Another bad week on identity politics in Quebec and the ugly side of the PQ election and Charter strategy, starting with Graeme Hamilton of the Post:
Following a question about France from Paul Arcand, a radio host on 98.5 FM, Mr. Fontecilla said France is “far from a model” for integrating immigrants. “I would like to point out to Mr. Drainville that the theme of secularism was appropriated by the French right and even the extreme right, [former president Nicolas] Sarkozy and [National Front leader] Marine Le Pen,” he said. He added later that he is surprised the PQ has focused on a charter of Quebec values that promotes a “closing in on ourselves” and “anti-Muslim reactions.”
The PQ’s all-out barrage against Québec Solidaire sounds like a party that doth protest too much. Consider that, in less than a week, two PQ candidates have been caught up in controversy for intolerant comments toward religious minorities.
Jean Carrière stepped down Thursday as a candidate in the Montreal riding of Lafontaine after an image he shared on Facebook declared “F— Islam,” and posts praising Ms. Le Pen, came to light.
Another PQ candidate, college philosophy professor Louise Mailloux, has been allowed to remain as the PQ candidate for Gouin despite declaring last week that she stands behind her writings declaring that kosher and halal food are part of a conspiracy to enrich rabbis and imams and fund religious wars. She also likened circumcision and baptism to rape.
Graeme Hamilton: PQ reaps the intolerance it sowed with values charter | National Post.
Bernie Farber in the Star piles on, correctly so on Marois’ refusal to dissociate herself with Mailloux:
Many in the Jewish community are stunned by these developments, even though they have heard Marois categorically state that the PQ is not an anti-Semitic party. Indeed, Marois told journalists last week that the PQ counts many friends among the Jewish community leadership. Sounds an awful lot like some of my best friends are …
This past weekend, in a dismal attempt at damage control, Mailloux offered her version of an apology. She said she never meant to “offend anyone” and apologized if she did. There was no contrition or acknowledgment that the “kosher tax” was in fact an anti-Semitic deception. Jewish groups quite rightly rejected her apology.
This latest trek down bigotry’s path, along with the discriminatory Charter of Quebec Values, is giving many in Quebec’s faith and ethnic communities a legitimate scare. It is time we hold politicians who make such absurd comments accountable. And it is more than time that we reject political leaders who embrace the path of ethnic and faith intolerance.
Parti Québécois candidate revives an anti-Semitic lie
Surprising the that blog post in question by Mailloux is still up:
Le poulet sacré
Multicultural Meanderings 