New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says he does not agree with accusations that Quebecers are racist after one of his MPs applauded controversial remarks by a University of Ottawa professor.
Nonetheless, Singh says NDP lawmaker Matthew Green has the right to express himself as a racialized Canadian and that every province and territory continues to struggle with systemic racism.
In a Twitter post Monday evening Green gave "kudos" to law professor Amir Attaran, who has claimed on social media that Quebec is led by "a white supremacist government" and resembles an "Alabama of the north."
I appreciate the @theJagmeetSingh and @MatthewGreenNDP for their courage.
— Amir Attaran (@profamirattaran) March 23, 2021
It is not easy to stand up against systemic racism and white supremacy, even when everyone knows it's the right side of history. I hope Francois Legault comes to the same realization soon. https://t.co/pk7icLTGFD
Attaran's statements — and the University of Ottawa's move to distance itself from them but not apologizing — drew blowback in Quebec.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for an end to "Quebec-bashing" and Premier François Legault said he was disappointed with the institution's response.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says Attaran's remarks themselves amount to a kind of racism against Quebecers as a minority group, while the professor rejects the accusation on the grounds that provincial residents and francophones "are not races."