the courts to apply for the enforcement of existing spousal and/or child maintenance orders.
RAINBOWS
A peer support group that facilitates emotional healing for parents and children.
The Big Brother and Big Sister (BBBS)
A befriending programme for children aged 10 to 16 years who are affected by their parents' divorce.
The Family Enrichment Programme (FEP)
This programme provides opportunities for personal growth and
development for families by strengthening their family support system.
PPIS As-Salaam Family Support Centre
M.A.W.A.R Support Programme for Single Mothers
This programme provides support to divorced mothers with dependent children.
SALAAM Support Programme
For children/adolescents who experience grief arising from loss of parents through divorce.
Thye Hua Kwan Centre for Family Harmony @ Commonwealth
Mindfulness Parenting
This programme helps divorcing/divorced parents to improve their communication skills for better parent-child relationships.
Daddy's for Life
A support
programe to help divorcing/divorced fathers learn from each other's
experiences, and build a strong relationship with their children.
For more information on divorce support services and programmes, you may email MSF at dssaprogrammes@msf.gov.sg
Maintenance Support
The Women’s Charter was enhanced in 2011 and allows the Family
Justice Court to utilise a wider range of measures with respect to
maintenance enforcement cases.
A referral protocol between the Community Justice Centre (CJC) and
Social Services Offices (SSOs) was put in place to ensure that
vulnerable families receive the necessary support they require. The
protocol allows:
parties (both men and women) identified at the CJC to be referred to the nearest SSO for timely assistance; and
parties (both men and women) seeking help at the SSOs to be referred to the CJC for legal assistance.
In both cases, as long as a party is in need, the SSOs and/or CJC
will render appropriate assistance, e.g. cash or food vouchers. The
primary concern is to ensure the family’s welfare.
From 1 July 2016, a husband or ex-husband who is incapacitated
(supported by medical certification) up to the point of divorce, cannot
earn a livelihood and is unable to support himself may apply for
maintenance. This incapacitation must be evident throughout the
maintenance application process.
Reporting Maintenance Debts
Divorcees whose ex-spouses fail to provide maintenance can report maintenance debt to the DP SME Commercial Credit Bureau (DP).
After the applicant files a report, DP will:
send quarterly SMS reminders to the defaulter for payment to be made (subject to availability of contact number); and
record the maintenance arrears as accorded in the court order (i.e. money that is owed and should have been paid earlier) as monetary debts under the defaulter’s information in DP’s database, which may affect his/her credit worthiness.
The report can be made by:
claimants of maintenance; or
their caregiver; A one-time registration fee of $53.50 is
charged for each case file lodged with DP. Low income complainants as
well as cases referred through the Singapore Council of Women’s
Organisations (SCWO) are entitled to a fee waiver.
Other services
DP also offers an optional “debt collection service” where their
officers conduct telephone or site-visits to locate the defaulter A 20% commission fee is charged for each successful payment received through this service.
DP usually recommends this service for cases where the defaulter has
gone missing or as a last resort for those who ignore repeated
reminders.
For a full list of support services provided by various centres and organisations to address issues arising from divorce, click here.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Divorce? A Comprehensive Guide to Divorce Fees in Singapore
Last updated on May 21, 2018
Divorce can be stressful and complicated. Despite this, many have
reservations about hiring a lawyer to assist with their divorces, with
legal fees and the issue of overcharging having come up as key concerns.
In response to these concerns, we interviewed divorce lawyers on their fees and compiled our insights into a massive 44-page guide which you can download for FREE.
Titled “How Much Does It Cost to Get a Divorce? A Comprehensive Guide to Divorce Fees in Singapore”,
this guide provides fee estimates for getting a divorce in Singapore,
based on how the case progresses and how the lawyer charges for the work
(e.g. hourly rate, or lump sums for various stages of the divorce, or
on a per-service basis).
If You’ve Ever Wondered One of These Common FAQs, Then This Guide is For You:
How do lawyers charge for divorce work?
How do divorce lawyers collect their fees?
Are lawyers necessary for divorce work?
Answers to these questions (and more) in our divorce fee guide!
What’s in the Guide?
When you download our guide, you will get access to all these chapters:
Introduction
How to Get a Divorce in Singapore: Requirements
How to Get a Divorce in Singapore: Procedure
Divorce Fees (In General)
Divorce Fees (In Stages)
Other Fees You May Incur in a Divorce Case
Will Your Spouse Have to Pay You If He/She “Loses” the Case?
Paying Your Divorce Lawyer: Payment Methods
What If You’re Dissatisfied With the Bill?
Legal Assistance
Is It Advisable to Divorce Without a Lawyer?
Next Steps: How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer
Glossary
Through this guide, we hope you will gain a better understanding of
the estimated fees you can expect to pay if you were to hire a divorce
lawyer. Download your free copy today! Download Divorce Fee Guide
