'I did my job': Shachi Kurl on the English-language debate controversy
"You deny that Quebec has problems with racism yet you defend legislation such as Bills 96 and 21 which marginalize religious minorities, anglophones and allophones. Quebec is recognized as a distinct society, but for those outside the province, please help them understand why your party also supports these discriminatory laws?"
It was a question that sent shockwaves throughout Quebec.
Shachi Kurl's comment at the 2021 English-language debate would quickly cement itself as one of the federal election's most controversial moments.
Although the moderator's question was directed at Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, it would soon be condemned by leaders across the National Assembly.
But election night was weeks ago, and the contentious debate question has faded into memory for most.
But for Kurl, it's not something she'll forget anytime soon.
"It's never what you want to get up and dream about, [to] become the centre of the story," said Kurl during a Thursday interview on CJAD 800's Montreal Now.
Kurl is the executive director of the Angus Reid Institute, an organization that commissions research and opinion polls on Canadian issues.
LISTEN TO THE CJAD INTERVIEW HERE
As a public policy analyst, Kurl said she's used to looking at the news -- not being at the centre of it.
"As journalists and analysts and people who talk about the news, and talk about newsmakers, it's not the most comfortable place to be that person," she told hosts Natasha Hall and Aaron Rand.
Following the debate, Kurl was accused "Quebec bashing" by the province's legislature, who demanded her apology.
But Kurl has refused to take back her statement -- although, by her own admission, she might have phrased things differently.
"Could you be in a situation where you might rephrase a question, where you might tighten it up, you might do something slightly different with it? Sure, absolutely. But you can't go back in time."
The question had been agreed upon ahead of time by a team of experts, added Kurl.
"That was an iterative, collaborative process between the debate producers, a lot of very seasoned reporters and journalists in that room, and myself."
Regrets about word choices aside, Kurl said the crux of her statement was fair game. She said the part of her question "in regards to minority rights" was appropriate for a federal election debate, despite accusations that claimed otherwise.
"At the end of the day, what kind of society are we living in when you can't ask a question? When a politician says a question is not appropriate? I mean, are we now making the politicians or other people the arbiters of what we can talk about in this country?"
When asked whether she would consider moderator another federal debate in the future, Kurl's answer was brief:
"Give me a little time to think about that one."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Live updates: What star witness in Trump hush money case has said on the stand so far
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial took the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
When you have a moment's notice to evacuate, what do you take?
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.’s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease’s progression.
Canucks' Soucy suspended 1 game, Zadorov fined $5,000 for post-game crosschecks on McDavid
A Vancouver Canucks defenceman has been suspended for a game and another was handed a hefty fine after a scrum broke out at the end of Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers Sunday night.
'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sues for defamation over National Enquirer, InTouch Weekly stories
'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sued the parent company of the National Enquirer and InTouch Weekly on Monday for a story that she said falsely claimed that she was trying to help the Menendez brothers get a retrial after they were convicted of murdering their parents.
Wildfire smoke drifts across Canada, over parts of U.S., prompting air quality advisories
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
'A great victory for the industry': Taxi drivers celebrate ruling that found City of Ottawa negligent in allowing Uber to operate
An Ontario Superior Court judge has ruled that the City of Ottawa was negligent in its enforcement of the city's taxi bylaw when it allowed Uber to begin operating in 2014, harming the city's established taxi industry.