Amira Elghawaby's apology 'too little, too late,' CAQ says

QUEBEC — Despite her apology for her past remarks about Quebecers, the CAQ government continues to call for the removal of Amira Elghawaby in her new role as Canada’s representative on combating Islamophobia.

“It’s a good thing that she apologized; I appreciate her apology, but I still don’t think she has the legitimacy, the credibility, to occupy the function the prime minister gave her,” Jean-François Roberge, the minister for Canadian relations, said Wednesday as he exited a cabinet meeting.

“The second thing to do is submit her resignation.”

For Roberge, Elghawaby disqualified herself for that position from the start because she made “terrible statements which were akin to racism.”

“She expressed prejudices which were very serious with regards to Quebecers,” Roberge said. “She took a lot of time before apologizing. I repeat that before apologizing today, she tried to justify her remarks which were totally unacceptable.

“I don’t think this (apology) makes up for all the harm she caused.”

Elghawaby issued her apology in Ottawa on Wednesday after meeting with Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet.

She said she was “extremely sorry” for the way her words have carried and how they hurt the people of Quebec.

“I am convinced, and I know and say it, that Quebecers are not racist,” Elghawaby said in French. “It was not my intention, and because of the injuries caused by my words, I sincerely apologize.”

Her statement came a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had full confidence in Elghawaby’s ability to do the job, despite her past comments in various media that suggested Quebecers harbour anti-Muslim sentiments. She also has been critical of Bill 21, Quebec’s state secularism law.

Trudeau’s endorsement of Elghawaby irritated Premier François Legault, who on Tuesday said the prime minister was condoning contempt for Quebec by keeping her on the job.

On Wednesday, Trudeau adjusted his tone as well. “I want to be very clear,” he said in Ottawa. “Quebecers are not racist.”

But at the National Assembly, the mea culpa appeared to come too late.

“I think the apology, from a human stand point, is noble,” said Christopher Skeete, the minister responsible for the fight against racism. “It’s always an act of humility when someone takes the time to apologize. But I gotta tell you, it’s too little, too late.

“It’s been five days, five days for an apology that should have happened right away.

Even if it had happened at the right time, you have to ask yourself, does someone who believes that about the Quebec people, if someone has that as a gut feeling about Quebecers, is that really the person we need or want to build those bridges?

“It’s a hard start and it’s a little late.”

The apology capped a day where the Elghawaby issue continue to dominate hallway chatter, with the opposition Québec solidiare finding itself on the defensive for abstaining Tuesday on a government motion calling for the federal government to cancel its contract with Elghawaby.

Arguing it wants to talk with Elghawaby before passing judgment, all 11 QS MNAs abstained on the motion, while MNAs from the governing Coalition Avenir Québec, as well as from the Liberal Party and Parti Québécois, voted in favour.

“The statements made (by Elghawaby) were not acceptable and I can’t believe QS accepts these remarks,” Legault said on his way out of daily question period.

The premier sarcastically noted that even the Quebec Liberal Party backed the motion calling for the removal of Elghawaby.

“The Liberal Party of Quebec says to the Liberal Party of Canada that it should change its decision and that it should fire the woman. … I think Mr. Trudeau has a real problem,” Legault chuckled.

But QS co-spokesperson Manon Massé defended her party’s actions.

“A vote to abstain means something,” Massé told reporters Wednesday. “We indicated (Tuesday), and the CAQ knew very well, that our priority was to meet Ms. Elghawaby.”

She insisted the viewpoint was unanimous in her party caucus even if one QS MNA — Haroun Bouazzi, representing Maurice-Richard — said he thought the government was using the controversy to distract people from other issues like the environment, health and education.

Massé said she did not quite agree with her colleague. “I don’t think it was a diversion,” Massé said. “I think Mr. Legault said what he really thinks.”

QS opposed Bill 21 and has pledged to dismantle it if the party ever takes power.

pauthier@postmedia.com

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