The national assembly too white for a multicultural Quebec? A compilation (emoji version) of the 125 elected officials who formed the 42e legislature gives a general idea of the representation of diversity in the “house of the people”.
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It can be seen that less than 9% of elected officials are from visible minorities, and that none are Aboriginal. If we wanted to observe the same proportion there as in the population, we should rather be at 15%.
Using this image, we asked five candidates from diversity (one person for each major party) what they thought of the composition of the Blue Room, where they hope to sit soon. Here are their answers, in alphabetical order.
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Sabrina Ait Akil
Candidate of the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) in Mont-Royal–Outremont
Quebecer of Algerian origin
PHOTO Courtesy
Sabrina Ait Akil, candidate for the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) in Mont-Royal–Outremont
Your reaction to AssNat in emojis.
“Me, it does not shock me. We are in Quebec and there are more whites than visible minorities. To me, the word ‘diversity’ is a very overused word used left and right.”
So NatAss is not too white, in your opinion?
“Absolutely not. You know, I don’t think in terms of skin color or ethnicity or religion. It all starts with voluntary action. The question that should be asked is why a certain segment of the population is more involved than others.
Why aren’t there more people from diverse backgrounds who run for politics?
“It is first of all a question of generation. I am Algerian from a first generation of immigrants. Is the priority of a first generation necessarily to get involved in politics?
“We have to stop giving too much importance to skin color or sex. I believe in the talent, the interest, the added value of an individual, whether man, woman, white, black, etc.
“I am ‘blind to color’ [colorblind en anglais, NDLR]. I rather look at the intrinsic qualities of the individual. It is a profound insult to reduce someone to their skin color, gender or physical characteristic, simply to appear as someone who includes everyone.
Will to see more deputies of North African origin in the Blue Room in the past would have pushed you to get into politics sooner?
“Nope. There are already some community representatives, like Marwah Rizqy and Monsef Derraji, and that didn’t motivate me any more.”
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Omar Cisse
Candidate of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) in Taillon
Quebecers of Senegalese origin
PHOTO Courtesy
Omar Cissé, candidate of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) in Taillon
Your reaction to AssNat in emojis.
“Look, there are only 11 diversity people. They are clearly very few and very under-represented.”
Why, therefore, is there an under-representation of various cultures in AssNat?
“Sometimes, for immigrants, being an MP is inaccessible, because it is very demanding and it takes a lot of availability. Many may also believe that the door to politics is closed to them, but these are preconceived ideas.
Why do they think it’s inaccessible?
“Because there is less representation, but also because they believe that diversity is not given a chance. The image of AssNat illustrates this perfectly.
“When we see our elected ministers, there are not that many who come from various cultures either. We would have to do work upstream to undo this myth.”
Is it positive, to be colorblind in politics?
“Personally, I have never felt a color story, because I have always considered myself a Quebecer.”
“I think what interests the population goes beyond the color of the candidates. What interests them are above all their proposals and if they will find their account, both in terms of the cost of living, taxes … the real issues, ultimately.
“You have to go beyond ‘I vote for him, because he’s a Senegalese’. We are all Quebecers, and that is the important thing.
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Stephan Fogaing
Parti Québécois (PQ) candidate in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Quebecers of Cameroonian origin
Courtesy PHOTO
Stephan Fogaing, Parti Québécois (PQ) candidate in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Your reaction to AssNat in emojis.
“I find that there is a lack of information. We cannot stop at a single facet of their person.
“The image says nothing about the views of MPs. Diversity goes above all through the diversity of points of view and, precisely, communities are not monolithic blocks where, for example, all blacks or all Muslims think the same.
So, for you, the National Assembly is not necessarily too white for a Quebec that wants to be multicultural?
“The racial criterion should not be the first element of analysis of a society. Considering skin color as the main factor of interaction with [la diversité], we return to a way of doing things that is outdated. We must consider people by their citizenship before their identity.
There is generally more diversity in the parliaments of other provinces than in the Quebec parliament. What explains this, in your opinion?
“You put your finger on the distinct character of Quebec and Canadian societies. In Canada, we will speak of multiculturalism, that is to say that there are several cultures which cohabit in an environment, but which do not necessarily have links between them.
“In Quebec, we talk more about cosmopolitanism, that is to say that there is a culture with common references, but with bonuses from other cultures that add something more to the collective culture.”
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Celine Haytayan
Candidate of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) in Laval-des-Rapides
Quebecer of Armenian origin
PHOTO Courtesy
Céline Haytayan, candidate for the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) in Laval-des-Rapides
Your reaction to AssNat in emojis.
“There is first of all a good parity between men and women in the National Assembly.”
“I am also thinking of the near and imminent future, of candidates from all parties, where there are more and more applications from people from cultural communities, with great diversity and always a lot of women. It makes me happy and it feels good.”
“The goal is for us to be as much as possible a reflection of the society in which we live.”
Does this image accurately reflect the Quebec of today?
“I would say yes, firstly because they are elected officials chosen by the voters, who come from various cultural communities. They are the decision-makers, therefore representative of democracy.”
“All our elected officials in turn represent the citizens of their county, all origins combined.”
In Quebec, is politics inaccessible for Quebecers from diverse backgrounds?
“As far as I am concerned, I have never had any discomfort, complex or impression of a barrier to presenting myself in politics.”
“I always felt openness and harmony. Afterwards, it is a choice to be made and it is quite a dive, to get into politics.
To reflect diversity in parliament, should political parties encourage candidates from diverse ethnic backgrounds?
“I think everyone really needs a free choice. Political parties, being welcoming, give everyone a chance, regardless of their origin, the environment they come from, their age or their gender.”
“‘Diversity’, with a capital ‘D’, that’s what matters.”
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Maitee Labrecque-Saganash
Québec solidaire (QS) candidate in Ungava
Quebecer and Cree
PHOTO Courtesy
Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash, candidate for Québec solidaire (QS) in Ungava
Your reaction to AssNat in emojis.
“Yes N [rires jaunes], it is quite striking. I am aware that in the National Assembly, in terms of proportion, there is really a big lack of diversity, but to see it in the same way in image, that sums up the situation quite well.
Why you think, isn’t there no elected First Nations people [dans le dernier gouvernement]?
“I think there is some mistrust. Basically, it’s not our decision-making space. Members of aboriginal communities are apprehensive about going to work in these legislative spaces, and with good reason. Historically, they have always worked versus us and not with we.”
“There is a way to complete important files. At the federal level, we have had proof of this in recent years with various indigenous elected officials, who really do a lot of work in terms of political decisions, but also in terms of popular education.
Is it also for lack of model?
“Absolutely. Seeing that there are no Aboriginal people in parliament, they will continue to see it as a space where they are not necessarily welcome. Our experience at the Blue Salon will be harder than for, for example, a Jean-Claude from Terrebonne.”
What message does the large number of aboriginal candidates in the next election send to Quebecers?
“I think that attitude, of pretending we don’t exist, is still over and I’m glad it’s reflected in the desire of many community members to run in the next election.”
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The diversity of candidates for the 2022 elections
The Journal of Montreal compiled data on all candidates for the 2022 election, as of August 27, 2022. Here’s what it reveals about diversity.
In total, 14% of candidates are Aboriginal people or members of visible minorities. This is more than in 2018, when we were talking about 9%.
Here is the percentage that this category of candidates represents in the different parties:
- Quebec Liberal Party: 27%
- Solidarity Quebec: 18%
- Coalition Avenir Quebec: 11%
- Conservative Party of Quebec: 10%
- Parti Québécois: 6%
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