The focus of headlines the past two days in Canadian politics has been on Burnaby South MP and federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
I get it. An opposition leader getting booted out of the House of Commons is a rare thing. But now that this has happened, let’s shift the focus elsewhere.
Namely Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and Bloc MP Alain Therrien. It was Therrien whom Singh called a racist for blocking a motion Singh wanted to present Wednesday on systemic racism in the RCMP.
Singh's accusation that Therrien is a racist boiled over into a second day of tense exchanges in Ottawa.
Blanchet says Therrien is anything but a racist and denied the MP made a brushing-off gesture after refusing the unanimous consent the motion required to proceed, a movement Singh described as "dismissive" and "the face of racism."
"Who is entitled to say, 'Oh, he moved in such a way and this means this or that?'" Blanchet said.
Who is “entitled to say”? Well, Singh said it happened and he’s seen enough of these kinds of gestures during a lifetime to know what it means.
I’ve had that hand gesture made at me, by men looking to dismiss me, belittle me, put me in my place. It is absolutely a derogatory gesture, yes racist, yes sexist...... https://t.co/Y5AJnXX6Mg
— Dr Lindsay Tedds ♀️️ (@LindsayTedds) June 18, 2020
And so Singh called it out and got punished for it by being told to leave the House of Commons for the day. Today, Blanchet is still whining about Singh having to apologize and demanding more severe punishment. At one point, the three Bloc MPs in the House of Commons even got up and left the chamber as soon as Singh began to speak.
It’s a sad day for Canada when our only racialized national party leader is being told to apologize for calling out racism.
Blanchet and Therrien are the ones who owe Singh an apology. Even better would be a commitment to deal with systemic racism in our country. They need to put aside their hurt feelings and recognize that they are microscopic when compared to the pain felt by Canadians who are subjected to racism every day.
Singh had asked the Commons to recognize there is systemic racism in the RCMP and to call on the Liberal government to review the police force's budget, ensure the Mounties are truly accountable, examine the Mounties' use of force, and boost non-police spending on mental health and addiction support.
Blanchet said his party voted against the motion because the Bloc is already supporting a Commons public safety committee study of RCMP racism, which it considers a major issue.
It’s just more bureaucratic garbage designed to avoid having the truth told about our country.
Singh got some high-profile support today, including this tweet by B.C. Premier John Horgan.
My friend @theJagmeetSingh always stands up for what's right. Far too often, the person calling out racism is punished instead of real action being taken against the systemic problem. It's appalling that he's now being asked to apologize. #IStandWithJagmeet https://t.co/4X3r9TtnmC
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) June 18, 2020
When asked about the situation Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it is not for him to criticize the only racialized party leader in the House of Commons when a question of racism arises.
"I think we need to recognize these conversations are going to make people uncomfortable. But it has been the lived reality of racialized and Indigenous Canadians for far too long and we need to continue to move forward in a way that attempts to bring people together," he said.
Yep.
- With files from the Canadian Press
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
