"All French Canadians" Took To Twitter After Quebec's Premier Said They're All Catholic
Quebec's Bill 21, which would ban all religious symbols being worn by government employees, has raised plenty of controversy, but recent remarks by Quebec Premier François Legault during a meeting with California's Governor have drawn some strong reactions from people on Twitter.
In a conversation with Governor Gavin Newsom, Legault asked about Newsom's Catholicism. Newsom confirmed that he is a Catholic, to which Legault responded, "Me too. Of course, all French Canadians are."
At one point, the Quebec Premier said to Newsom, "We can talk about religious signs." However, the Governor did not want to take part in that conversation.
"No, that's a whole — an issue for you guys," Newsom said, "I don't want to get into that."
The remarks come at a time when debate about religion is ongoing in the province, as Bill 21 faces court challenges.
If written into law, the bill would prevent any government employee, including teachers, from wearing any sort of religious symbol. This would include hijabs and turbans.
Some civil rights groups have argued that the law violates the Canadian Charter of Rights And Freedoms, despite the notwithstanding clause written into Bill 21.
The Premier's conversation caught the attention of people on Twitter who expressed anger at the idea that all French Canadians are Catholic.
Small talk about religion turns a tad awkward for François Legault. | @CBCMontreal https://t.co/r7w3BNux9C— CBC (@CBC) 1576157476.0
"I'm so tired of this moron being our PM. It's bullshit to say that all French Canadians are catholic. I was baptized, but I don't consider myself catholic, I'm an atheist. Legault is a bigot and I refuse to let him try to take us back to 1950. Fuck this dude," wrote Twitter user @SensiHannah.
"for someone who doesn't want to see religion, he sure talks a lot about it. since when are ALL french canadians catholic? quel incompétent 🤦♀️🤦♀️" wrote @ultmarie.
So, an idiot politician says All French Canadians are Catholic - while that may be been mostly true in the 1800, it… https://t.co/TDjpKClueA— Joanne (she/her) (@Joanne (she/her)) 1576161750.0
For Christmas I want Quebec to stop being so racist. All French Canadians, all Quebecois, need to vote against garb… https://t.co/wJlCJwxuRX— Glenn Harrop (@Glenn Harrop) 1576160653.0
All French Canadians are Catholic???? Then what the fuck do you need the secularism bill for? Why ban burkas, turba… https://t.co/pAZmzwUZKA— ok (@ok) 1576153489.0
Ok so Bill 21 which discriminates against religious minorities because , he says the government has no buisness pus… https://t.co/bvyqCWhO15— TORHABSFAN #FireBergevin (@TORHABSFAN #FireBergevin) 1576153291.0
@CBCMontreal Heck why should the USA have a monopoly on leaders who say stupid things in public "'All French Canadi… https://t.co/7QtPlm0rJy— Robert Fortin (@Robert Fortin) 1576146343.0
Small talk about religion turns a tad awkward for François Legault & the gov of California because churches are clo… https://t.co/5non9ea5Kt— Jane Daly (@Jane Daly) 1576162057.0
After "All French Canadians" began trending, some other Twitter users took the opportunity to talk about what else they think applies to "all French Canadians."
"All french Canadians ride a bicycle with a baguette and a bottle of wine sticking out of the basket while smoking 3 cigarettes, wearing a Habs jersey and a toque on a jaunty angle shouting "TABERNAK!" every 5 minutes... but some of them are agnostic," wrote @MeanwhileinCana.
"that's absolutely not true. half the time it's a box of poutine to go & a 4 pack of Maudite," replied @ringcycles.
All french Canadians ride a bicycle with a baguette and a bottle of wine sticking out of the basket while smoking 3… https://t.co/BwXD1YVoGz— Meanwhile in Canada (@Meanwhile in Canada) 1576154761.0
@MeanwhileinCana that's absolutely not true half the time it's a box of poutine to go & a 4 pack of Maudite— Carl Ring (@Carl Ring) 1576155027.0
All French Canadians wear long underwear, wear a toque and own a toboggan. #allFrenchCanadians #Quebec https://t.co/MbGefEacfK— Dave Martin (@Dave Martin) 1576153252.0
All French Canadians are quintuplets. Many of them were taken from their parents and put on display for tourists.… https://t.co/BkhE6hc5hx— Maggie Fox (@Maggie Fox) 1576158035.0
Quebec's Court of appeal is set to make a decision on the bill on December 12.
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