“This is a bad choice by the prime minister…” says Yves-Francois Blanchet.
Yesterday, Bloc Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet met with Amira Elghawaby, Justin Trudeau’s choice to be the first special representative on combating Islamophobia.
At the meeting Elghawaby apologized for her past remarks, and said she felt Quebecers weren’t racist:
“In a meeting with the Bloc Leader, Amira Elghawaby apologized for previous remarks she made, including criticizing Quebec’s religious symbols ban for public servants.
“I’m extremely sorry for the way that my words have been carried and how they have hurt the people of Quebec.””
In a meeting with the Bloc Leader, Amira Elghawaby apologized for previous remarks she made, including criticizing Quebec's religious symbols ban for public servants.
"I'm extremely sorry for the way that my words have been carried and how they have hurt the people of Quebec." pic.twitter.com/hKxSbKCuZ4
— Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) February 1, 2023
Well, it would seem that wasn’t enough.
Today, the Bloc Leader said Elghawaby needed to be removed from her role, and said her appointment was a “bad choice” by Trudeau:
“”This is a bad choice by the prime minister who, making such a choice, kind of destroyed the possible credibility of the function,” says Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet as he calls for the removal of Amira Elghawaby as the federal anti-Islamophobia representative.”
"This is a bad choice by the prime minister who, making such a choice, kind of destroyed the possible credibility of the function," says Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet as he calls for the removal of Amira Elghawaby as the federal anti-Islamophobia representative. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/ZtnOfp4NL4
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) February 2, 2023
Trudeau’s self-inflicted crisis
The ongoing crisis engulfing the Liberal government over the Elghawaby appointment is entirely self-inflicted.
Trudeau thought he could weaken the Conservatives and demonize them by appointing someone who he knew would be controversial.
He was looking forward to attacking the Conservatives as “Islamophobic.”
Instead, he has weakened his own party, and caused a significant political crisis in Quebec.
It’s fitting, since Trudeau has long gotten away with dividing Canadians and cynically weakening the nation for his own political benefit.
Now, he gets to experience what it’s like when a divisive tactic backfires in spectacular fashion.
Spencer Fernando
Photo – YouTube