Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette followed in her predecessor’s footsteps on Monday when asked whether systemic racism exists in the province.
Fréchette refused to use the term when addressing the investigation underway at Montréal-Nord’s Station 39, where 16 police officers are being investigated following allegations of racist and discriminatory behaviour against Black and Arab residents in the borough.
The allegations include officers collecting pieces of locs that had been cut from individuals’ hair during police interventions to keep as “trophies,” and issuing tickets to citizens solely on the basis of their ethnic background.
On Monday, Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher told CBC’s Daybreak he’s expecting more allegations to surface.
“That’s pretty much the definition of systemic racism,” Radio-Canada’s Patrice Roy said to Fréchette during an on-air interview on Monday.
“No,” the premier replied.
“For me,” she continued, “it’s a small group that’s behind these organized, repeated action.
“That’s not systemic racism. If it’s a small group, it’s not necessarily systemic. For me, systemic means on a larger scale.”
The premier wouldn’t directly respond when asked if systemic racism exist in Quebec.
“It’s clear that racist behaviour has been reported ⦠it’s unacceptable,” she said.
As racism allegations surface, Montréal-Nord community leaders ask police: What now?
In 2019, a report exposed systemic racial bias within the Montreal police service.
Former premier François Legault consistently rejected the concept of systemic racism in the province, saying in 2020: “There’s no systemic discrimination, no system in Quebec of discrimination.”
That same year, Joyce Echaquan died, and the Legault government refused to adopt Joyce’s Principle, the series of recommendations drafted by the Atikamekw woman’s community, because of its mention of systemic racism.
Joyce Echaquan’s death sparked change. But 5 years later, change is still just beginning
A year after Echaquan’s death, a Quebec coroner found racism and prejudice had contributed to the death of Joyce Echaquan in hospital.
More recently, the Quebec government also turned down federal funds aimed at combating systemic racism in the criminal justice system, saying it doesn’t agree with the program’s approach.
As premier denies systemic racism, black Quebecers point to their lived experience
When it comes to systemic racism, history belies your words, Mr. Legault
Monday marked Fréchette’s first opportunity to address the issue herself.
When asked why the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) doesn’t want to acknowledge that systemic racism exists, Fréchette replied that the party acknowledges the existence of racism.
“And that’s why we have a minister responsible for combating racism, precisely to equip organizations grappling with these issues with the right tools and ensure that the situation is evolving positively,” she said.
“For me, this doesn’t necessarily involve using the term ‘systemic racism.'”
Montréal-Nord community groups demand meeting with police chief after racism allegations
CBC recently spoke with Christopher Skeete, the CAQ minister responsible for the fight against racism, for another story about racism in the province.
Like Fréchette and Legault, he didn’t want to use the term “systemic racism” either, saying debates around the word “move us away from the ideal that we all share, [which] is to fight racism.âÂ
For Skeete, âsystemic racism is an intellectual debate that’s best left to universities.”
The minister stood by those comments on Monday afternoon. He added that he finds the events in Montréal-Nord to be “unacceptable,” and told CBC: “Any situation that contributes to dehumanizing a person or community must collectively challenge us.”
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âAnger, sadness, a sense of deja-vu’: Montréal-Nord mayor responds to police racism allegations
While the CAQ continues to shy away from the term, the mayor of Montreal has a different take.
“Absolutely, there is systemic racism, profiling every day on the streets of Montreal,” said Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada.
“To tackle that, we have to tackle social biases. It starts with acknowledging that they exist.”
This month marks 10 years since a petition was launched asking for a public commission into systemic racism in Quebec.
Montréal-Nord borough mayor responds to investigation of police racism at SPVM Station 39
On Monday, some politicians and advocates called for an independent investigation into the racism allegations at the Montréal-Nord police station. Among those voices were the Ligue des droits et libertés (LDL) along with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
âA public inquiry into police racism at the SPVM is necessary to shed full light on this phenomenon that has persisted for decades and to hear the voices of victims of racism and police violence â too often ignored by the political class,” said Lynda Khelil, an LDL spokesperson.
“We must examine the systemic nature of this phenomenon, the police practices that make it possible, and the real actions that political authorities must take.”
