'None of your business': Legault calls out 'ridiculous' question on Quebec secularism, language laws during federal debate
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is calling out organizers of Thursday night’s federal election debate for a question which called the province’s secularism and language laws discriminatory.
“It’s my duty to protect the French language, to defend our values,” said the premier during a Friday afternoon press conference. To say those laws "are discriminatory, or even racist, it's ridiculous."
The question was asked by debate moderator Shachi Kurl.
In a round of opening questions to the party leaders, Kurl asked Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet about controversial legislation barring people from wearing religious symbols in some jobs.
“You deny that Quebec has problems with racism,” she said. “Yet you defend legislation such as bills 96 and 21, which marginalize religious minorities, anglophones, and allophones.”
“For those outside the province, please help them understand why your party also supports these discriminatory laws.”
Blanchet responded, suggesting the question was biased.
“The question seems to imply the answer you want,” he said. “Those laws are not about discrimination. They are about the values of Quebec.”
Bill 21 prohibits public-sector workers who are deemed to be in positions of authority, also including public prosecutors and judges, from wearing symbols such as hijabs, kippas or turbans while at work.
Bill 96 is a proposed update to Quebec’s French Language Charter (Bill 101), which would limit access to English-speaking CEGEPs, extend French-language requirements to businesses with 25 or more employees, and grant more power to the Office québécois de la langue française.
While both have received considerable scrutiny from critics in and outside of Quebec, Legault called the question inappropriate.
“To put it as a fact,” he said, “that a law (Bill 21), approved by the majority of Quebecers is discriminatory … Come on, it's unacceptable.”
“I cannot understand how we can end up with this kind of question.”
Legault continued, suggesting the questions on Quebec's laws, controversial or not, were out of place in a federal debate.
"Bill 21 doesn't apply in the rest of Canada. So please, please, It's none of your business," he said.
-- This is a developing story that will be updated
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former U.S. president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.