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systemic

The Bloc Québécois Leader Explained What He Thinks Of The Term 'Systemic Racism'

During a parliamentary debate on Tuesday, June 1, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet explained what he thinks of the term "systemic racism" following a question from Winnipeg MP Leah Gazan about whether or not he acknowledges that systemic racism against Indigenous people exists. 

Blanchet said that he "acknowledged the existence of systemic racism" in June 2020 but that he rejects "the extreme and often focused politicization of the term."

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Canada's Green Party Leader Told Us About Her Convo With Legault On Systemic Racism

Canada's Green Party leader, Annamie Paul, says political leaders across the country should speak with one voice in terms of acknowledging systemic racism — and she told Quebec Premier François Legault as much in a December 2020 meeting.

MTL Blog asked Paul about her discussion with Legault, as well as her views on Bill 21, otherwise known as Quebec's secularism law.

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A Quebecer Made A Massive George Floyd Snow Sculpture On His Front Lawn (PHOTOS)

This summer, thousands flocked to the streets of Montreal to protest police brutality, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

The protests called for an end to systemic racism and for defunding the Montreal police — rallying cries met with skepticism by Quebec's premier, François Legault, who claimed there is "no systemic discrimination" in the province.

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Quebec Has Rejected 'Joyce's Principle' Because It Means Acknowledging Systemic Racism

A First Nation is voicing anger and frustration after the province rejected a proposal for better health care access for Indigenous people because it would mean acknowledging the existence of systemic racism in Quebec. 

The Atikamekw Nation presented the proposal called "Joyce’s Principle" to the province on November 16. On November 24, a motion was presented by Liberal MP Gregory Kelley to recognize and apply the principle, a motion which was rejected, seemingly because it explicitly calls for a clear acknowledgment of systemic racism by the state.*

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Montreal Is Looking For Someone To Fill A New Job To Fight Racism & Discrimination

City officials are aiming to strengthen their effort to fight racism with a brand new Montreal job. In a statement from the mayor's office, the city's Director General, Serge Lamontagne, promised that the new Commissioner for the Fight against Racism and Systemic Discrimination and their office "will play a key role in achieving Montreal's goals of becoming more just and inclusive."

The job posting shows that the commissioner will have a pretty broad set of responsibilities to work toward that goal.

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A New Petition Demands That Premier Legault 'Acknowledge' Systemic Racism In Quebec

Premier François Legault has time and time again said that while he can admit racism exists in Quebec, he doesn't believe that it exists on a systemic level.

Empirical reports, such as the Viens Commission report, have proven otherwise, though. So, a petition has begun demanding the premier recognize its presence in Quebec.

Other members of the CAQ government, including Geneviève Guilbault, have refused to acknowledge systemic racism in our province as well. Meanwhile, political leaders like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mayor of Montreal Valérie Plante have publically said it does, in fact, exist in both Quebec and all of Canada.

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