Québec solidaire (QS) accuses the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) of being supported by the “racist and progenocide fascist” on the issue of the Palestinian conflict.
It was the deputy in solidarity with Maurice-Richard, Haroun Bouazzi, who launched these attacks through the social network X.
In a written response, the SAQ indicated that it takes “no position on political issues.”
Mr. Bouazzi has submitted numerous petitions to the Assembly asking to stop the sale of Israeli wines produced in occupied territory, that is to say the West Bank, the other territory administered by the Palestinian Authority with Gaza.
This week, following the study of the petitions in the parliamentary committee, Haroun Bouazzi held a press scrum which he relayed, still on his X account, and it generated vitriolic comments to say the least.
“The SAQ, I invite you to see in the comments to what extent the racist and progenocide fascist sphere supports you, our state society deserves better,” he wrote.
“I can’t believe you are a member of Parliament in Quebec,” we read among the reactions.
“Your remuneration comes from my taxes. You are acting like an MP from Gaza, it is deplorable, you are a disgrace as an MP. Deport (sic) you spend more time defending Islamists,” the person continues.
“Your ethnocultural solidarity proves that the multiculturalist model is a failure,” writes another.
“You use the National Assembly to defend your people. You are paid by Quebecers. In addition to being shameful, it is undignified,” wrote another, asking for his resignation.
Some have published photos of controversial wines found on the SAQ application and which are produced in Samaria, that is to say the name that Israel gives to the West Bank.
Further comments simply cannot be reported here.
The SAQ does not take a position, it assures
The Canadian Press requested an interview with the SAQ, which instead responded with an email.
“Although the SAQ is sensitive to the situation, as a state corporation, we do not express an opinion or take a position on political issues,” we write. The SAQ has a commercial mission entrusted to it by the government of Quebec. »
Spokesperson Laurianne Tardif adds, however, that if an embargo were decreed on certain products, the SAQ would comply.
On the issue of the sale of wines produced in the occupied territories but labeled as being made in Israel, the SAQ recalls that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has undertaken consultations “with the aim of to a declaration of origin which would be acceptable in similar cases.
A source close to the matter suggested that it is a “definitely more complicated” issue than the ban on the sale of Russian vodka following the invasion of Ukraine.
The SAQ is “waiting” for the CFIA’s decision and we specify that we are in contact with the office of the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, who is responsible for the SAQ.
In his press scrum, MP Bouazzi affirmed that in less than a year, 650 people were killed in the West Bank, including more than 140 children, by Israeli settlers or the army, in more than 1,200 attacks.
The Israeli government has grabbed more than 1,200 hectares for new settlements, he added.
“International law is clear, the settlements are illegal, they are a war crime, because they constitute a population displacement, the SAQ must stop selling wine made in the occupied Palestinian territory, but labeled “made in Israel ”, he pleaded.