Trudeau, O’Toole call debate question on Quebec’s secularism offensive, unfair

Ottawa: Liberal leader Justin Trudeau on Saturday said that a question asked in last night’ English debate about Quebec’s secularism law was ‘offensive’.

During the debate, a fierce exchange took place between Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet. The debate was moderator Shachi Kurl over Bill 21 that advocates bans on some civil servants, including teachers, police officers and government lawyers, from wearing religious symbols at work.

Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, asked Blanchet more than once why he supports what she called “discriminatory laws.”

Speaking during a campaign in Hamilton on Saturday, Trudeau said that he was dumbfounded with the question and his position on this is known, not in favour of that particular law. “It is wrong to suggest that Quebecers are racists and I found that question really offensive,” he said.

Similarly, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole also termed the question offensive and said that Quebecers are not racist and it is completely unfair to make that sweeping categorization.