By Canadian Press

Quebec politician offers mea culpa for comments on racism in provincial legislature

Nov 19, 2024 | 12:40 PM

MONTREAL — A Quebec legislature member says he doesn’t think his colleagues at the national assembly are racist, as his party prepares to face criticism from all sides for controversial comments he made earlier this month.

Haroum Bouazzi says he will remain a member of the left-leaning Québec solidaire caucus in a social media statement published after an emergency caucus meeting this morning.

Three parties, including the governing Coalition Avenir Québec, will table motions at the legislature this afternoon denouncing remarks Bouazzi made during a speech to a community group.

In his speech, Bouazzi said he regularly sees the national assembly construct an image of minority groups, including Muslims and Indigenous people, as “dangerous or inferior.”

The CAQ motion calls on Bouazzi to withdraw his remarks and apologize to all members of the legislature.

SUPPORT AND PREVENTION

'They are not alone': Sask. RCMP address rising domestic violence with prevention and support programs

2h ago

Battlefords North Stars Preview

Nipawin game postponed, then North Stars visit Bruins for the first time

2h ago

BUSTED

RCMP seize 50 kg of cocaine during traffic stop near Maidstone

3h ago

Québec solidaire’s leadership has said Bouazzi’s comments were “clumsy, exaggerated and polarizing.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 19, 2024.

The Canadian Press