Royal newlyweds called 'parasites' by Que. MNA
Quebec politician Amir Khadir is not pleased the royal newlyweds will be visiting Montreal and Quebec City during their upcoming 9-day Canadian tour.
Khadir, who is a member of Quebec's national assembly (MNA) and co-leader of Quebec Solidaire, referred to the royals as "parasites" in an interview with the Journal de Québec newspaper.
"What a waste of public money. All this to welcome those parasites," Khadir is quoted as saying in the article.
A portion of the trip's cost will be covered by Quebec taxpayers.
Khadir also told the newspaper that he doesn't mind laying out the red carpet for visitors with extraordinary ideas who have done remarkable things, but he finds it insulting to do so for those with royal blood.
Prince William and his wife Kate chose Canada for their first international tour as a married couple. The pair will kick off their Canadian visit in Ottawa, landing on June 30, before heading to Montreal and Quebec City on July 2 and 3.
Protests are already being organized by sovereignty group Réseau de résistance du Québécois (RRQ) to greet the royals in Quebec City.
"The Canadian people and the Quebecer people will pay for that [tour] and we strongly disagree with that," said RRQ spokesperson Julien Gaudreau.
Another group, Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste, is also planning peaceful demonstrations.
Khadir told the Journal de Québec he is not ruling out joining protesters on the streets.
In April, Quebec's International Relations Minister Monique Gagnon-Tremblay announced Quebec would pay a portion of the costs of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's visit, although the amount was yet to be determined.
When Prince Charles visited Montreal in 2009, it cost Quebec taxpayers $25,000.
ADQ leader Gérald Deltell was quick to denounce Khadir's comments Tuesday, saying the remarks are "a great dishonour for us."
Deltell said guests need to be treated with respect, regardless of any personal feelings about the role of the monarchy in Canada.
"You have to respect the tradition when you receive someone who is coming to your country," Deltell said.
Quebec politician Amir Khadir is not pleased the royal newlyweds will be visiting Montreal and Quebec City during their upcoming 9-day Canadian tour.
Khadir, who is a member of Quebec's national assembly (MNA) and co-leader of Quebec Solidaire, referred to the royals as "parasites" in an interview with the Journal de Québec newspaper.
"What a waste of public money. All this to welcome those parasites," Khadir is quoted as saying in the article.
A portion of the trip's cost will be covered by Quebec taxpayers.
Khadir also told the newspaper that he doesn't mind laying out the red carpet for visitors with extraordinary ideas who have done remarkable things, but he finds it insulting to do so for those with royal blood.
Prince William and his wife Kate chose Canada for their first international tour as a married couple. The pair will kick off their Canadian visit in Ottawa, landing on June 30, before heading to Montreal and Quebec City on July 2 and 3.
Protests are already being organized by sovereignty group Réseau de résistance du Québécois (RRQ) to greet the royals in Quebec City.
"The Canadian people and the Quebecer people will pay for that [tour] and we strongly disagree with that," said RRQ spokesperson Julien Gaudreau.
Another group, Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste, is also planning peaceful demonstrations.
Khadir told the Journal de Québec he is not ruling out joining protesters on the streets.
In April, Quebec's International Relations Minister Monique Gagnon-Tremblay announced Quebec would pay a portion of the costs of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's visit, although the amount was yet to be determined.
When Prince Charles visited Montreal in 2009, it cost Quebec taxpayers $25,000.
ADQ leader Gérald Deltell was quick to denounce Khadir's comments Tuesday, saying the remarks are "a great dishonour for us."
Deltell said guests need to be treated with respect, regardless of any personal feelings about the role of the monarchy in Canada.
"You have to respect the tradition when you receive someone who is coming to your country," Deltell said.
(Tuesday, May 31, 2011) ==================================================================
Mr Herard's Response:
As a Canadian and Quebecquer by birth, I am, like many of the citizens of Quebec, very sensitive to matters like this one (i.e.visits of Royals in Canada) and even though I definitely do not endorse Mr Khadir's statement, I personally strongly condemn using Public Funds (My taxpayer's money) to cover the cost of such a trip, when people like Dr Julien (of Fondation du Dr Julien, a social pediatric foundation devoted to children in vulnerable situations) has problems raising $1.0M to keep his Help Center open!
We have homeless centers that also need money, that are constantly looking for money, we have corporations like Tim Horton, collecting money to offer breakfasts to kids who go to school hungry - there are all kinds of similar groups genuinely involved in helping people, begging and screaming for help, and yet we pass on them but we will spend millions of dollars on two kids who just got married.
Why them? Why now? Who in the world is in charge of establishing our priorities in this society?
If we are that rich, couldn't we use some of our money to hire people help us do some thinking and some deeper reflection before making such decisions?
Gilles Herard, Jr.