The federal government’s new anti-Islamophobia spokesman Amira Elgawabi apologized Wednesday for past remarks about the spread of anti-Islam sentiment in Quebec.
Elgawabi, who was appointed special representative to combat Islamophobia last week, made the remarks before meeting Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet, who requested the meeting to reject her 2019 remarks.
“I would like to say that I am very sorry for the way my words came across, how I hurt the people of Quebec, and that is what I will express to Mr. Blanchett,” she said.
“I understand that the words and the way I said them hurt the people of Quebec. I listened very carefully. I heard you and I know how you feel and I’m sorry.’
The controversy stems from an opinion column Elghawaby co-authored with Bernie Farber, former CEO of the Canadian Jewish Congress, that appeared in the Ottawa Citizen in 2019.
WATCH: Elghawaby apologizes
‘I understand the words and the way I said them hurt the people of Quebec’: Elghouabi on her comments on Bill 21
Ahead of her meeting with Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet, newly appointed federal anti-Islamophobia representative Amira Elgawabi discussed the importance of having “tough conversations.”
The column comments on Quebec’s controversial Bill 21, which bans public servants in the province from wearing religious symbols such as the hijab.
“Unfortunately, the majority of Quebecers seem to be swayed not by the rule of law but by anti-Muslim sentiment,” Elgawaby and Farber wrote.
In the column, Elghawaby and Farber said they came to this conclusion after a Léger Marketing survey found that 88 percent of Quebecers who hold negative views of Islam overwhelmingly support a ban on religious symbols for government officials.
“I believe she does not know Quebec. She does not know our history and I would be happy as a citizen, as a party leader and as an anthropologist to discuss the history of Quebec with her,” Blanchet said Wednesday morning.
Calls for Elghawaby’s resignation
Jean-Francois Roberge, Quebec’s minister responsible for the French language, said earlier this week that Elgawabi “seems to be consumed by anti-Quebec sentiment.”
“All she did was try to justify her hateful comments,” he said. “That doesn’t fly. She needs to resign and if she doesn’t, the government needs to remove her immediately.”
After hearing her apology, Roberge said Elghouabi was trying to explain her remarks just days earlier.
“I’m glad she apologized, but she should still resign,” he said.
Earlier Wednesday, when he went to a caucus meeting, Conservative leader Pierre Poillievre doubled down on his call for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to remove Elghouabi from her new position.
Speaking in French, Poilievre said he supported efforts to combat Islamophobia but accused Trudeau of electing someone who offended Quebecers.
Trudeau is again choosing to divide Canadians by appointing someone who has made anti-Quebec, anti-Jewish and anti-police remarks.
He needs to appoint someone who can unite us all in the fight against racism and Islamophobia. pic.twitter.com/ZnL2RNmPsK
—@PierrePoilievre
Speaking before Elgawabi’s apology on Wednesday, Trudeau said Quebecers’ opinions on religious symbols were informed by the province’s history living under an “oppressive church,” not racism.
“Quebecers are not racist,” Trudeau said. “Quebecers are among the people who are the strongest defenders of individual rights and freedoms, along with many other Canadians.”
Trudeau said Elgauabi is qualified for the task of reaching out to both secular and religious Quebecers.
After the meeting, Elgawabi called his conversation with Blanche a “constructive” discussion and “an opportunity to hear each other.”
Elghawabi said that as a Muslim she understands what it means to be judged and treated with prejudice. She said she apologized to Blanchett again in private.
“I want to bring people together. I want people to listen, and Mr. Blanchet demonstrated that he does, and he had a very good discussion and [we] expect more opportunities for dialogue,” she said.
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