For the second time in the election campaign, François Legault apologizes for controversial remarks. He offers them this time to Carol Dubé, spouse of Joyce Echaquan, this mother of seven children who died under a rain of racist insults at the Joliette hospital.
Posted at 12:21 p.m.
During the Face to face last Thursday evening, François Legault argued that “the problem that happened with Mme Joyce at Joliette Hospital is now settled”. This declaration angered the Atikamekw Nation.
M’s familyme Echaquan said she was stunned that Mr. Legault supported his statements by arguing that he had met Carol Dubé. Rather, they met by chance during the Pope’s visit, according to the family lawyer, who had criticized Mr. Legault for putting “words in the mouth” of Mr. Dubé “for purely electoral purposes”. .
Then, last Saturday, François Legault had accused the Atikamekw community and the family of Mme Echaquan of wanting to “have a debate of words” on systemic racism rather than “solving the problems on the ground”.
Carol Dubé expressed her outrage in an interview with The Press and published on Tuesday.
During a press briefing in Orford on Tuesday, François Legault did not wait for question period to react to Mr. Dubé’s exit. He spoke directly to him in front of the cameras.
“What you have been through, Mr. Dubé, you and your family, is dramatic. It is very sad. Last week at the debate, I take your word for it, I hurt your feelings and I sincerely apologize. I hope to have the opportunity after the elections to meet you and to be able to discuss. Because I can imagine how hard it must be going through what you’ve been through. »
“Now, what I was trying to do in the debate is to explain how we at the CAQ want to fight against racism. There is still racism in Quebec, especially against Aboriginal people. This is unacceptable,” he added.
Earlier in the campaign, François Legault had apologized after having associated immigration and violence.