Rejection of the muslim cemetery: minister St-Pierre “disappointed”

Photo Simon Clark
“I think it’s obviously a pity that we do not allow people to have a place for their loved ones can have their eternal rest with the lord”, acknowledged the minister Christine St-Pierre.

Pascal Dugas Drone

Monday, 17 July 2017 17:54

UPDATE
Monday, 17 July 2017 18:03

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The minister of international Relations Christine St-Pierre, said to be “disappointed” by the decision of a handful of citizens of Saint-Apollinaire, Chaudière-Appalaches, to reject the proposed muslim cemetery.

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“I think it’s obviously a pity that we do not allow people to have a place for their loved ones can have their eternal rest”, she acknowledged, during a media scrum on Monday.

Sunday evening, a small majority of 49 citizens who could vote voted against the project, which would enable the establishment of a muslim cemetery in the municipality, located south of Quebec city.

Charter of values

The minister also made a connection between the Charter of quebec values proposed by the Parti québécois in 2013, and the recent decision of the citizens of Saint-Apollinaire.

“I can tell you that when we came [to power] in 2014, the charter was not hurt badly”, she mentioned.

She admits that the “message” of the residents of Saint-Apollinaire can be perceived negatively outside of Quebec, and believes that it is now the government’s job “to say [the rest of the world] that Quebec is an open society”.

“It is regarded as a bit of a smile. We saw that when there was this tragedy appalling here in Quebec city last winter, how Quebecers are tight bends around the community [muslim],” she added.