'There is no double standard': Quebec premier responds to criticism after multiple teens killed
Quebec Premier François Legault was quick to issue a correction to a social media post intended to share his thoughts on the shooting deaths of two teenagers in Montreal.
"There is no double standard," he insisted. "We don’t want to see this kind of violence by knife or by guns. And of course for guns, we need the help of the federal government."
His comments were in response to backlash to a social media post he published on Saturday lamented the death of Thomas Trudel, a 16-year-old who died after being shot in Saint-Michel, and Meriem Boundaoui, 15, who was fatally shot in a drive-by attack in Saint-Leonard.
"It is impossible to put oneself in the place of his [Trudel's] parents and the parents of the other young people who were murdered in Montreal in the last few months, but it must be terrible," he wrote. "They must be inconsolable. I can't even imagine losing one of my two boys like that. A parent should never have to bury a child."
Following the message, Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) member Marwah Rizqy pointed out that Legault had seemingly omitted to mention Jannai Dopwell-Bailey, who died after being stabbed during a fight in his school's parking lot.
"Every child is important, no matter what colour their skin is, what language they speak or what neighbourhood they live in," she tweeted.
After being called out by Rizqy, Legault modified his post to say Dopwell-Bailey's death had also "shaken," but his point had been to speak out about firearms.
"I can't imagine the suffering of his family, to whom I offer my condolences," he stated. "To think that I would value one human life over another is simply wrong. All of our young people deserve to grow up safe and to aspire to achieve their dreams."
There has been mounting criticism about how differently the deaths of the two boys were treated, with Dopwell-Bailey being Black and Trudel being Caucasian.
"Jannai got a lot of support from the community, but not from officials and people in political power, and that’s what we need," said Jannai's brother Tyrese Dopwell-Bailey.
Legault said hearing about how many minors had died recently made him "sad and angry."
"As a Montrealer, I have to admit that I don't recognize Montreal anymore," he said. "There are shootings all over the city on a regular basis and the people pulling the triggers are getting younger and younger."
He declared it was shocking and revolting that children were being caught in the crossfire.
"It's not right that our youth are not safe. It's not normal that our youth are shot on their way home from a game," he said, adding that as premier, he feels responsible for the violence in the city. "It is not normal that this is happening here in Montreal."
The premier notes he plans to not only work with police forces to get guns off the streets, but he wants to work on a prevention strategy with community groups.
"Our goal must be to eradicate street gangs in Montreal," he said. "Yes, we must arrest the criminals and put them in jail, but we must also work on the root of the problem, the conditions that allow street gangs to emerge."
The premier met with Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante Monday, repeating his demand that the federal government intervene to stem the flow of guns at the border to tackle Montreal's gun problem.
"We also need to banish guns and have better protection on the borders," he said. "For that, we need the help of the federal government and we are ready to work with the federal government to do more."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting
The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.
Drone footage shows Ukrainian village battered to ruins as residents flee Russian advance
The Ukrainian village of Ocheretyne has been battered by fighting, drone footage obtained by The Associated Press shows. The village has been a target for Russian forces in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Egypt media cite progress in truce talks as Israel downplays chances of end to war with Hamas
A delegation of the Palestinian militant group Hamas was in Cairo on Saturday as Egyptian state media reported "noticeable progress" in ongoing cease-fire talks with Israel while an Israeli official downplayed the prospects for a full end to the war.
Bystander livestreams during Charlotte standoff show an ever-growing appetite for social media video
Saing Chhoeun was locked out of his Charlotte, N.C., home on Monday as law enforcement with high-powered rifles descended into his yard and garage, using a car as a shield as they were met with a shower of gunfire from the direction of his neighbor's house.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.