Legault rectifies remarks that Quebec has no political violence
CTV
Premier François Legault is being invited to brush up on his history after declaring today that politicians in Quebec don't face the kind of violence seen over the weekend in the United States.
Premier François Legault was forced to clarify remarks he made Monday when he appeared to forget recent history in asserting that Quebec politicians didn't face political violence similar to the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters at the Council of the Federation meeting in Halifax, Legault said what happened over the weekend to Trump "is worrying for democracy in the United States" but "we don't have that — violence against politicians, in Quebec."
Legault's comments had the leader of the Parti Québécois inviting the premier to brush up on the province's history.
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon noted that PQ leaders have twice been the targets of fatal attacks — in 1984 and most recently during the 2012 provincial election night.
"It is worrying to see the premier of Quebec make such a statement, which demonstrates a complete absence of historical memory on basic facts," St-Pierre Plamondon wrote on X. "Almost twelve years ago only, one of his predecessors was literally the victim of a political attack which came close to hitting her and which cost the life of one man in addition to seriously injuring another."
He was referring to provincial election night in 2012, when a gunman attacked a PQ rally in Montreal, killing a lighting technician and seriously injuring another while trying to enter a venue where then-PQ leader Pauline Marois was giving a victory speech.
