Win Butler says Quebec should be wary of French-style secularism

Arcade Fire's lead vocalist Win Butler says racialtensions in France should serve as a warning to Quebec that that country's approach to secularism is not a good example to follow.

• Quebec proposed charter of valuescould take a few pages from France: Don Murray

The Montreal-based musician made the comments in an exclusive interview withCBC News:The National.

"I've spenta lot of time in France, and I don't think that France is necessarily [the country]I wouldmodel my charter of anything after,because they havesome major race problems and some majorconflict there," Butler said.

He said he was optimistic for the future of Montreal and Quebec, despite all thecontroversy surrounding thePartiQubcois'sproposed secular charter.

Idon't think that France is necessarily [the country]I wouldmodel my charter of anything after,- Win Butler, Arcade Fire lead vocalist

"I've got an incredible amount of faith in Quebec, and I'm notplanning on leavingthere anytime soon," he said.

Marois has pointed to the French model in the past as a reference point for her own secular charter.

In an interview with Montreal's French-language newspaperLe Devoir last year, Maroissaid England's policy of multiculturalism has led to people "beating each other up and setting off bombs."

At the time, she saidFrance's model was a better example, although she acknowledged it "isnt perfect."