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Statement by the Green Party of Quebecébec
Montréal, October 17, 2019 ;
It is with great sadness that the Green Party of Quebec calls for the resignation or withdrawal of the four Quebec candidates for the Green Party of Canada who made Islamophobic comments on social networks. They are Katherine Turgeon (Shefford), Greg De Luca (Brossard-Saint-Lambert), Jocelyn Rioux (Rimouski-Neigette-Témiscouata-Les Basques) and Aline Bégin (Abitibi-Témiscamingue).
Ms. Katherine Turgeon, who is running in Shefford, has issued an insincere apology via the media, suggesting that she still doesn't understand the problem.
Candidate Greg De Luca in Brossard-Saint-Laurent is no stranger to controversy in this campaign. He told PressProgress that a woman's family members and doctor should be consulted before she can access abortion services. His apology for his Islamophobic and anti-abortion remarks is short, poorly explained and seems forced.
As for Madame, Aline Bégin; this is not her first controversy on Islam. In 2015, she supported the Islamophobic remarks of a Green Party of Canada candidate, Lynda Griguene. At the time, Ms. Briguene, had appealed for a state dress code applicable in public space that banned the wearing of the niqab. The Green Party of Canada should have been aware of Ms. Bégin's past statements. It should also have cancelled Lynda Briguene's candidacy in 2015; this is what the Quebec Green Party requested at the time.
In Jocelyn Rioux's case, he would have carried the colors of the Citoyens au pouvoir party in the 2018 provincial election. This party is known for its Islamophobic comments, and the Green Party of Canada should have done more checking.
Although it is too late under electoral law to remove candidates' names from ballots, the Green Party of Canada should remove their status as official candidates. We cannot allow the Greens to be associated with Islamophobia. The continued presence of its candidates within the party sends the message that we accept Islamophobia within the federal Greens.
A rise in Islamophobia across Canada is forcing political parties to check the social networks of potential candidates and to better scrutinize their positions on the principles of living together. That's what we're doing at the Green Party of Quebec. For several years now, the Green Party of Quebec has been campaigning for tighter control of the Green Party of Canada on this issue.
On behalf of the entire team at the Green Party of Quebec, we apologize for the comments made by the federal candidates in question. We will continue to fight against Islamophobia, racism and discrimination within the Green movement and our society.
Signatories :
- Alex Tyrrell - Leader of the Green Party of Quebec
- Chafika Hebib - Member of the Executive Council of the Green Party of Quebec
- Dimitri Lascaris - Executive member of the Green Party of Quebec
- Aziza Dini - Diversity and Inclusion Spokesperson for the Green Party of Quebec
- Melanie Messier - International Relations Spokesperson for the Green Party of Quebec
- Stephanie Stevenson – Ancienne candidate et membre de l’exécutif du Parti Vert du Québec
- Wissal Alaoui - General Manager of the Green Party of Quebec
- Alain Joseph - Spokesperson on culture and communications for the Green Party of Quebec
- Halimatou Bah - Family spokesperson for the Green Party of Quebec
