Consultation on systemic discrimination and racism : Heurtel called to the rescue

DIDIER DEBUSSCHERE/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC

Patrick Bellerose

Wednesday, 11 October 2017 14:49

UPDATE
Wednesday, 11 October, 2017 16:09

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Philippe Couillard has appointed David Heurtel the mandate back on track the controversial consultation on the discrimination and systemic racism.

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The ex-holder of the Environment will succeed, therefore, to Kathleen Weil to the post of minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion, which oversees the exercise.

From his first press conference after the reshuffle on Wednesday, David Heurtel has set out to refocus the debate, in addition to reiterating the relevance of the exercise.

He stressed in particular that the consultation is not a “trial” of Quebec, as stated by the Parti québécois.

“It should not fall too easily, as some are trying to make, in reflexes of fear and ignorance, but rather to have a dialogue,” said minister Heurtel. And I believe that it is important to have a dialogue on the contribution of cultural communities.”

Any outstanding changes

While the prime minister Philippe Couillard has floated the idea of significant changes to the consultation last week, David Heurtel says that no scenario is stopped for the moment.

“I’m going to meet with the ministry team. I want to understand all the mechanics, all the consultation, such as it is, and then we will see how we will improve”, said the minister.

However, the NPOS responsible for carrying out local consultations have already begun their work. The minister ensures that he will announce a decision “as quickly as possible”.

Interculturalism

The other important mandate, David Heurtel will have to deliver the government’s policy on interculturalism announced by the prime minister Couillard in his speech.

In contrast to canadian multiculturalism – which does not recognize the existence of a majority culture, interculturalism quebec is conceived as an interaction between the francophone majority and the various minorities of Quebec, while rejecting assimilation.

This approach will prevent the “decline of identity”, according to the prime minister Couillard. “To address this, we have first the responsibility to be agents of inclusion rather than exclusion, which he launched during his speech. For our government, it is first to propose public policies whose objective is to ensure that any person who chooses Quebec, regardless of his date of arrival, feel at home or at home.”

Weil downgraded

After struggling to defend the consultation on the discrimination and systemic racism, Kathleen Weil has been demoted to the post of minister responsible for Access to information and the Reform of democratic institutions. It will lead also to the establishment of the new secretariat for Relations with the Quebec English-language.

Kathleen Weil denies, however, that the controversy surrounding the consultation had undermined. “Not at all,” she assures. On the contrary, I am very comfortable with a folder like that. But change is good and I am very pleased with the functions that the prime minister has given me.”