May Chiu, a prominent Péquiste who was the first Chinese-Canadian candidate to run for the Bloc Québécois, has slammed PQ Leader André Boisclair for using a French expression that means "slanting eyes" to describe Asian students.
Chiu — who ran unsuccessfully for the Bloc in the 2006 federal election and is now working on PQ candidate Zhao Xin Wu's campaign in Montreal — warned that Boisclair's refusal to apologize for the comment would jeopardize the inroads that his party has made with Quebec's Asian population.
PQ member and former Bloc Québécois candidate May Chiu.
(CBC)
"With one remark in two seconds, I think he has done a lot of damage with the work and the bridges that these candidates have built with the community," Chiu told the CBC on Thursday night.
Boisclair spurred controversy when he used the expression les yeux bridés (slanting eyes) Wednesday night in a speech to students in Trois-Rivières, when he talked about the influx of Asian students coming to study in North American universities.
Chiu said Boisclair's reaction to the outcry following his remarks revealed his ignorance.
"I think that you've got to be extremely disconnected with reality if you don't realize that calling people slanted eyes has been an insult to Asians for the longest time, and is still used as an insult."
The PQ leader refused to withdraw his comments on Thursday, arguing the expression is commonly used in a non-derogatory way in the French language, and most Quebecers would agree with its use. He also said he was amazed by the discipline and success of the Asian students.
But Chiu urged Boisclair do his homework.
"He doesn't know the experiences of Asians in Quebec, the experiences of racial minorities. If he thinks Quebecers will stand behind him, they will not stand behind a remark which is so harmful to so many Quebecers of Asian descent."
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| Party | Elected | Leading | Total | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIB | 48 | 0 | 48 | 33.08% |
| ADQ | 41 | 0 | 41 | 30.80% |
| PQ | 36 | 0 | 36 | 28.32% |
| QS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.65% |
| GRN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.89% |
| OTH | 0 | 0 | 0 | .26% |
| Last Update:March 27, 12:52:21 AM EDT | ||||
Quebec Votes 2007 Headlines »
- Que. Liberals take minority win with grain of salt
- Quebec Premier Jean Charest said he'll build bridges with the Parti Québécois and the Action Démocratique du Québec to ensure a stable minority government.
- Dumont will work with Quebec Premier Charest
- Quebec's new Opposition Leader Mario Dumont said he wants stability at the national assembly and pledged to work with the Liberal minority government on a case-by-case basis.
- Boisclair remains at helm after PQ finishes 3rd
- André Boisclair is staying on as leader of the Parti Québécois and vowed to help rebuild the fractured party after it suffered major losses in Monday's provincial election.
- Quebec election result 'good news' for Canada: PM
- Stephen Harper says voters in the Quebec election have used their ballots to reject calls for another referendum in a "great result" for Canada.
- Charest keeps seat as Liberals cling to power in Quebec
- Quebecers are waking up to a minority Liberal government — the first minority in the province in 130 years — and a new official Opposition.
