Quebec reacts to violence during Catalan independence vote

Quebec politicians and personalities are reacting to events unfolding in Catalonia, as hundreds wereinjured in police crackdowns that saw officers use batons and rubber bullets indiscriminatelyon voters trying to participate in the Spanish region's independence referendum.

For years, Catalans andQuebecershave expressed solidarity for their respective separatist movements. Last week, a group of about 300 gathered in downtown Montreal to decry the Spanish government's rough tactics in trying to prevent the referendum from happening.

Catalan regional government spokesman Jordi Turull told reportersthat 90 per cent of the 2.26 million Catalans who votedchose the Yesside in favour of independence.

• Catalonia's right to vote for independence hits close to home for separatist Quebecers

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard was initially criticized for holding back from outright condemning Spain. He took to Twitter Sunday to react to the events, but his message remained restrained.

"We're following the situation closely. Quebeccondemns all forms of violence. The answer: dialogue between sides," Couillardtweeted.

Federal Heritage Minister Mlanie Joly echoed his words and repeated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's position that the Canadian government doesn't want to interfere because "we wouldn't want a government to get involved in our internal affairs," Joly told CBC News.

"At the same time,we want to make sure they follow the rule of law and respect fundamental human rights," she added.

• Spain's measures to block Catalan referendum criticized by UN rights experts

PartiQubcois leaderJean-FranoisLise, who was at last week's demonstration in Montreal, drewparallels between its people's quest for independence and that of Quebec's sovereignists.

Lise has been vocal in his support for Catalans and in criticizing the premier and prime minister's stances. Sunday, he saluted "the Catalan people who stand before the Spanish state's unworthy and shameful violence."

Coalition Avenir Qubec Franois Legault also commented, sendingout a news release where he said he "deplores the use of force and repression by the Spanish stated.

And formerPQMNA Bernard Drainville sent a flurry of tweets as tensions escalated.

Montreal mayoral candidateValrie Plante of ProjetMontral also tweeted, saying, "I am overwhelmed by what is happening in Catalonia. Democracy can not win out of such an excess of state violence."

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre tweeted later in the day, stating his solidarity with Barcelona's mayor. "We must condemn all violence and protect democracy."