MONTREAL – Tempers flared at Place du Canada when a sovereignist group turned up at a demonstration aimed at promoting Canadian federalism and reinstalling the Canadian national flag in Quebec’s legislature.
Organizers called for a “Canadian Unity Rally,” calling the attention of the Mouvement Progressiste pour l’Indépendance du Québec.
The sovereignist group targeted the rally by satirically donning the Canadian flag and mocking the unity protesters.
“We just want to say to those people, lighten up,” said one of the Mouvement protesters.
But, the protest quickly turned ugly when satirical protesters evoked the name of Richard Bain, who is accused of killing a man during a Parti Québecois rally on election night.
The protesters chanted, apparently sarcastically, “Amnesty for Richard Bain” and “God Bless Richard Bain.”
Get daily National news
They also chanted “SOS, FLQ,” referring to the extremist Quebec independence group.
Federalist protesters struck a tone of inclusion, “We’re not anti-Quebec, we’re not anti-French Canadianism, we’re not anti-French language,” said Christopher Rose, who said he was trilingual.
Joanne Scullion, another federalist protester, was particularly incensed by the PQ’s proposed expansion of Bill 101.
“What they speak in the privacy of their homes is nobody’s business, and I find that very worrisome,” she said.
In the midst of the colliding protests, the spokesperson for the Mouvement called for free discussion.
“We are independists, that’s our point. They are federalists, that’s okay, we have to try to discuss together, have a democratic discussion,” said Thomas Deshaies.
But language politics has taken centre stage in Quebec in recent weeks.
Last week a language dispute erupted at the de la Savane metro station in which the STM clerk allegedly assaulted a customer who requested help in English.
An argument ensued recently in a Vaudreuil-Dorion house when the father of a convulsing toddler requested help from a paramedic in English.
“Discrimation right now is against the English language,” said Antoinette Mercurio, who was at the rally.
As a counterpoint, some Mouvement protesters objected to portrayals of French-speaking Quebeckers as being racists. One attendee called for calm all round.
“What’s fair and safe is what we need,” said Michael Schafter. “We have to bring everybody together.”
SOUND OFF: What do you think of this story? Are these sorts of altercations a sign of things to come in the province? Let us know your thoughts on Facebook.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.