'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
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.