Couillard government to look into systemic racism in Quebec

Premier Philippe Couillard's government says it will soon announce measures for consulting the public onsystemic racism in Quebec, as voices calling for a legislative committee to look into the matter get louder.

GabrielleTellier, aspokesperson for Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil,said she's workingto "find the best approach for a constructive consultation, that will draw on the numerous initiatives and progress already made on this issue in recent years."

The news comesafter a2,662-signature petition callingfor "the creation of a consultation commission on systemic racism"wastabled byQubecSolidaireMNAAmirKhadirlast Thursday.

• It's time for Quebec to launch commission into systemic racism, group says

Quebec society 'not on trial'

EmilieNicolas, one of the people behind the petition, said the requestis"not about having Quebec society on trial."

"This is just about building towards equality which is a value everyone should hold," she said.

Systemic racism refers to the exclusion of people of colour from political, economic and social opportunities because of their race.

According to a 2012 study by theCommission desdroitsde lapersonneet desdroitsde lajeunesse, job candidates with a French-Canadian last name were 60 per cent more likely to be invited for a job interview than someone with a last name of Arab, Latin American or African origin.

While legal tools exist for addressing overt racism, Nicolas said systemic racism is more subtle and unconscious and results in the exclusion of"people who areracializedfrom opportunities, employment, access to media, and access to arts and culture."

"People aren't used to thinking about [racism] in this way," says Nicolas.

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Multiplyingcalls for commission

Nicolas said the petition is one of a growingnumber of initiatives callingfor a legislative commission to look into systemic racismsince the beginning of the year.

On May 6, more than a 100 people signed an open letter printed in theLa Pressenewspapercalling for such acommission.

That call was echoed on May 14 by theQuebec Liberal Party, whichpassed a resolution favouring a commission at their party's general council.

The Young Liberals repeated that demandin August.

At the time, Premier Philippe Couillard told reporters he takes the issue seriously.

In her email,Weil's spokesperson saidthe minister hopes any future consultation "paves the way for sustainable solutions, developed with all the relevant stakeholders."

Amir Khadir, however, saidstakeholders are ready for a commission now.

"The way to get the appropriate results needsto engage the actors in society who are already involved, already mobilized around this issue. And those actors are saying 'organize a commission,'" he said.