Prime Minister François Legault jumped into the arena by accusing opposition parties of condoning the threats of armed violence made by certain anti-sanitary measures protesters.
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In an article published by the Canadian Press On Wednesday, one of the organizers of the truckers’ demonstration that took place in Quebec last weekend said that some were ready to take up arms.
“What are you waiting for: drama to happen, host**? My Quebec hurts,” said Kevin “BIG” Grenier. “When you see the guy telling you ‘I’m ready to go take up arms, then go to parliament’, I was there: ‘well, let’s see, don’t do that, my boyfriend; we’re going to try to come out of it intelligently”, and he says: “but what remains intelligent in the world, Mr. Big?”
Opposition in Quebec said that these remarks were “unacceptable” but that they should be taken seriously. “The government for its part must take note that there are currently more and more people who are asking questions, and be even more transparent,” said Liberal MP André Fortin.
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Endorse the threat
Following this statement and in response to the threats, Premier Legault accused the PLQ and the PQ of condoning the threats.
“Frankly there, the Liberal Party of Quebec and the Parti Québécois are desperate. It’s totally irresponsible to come and support people who threaten to take up arms against health instructions by saying: “They’re a little right, it’s the government’s fault”. Listen to her, it doesn’t make sense,” the prime minister said in a short press scrum Thursday morning.
François Legault added that measures were in place to ensure the safety of elected officials. “We will take all measures with the police to protect the members of our government, to protect me,” he said. “I would hope to have the support of the opposition.”
The Minister of Public Security also assured that security was “permanently” reinforced.
“You have to take seriously the fact that people are feeling the pressure and are tired of the pandemic,” she said. “But for anything that has to do with violence, threats, bullying, disrespectful language, hate on social media, you name it, and I get it, the Prime Minister gets it […] we are extremely vigilant.”
A warning ”
The violent ideas expressed by many demonstrators who came to Quebec last weekend must be perceived by the heads of state as a sign of the seriousness of the situation, believes meanwhile the solidarity leader, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
He expressed his concern about Kevin “BIG” Grenier’s comments. According to Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, these remarks must be taken seriously.
«[Il faut] avoid the trap of pointing fingers, ridiculing, pointing fingers, looking down on these movements, or simply wanting to repress them, without further reflection, ”he says.
Parti Québécois Paul St-Pierre Plamondon also denounced the protester’s remarks and refused the Prime Minister’s criticism.
“Contrary to what François Legault said, I never claimed that it was his fault if extremists threatened to take up arms. On the contrary, I said that we all had a share of responsibility in maintaining social peace, citizens and governments alike, in order to maintain respect and good citizenship, as we managed to do in Quebec last week” , he wanted to clarify.
“It is a fear that we must take very seriously,” he said, adding that the social climate has deteriorated due to the government’s lack of transparency during the crisis.
“It’s been two years since we told you, at the Parti Québécois, that the lack of transparency and the yo-yos will have an effect on the social climate”,
The leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec, Éric Duhaime, is the one who has been the most severe towards the government, believing that he is the only one responsible for the polarization in the population. However, he believes that the end of the health emergency would calm the ardor of the protesters.
“If there is no longer a vaccine passport and there is no longer a health emergency, I think the demonstration would have just lost a lot of its relevance,” he said, also denouncing the threats of violence.
Ministers threatened:
“There is a complaint that has been filed with the Sûreté du Québec. There was my skull with a bullet in the forehead” – Minister of Tourism, Caroline Proulx
” Be careful. I’m not afraid for my safety right now, but we have to stay awake” – Minister of the Economy, Pierre Fitzgibbon
–With the collaboration of Vincent Larin
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