There's A Petition Against 'Quebec-Bashing' In Response To That English Debate Question
"This kind of talk has no place."
The Parti libéral du Québec (PLQ) has launched a petition against "Quebec-bashing" following the September 9 English-language federal leaders' debate, where a question by moderator Shachi Kurl provoked fury among the province's political class.
"You deny that Quebec has problems with racism 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 [...] supports these discriminatory laws," Kurl said to Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet.
Blanchet later accused Kurl of calling Quebecers racists.
"The remarks made at the leaders' debate in English accusing Quebec of all the evils were simply unacceptable," the petition states.
"We are an open, free, strong and proud people who have frank discussions on subjects that are often delicate and do not always lead to consensus," it continues.
"These disagreements, however, do not allow anyone to talk about Quebec in this way. This kind of talk has no place."
Quebec Premier François Legault has also condemned Kurl's comments at the debate, calling them an "attack" on the Quebec nation.
