Elghawaby, amid controversy since her appointment as special adviser on the fight against Islamophobia, has apologized for “hurting” Quebecers. A mea culpa came just hours after Justin Trudeau tried to defuse tensions over the whole affair. The prime minister dedicated an educational effort on Wednesday, urging everyone on both sides not to indulge in Quebec bashing or excessive condemnation, but rather to move forward in dialogue.
Amira Elghawaby, walking through the federal parliament to meet the leader of the Bloc Québécois, faced the cameras for the first time. “I’m convinced, I know it, I said it, that people in Quebec are not racist,” she said as she exited the meeting. ” It wasn’t my intention. And I sincerely apologize for the hurt I caused with my words,” she said in French.
At the beginning of the interview, the special adviser initially only apologized in English. As a member of the Muslim community, Ms Elghawaby said she understood very well the feeling of being the victim of stereotypes and prejudice. “And I understand that the words and the way I used them hurt the people of Quebec,” she said. La Presse had published some of her old writings, in which she particularly pointed out that “unfortunately, the majority of Quebecers [guidés] out of anti-Muslim sentiment.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau viewed her apology as evidence that she is “a sensitive person who is open to the concerns of others on a difficult matter”. He claimed he didn’t ask her to apologize.
However, this plea for forgiveness did not satisfy the Quebec minister responsible for secularism, Jean-François Roberge, who again called for his resignation.
“I appreciate her apology, but I still don’t think she has the credibility and legitimacy to hold office,” he quipped as he left the Council of Ministers. Ms Elghawaby’s earlier comments “are terrible” and “amount to racism”. Mr Roberge feels her apology comes too late after initially trying to explain herself.
change in tone
Although Justin Trudeau maintains his support for Ms Elghawaby, his speech on Wednesday had changed. The prime minister appeared before the press on his arrival at the caucus in the morning to recall for a few minutes the history of Quebec, which today explains its position on secularism.
“I want to be very clear: Quebecers are not racists,” he said. Mr. Trudeau, while deploring the Quebec bashing of some and the “extremely defensive response” of others in Quebec, returned to the quiet revolution that led Quebecers to become ardent defenders of individual rights and freedoms. This defense “entails a certain distance or even distrust [envers] religion,” he said.
Asked if he thought Ms Elghawaby understood this perspective, Mr Trudeau said he was “happy” that she was meeting Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, as well as possibly Québec solidaire representatives.
I appreciate her apology, but I still don’t believe she has the credibility and legitimacy to hold the position.
Mr Trudeau admitted knowing “some of what he said” before appointing the former columnist to his post. But he says he’s also spotted “some others coming out now.”
However, “someone who has been an activist for a cause for many years” will be “different” once they become a government official on record, he argued.
Some Quebec liberals have expressed the wish that this should be the case. Ms Elghawaby said she sees her role as “expressing the pain that religious minorities feel” when they face discrimination. She reiterated that she believes “Act 21” is discriminatory.
“If her militant past is any indication a priori towards Quebec, that remains an issue,” said bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet before sitting down with her. The leader of the bloc will comment on Thursday’s meeting. It is possible that he may call for his resignation, as did the Quebec government and the Conservative Party in Ottawa.
Mr Blanchet criticized the post itself for specifically targeting Islamophobia rather than racism overall. Which he says might have “stigmatized an issue.”
Liberal Disagreements
The appointment appears to have caused unrest in the Quebec Liberal faction. Ministers and MPs have regretted these earlier statements made by Mrs Elghawaby in recent days. Justin Trudeau’s Quebec lieutenant Pablo Rodriguez said he was “deeply hurt”. He will meet her again on Thursday.
Ministers François-Philippe Champagne (Innovation, Science and Industry), David Lametti (Justice) and Pascale St-Onge (Sport) were also uneasy. MP Anthony Housefather said he believed she “needed to be enlightened on the Quebec issue” but that it was “a duty on both sides”.
English-speaking elected officials, on the other hand, defended Ms Elghawaby and denounced the fact that all controversy was rooted in racism. “Unfortunately, the reaction and judgment of some about the nomination speaks to the deep-seated issues of racism and prejudice that still exist in our society — even among our elected officials,” George Chahal, Sikh MP for Calgary, said in a written statement on twitter.
His colleague Salma Zahid complains that once again a veiled woman is the victim of criticism. A comment also made by Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democrats, who is Sikh and wears a turban.
With Alexandre Robillard