In an interview on Monday at Tout un matin, Hocine Ouendi returned to the events that caused consternation on the internet.
He explained that last Tuesday he attended the monthly meeting of the Anjou district council, accompanied by his mother, to express his disappointment at the ban on free football issued by the district more than a month ago. He then calmly asked the mayor to reopen the borough’s artificial turf one day a week, Saturdays, for the remainder of the season.
The mayor initially replied that the site had been closed because of rudeness from young people, some had ridden electric scooters on the artificial turf, and others had behaved aggressively.
But it was the remarks made a little later in the exchange that ignited the social networks.
First of all, I wouldn’t have come at 15 to confront the mayor the way you do. I don’t know why it’s you, it should have been your mother or father […] I wouldn’t have even had anything to do with him when I was 15, Mayor Miranda said.
I am a full citizen
For Hocine Ouendi, these words are simply unworthy of an elected official.
I’m a full citizen, I had as much right to speak to him as anyone in this room, he said, adding that it’s not normal for an elected official to speak like that.
I don’t think he would have spoken that way to an adult or older person. For Hocine Ouendi it is clear that adolescents are the least of his concerns.
The same goes for his father Smail Ouendi, who sees a lack of respect for young people in these words.
Watching the video and listening to the mayor’s words is really shocking.
The teenager’s father is also outraged by another statement by the mayor, who in his insult called on the parents to educate their children, as there are many poorly educated people.
Smail Ouendi, Hocine Ouendi’s father
Photo: Radio Canada / Marie-Eve Cloutier
According to Smail Ouendi, the reality on the ground is very different.
Although he recognizes that small groups with bad intentions can pose a problem, he invites the mayor to meet the young people who use the district’s land.
According to him, most young people are there to exercise, play, discuss and exchange ideas.
A disproportionate solution
Hocine Ouendi also acknowledges that some young people may have crossed the borders, but he considers the district’s solution disproportionate.
We must not deprive everyone of the football fields, he said, recalling that the impoliteness committed is the work of a minority.
In any case, he considers this measure to be unproductive. In his opinion, the closure of the site is not a solution, because those responsible for these gestures would return next year and in the meantime cause trouble elsewhere.
Hocine Ouendi believes that one possible solution would be to hire more park rangers to be responsible for patrolling the site, in addition to maintaining the site.
apology requested
In a reply to the Journal de Montréal, the mayor of Anjou admitted he was tired and shouldn’t have spoken like that. However, he added that he had discussed this issue several times with some young people who didn’t want to let go.
However, Hocine Ouendi’s family is asking for a formal apology.
Nobody should have the right to behave like that. It deserves an apology, especially from a mayor, said the teenager, who was just celebrating his 16th birthday.
In the absence of an apology, the family plans to press charges, Hocine Ouendi assured.
So far, neither the mayor nor the municipality have tried to contact him.