This week, Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette said anglophones are “invaluable”, helped build the province and are full-fledged Quebecers, amid tensions over language and constitutional issues. But Robert Libman, former MNA and longtime fighter for anglophone rights, and TALQ director general Sylvia Martin-Laforge aren’t buying it.They joined hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand on this week’s episode of The Corner Booth at the Snowdon Deli to talk about how Jolin-Barrette’s olive branch was “giving you a kiss while stabbing you in the back,” as Libman put it. Both guests said the constitution doesn’t “walk the talk” on protecting anglos.
“The legislation is very dangerous. It enshrines collective rights constitutionally, and this is of great concern to minority communities,” Libman said. “The concept of collective rights doesn’t make sense to me when a constitution or charter of rights is supposed to protect the minority against the power of the majority.” Martin-Laforge concurred.