Quebec MNAs call for dismissal of anti-Islamophobia advisor
Members of Quebec's legislature Tuesday called for the dismissal of Justin Trudeau's new special advisor on Islamophobia.
A motion was carried after the minister responsible for secularism, Jean-François Roberge, denounced Amira Elghawaby's remarks about Quebecers.
All elected members of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), as well as those of the Liberal Party (PLQ) and the Parti québécois (PQ), voted in favour of the motion, but not QS: the 11 left-wing elected members abstained.
"Justin Trudeau is endorsing contempt for Quebecers' by keeping Amira Elghawaby," said Premier François Legault in a press scrum before the motion was passed.
"Ms. Elghawaby has not apologized, I can't believe Mr. Trudeau is telling us he supports her 100 per cent," Legault said.
The parties have been divided on the controversy. The Liberal MNAs were initially at odds over their positions, while QS said it wants to meet Elghawaby without demanding her resignation. Meantime, the PQ said it's "obvious that she must leave."
The appointment caused backlash because of Elghawaby's statements about Quebecers.
"Unfortunately, the majority of Quebecers appear to be swayed not by the rule of law, but by anti-Muslim sentiment," she wrote in a 2019 opinion piece in the Ottawa Citizen.
The CAQ government has already called on Elghawaby to resign. However, Justin Trudeau is standing by his appointment.
"The Trudeau government has missed a great opportunity to build bridges," Roberge said in a press scrum Tuesday afternoon. "It chose to dig ditches."
Liberals
The official opposition hasn't been united on the topic. Liberal MNA Jennifer Maccarone began by writing on Twitter that the "CAQ is once again demonstrating unmitigated rigidity and lack of humanity by not supporting Ms. Elghawaby's appointment."
"It's a team error," Liberal leader Marc Tanguay said in a press scrum at the National Assembly, then explained that th eLiberals only have one position on the issue: Elghawaby needs to apologize quickly because time is running out.
QS
Meantime, QS condemned Elghawaby's comments and asked for a meeting with her.
"It's the sensible thing to do, because her comments are hurtful," parliamentary leader Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois said at a press scrum Tuesday morning.
But a QS MNA, Haroun Bouazzi, sees it as a CAQ diversion in this case.
In a tweet, he said that "the government has no clear plan for the energy transition, for public schools, for the crisis in our hospitals, but Legault's strategists: 'Look! A woman wearing a veil.'"
PQ
"It's obvious that she has to leave," said PQ MNA Pascal Bérubé. "It's obvious that what she said is heresy."
The pro-independence member maintains that this is just another demonstration of the incompatibility between Canada and Quebec.
"I am not asking her to leave. I am asking us to leave this country," he concluded.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 31, 2023
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.