Questions of identity marked the parliamentary return of the National Assembly on Tuesday, overshadowing the ethics controversy surrounding government House Leader Jean-Marc Fournier, who was confirmed Tuesday in his duties.
For his first question of the new session, official opposition leader Jean-François Lisée renewed hostilities by again denouncing the controversial hearings on systemic racism, which began on Tuesday, and by asking Premier Philippe Couillard to cancel them.
During the exchange, Lisée, who claims the hearings will only serve to make Quebecers feel guilty, announced his intention to table, in the coming weeks, a proposed law aimed at “concretely reducing discrimination and racism,” and favouring employment for immigrants.
Refusing to back down, the premier replied that, as a mature society, we have to know how to “look the problem in the face.”
According to Couillard, “It would be very worrisome if Quebec didn’t have the capacity to rally together to talk about such an essential topic of common life.”
The consultations in the regions will be followed by a public forum in November, bringing together experts on these questions.