(Quebec) Quebec must reconsider its decision to exclude white women from training to become police officers following a sudden change in admission criteria, demands the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ).
Posted at 12:00 a.m.
The Press revealed Wednesday that a program of attestation of college studies overseen by the Ministry of Public Security, aimed at increasing diversity in the police force, is now reserved for Aboriginals and racialized groups. “White” women are now excluded.
Two women testified that the admission criteria had been changed suddenly, a few months after they submitted their application. They had already started the process of being accepted, but were informed that they were no longer eligible.
According to the PLQ spokesperson for public security, Quebec must review its decision and accept the applications of women who were suddenly excluded this year following the modification of the admission criteria. Deputy Jean Rousselle finds it difficult to explain that the rules of the game were changed after the submission of candidacies.
“I find it disappointing that we are doing this backwards. These two women have [posé leur candidature] when they were correct according to the criteria. We created expectations with these people, ”explained the ex-policeman.
The Ministry of Public Security (MSP) maintains that the criteria have changed in order to respond to the recommendations of the report of the Advisory Committee on Police Reality. This committee proposed to “develop and quickly implement an aggressive proactive recruitment strategy in living environments for racialized candidates”. Less than 6 in 100 police officers were from “visible and ethnic minorities” in 2020, men and women combined, according to the MSP.
“We must think of a place for women”, according to the PLQ
Jean Rousselle also believes that “it takes more diversity in the police force”. He also believes that “it’s fine, the training program, but there is also a lot of ground work to be done for recruitment” among visible minorities.
He therefore does not question the validity of the program, but he considers that we must also make sure to give a place to women. “Should they be put back specifically in this program? I couldn’t tell you. What I can tell you is that you really have to think about a place for women. There has to be a program that aims for a 50-50” split between men and women. Currently, one in three police officers is a woman, according to MSP data.
“The Minister should intervene as quickly as possible, it is her ministry that is in charge of training! Because there, we will discourage women, and this is not what should be done, ”added Jean Rousselle.
Public Security Minister Geneviève Guilbault declined a request for an interview.
During a press conference in Gaspé, Premier François Legault defended the program reserved for visible minorities. “I think it’s a desirable approach to strike a balance. But once we’ve reached that balance, everyone is eligible, and those jobs are available to everyone, whether they’re men or women,” he replied briefly, margin of an announcement on the development of the wind power sector.
For its part, Québec solidaire believes that the MSP should, for this year and “as much as possible”, “increase the number of places” in the program “to accommodate women who have already undertaken the procedures in good faith”. To reinstate them, we should not exclude applications from people from visible minorities, insisted his deputy Andrés Fontecilla. He finds the program “completely relevant”. In the police force, “we are far from gender parity, but concerning [la représentation] Aboriginals and minorities, it is excessively more serious,” he pleaded.