Systemic Discrimination and racism: Quebec makes a cross on his consultation

Photo Simon Clark
Minister David Heurtel is back on the cover of the Journal de Québec on the shortage of labour to justify the need to make a connection between the newcomers and the jobs to fill.

Patrick Bellerose

Wednesday, 18 October, 2017 15:24

UPDATE
Wednesday, 18 October 2017 18:00

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After months of controversy, Québec modifies deeply the mandate of the consultation on the systemic discrimination and racism, which becomes a forum on the employment and integration.

The new Immigration minister, David Heurtel, has also withdrawn the mandate of the Commission of human rights and la jeunesse (CDPDJ), which was to oversee the work. It is not “the appropriate vehicle”, explains the minister.

The 31 agencies already mandated to undertake local consultations will be able to continue their work, but the great public forum scheduled for December will now focus on issues related to employment, training, francization and the fight against discrimination.

Previously, David Heurtel, and the minister of Employment will conduct a tour of Quebec to hear the needs of businesses and economic organizations to.

Independence of work

Even if the work had been entrusted to the CDPDJ to ensure its independence, the minister denies any political “interference” in the new formula. “The mandates are given, and it is these organisations that control the conduct of these money orders here”, says David Heurtel.

The minister also denies that its decision is linked to the internal problems of the CDPDJ, where the president is the subject of allegations of abuse of authority and mismanagement. “This is not a reaction to what is happening to the commission,” he says.

What is systemic racism ?

If the question of discrimination will be addressed by the Forum, David Heurtel seemed annoyed when questioned about the existence of systemic racism in Quebec. “I’m not here to tell you exactly what is-what exists, what is-what isn’t there”, a-t-it first launched.

“Is it that there are episodes of racism? It is possible, he continued. Is it that there are episodes of systemic discrimination? It is possible. Is it that there are episodes of discrimination is more general, different types of discrimination? Yes, it is possible.”

The minister ensures that the 31 NFPS are mandated to conduct consultations in local will be able to address the issues of discrimination and racism, and that their reports will be made public.

The opposition disappointed

Fiercely opposed to the consultation, the PQ and the CAQ say that the government amend the form, without changing the purpose of the exercise.

Conversely, the mp solidaire Amir Khadir has lamented the decline of the government Couillard. “Mr. Heurtel think without a doubt help to improve things, but what it comes from is a matter of cowardice, pure and simple, he launched. […] Mr. Heurtel down the spine, bends in front of the bigots who wanted to dilute and cancel the consultation on the systemic discrimination and racism in Quebec.”