Members of the McGill University Liberal Club were reported today to have criticized Quebec Premier Jean Lesage for his “apparent hesitancy” in introducing legislation against racial and religious discrimination in the province.
In a telegram to the Premier urging immediate action for adoption of such measures, the club members asked that the Provincial Government act without delay to bring in “anti-discrimination legislation with respect to fair accommodation and fair employment opportunities. ” They added that they deplored “the apparent hesitancy on the part of the Premier as to the advisability of adopting such legislation.”
A renewal of representations for such legislation was meanwhile made by the Canadian Jewish Congress in a letter to the Premier. The CJC said that in advance of enactment of a Fair Accommodation Practices Law, an anti-discrimination policy could be spelled out by adding a clause to the Quebec License Act which would indicate that “race, creed, color, nationality, ancestry or place of origin do not per se constitute ‘just cause’ or ‘reasonable cause’ for persons authorized to keep a hotel or restaurant to refuse ‘lodging or food to a traveler.’ “
The CJC also proposed the insertion of a clause in the license law banning any notice or other representation indicating discrimination for such reasons and that “apart from the penalties for offenses against the act, it would be desirable to provide for injunction proceedings empowering the Minister, after a person has been convicted of an infringement, to apply to a judge of the Superior Court for an order enjoining such a person from continuing such infringement.”
The CJC noted that the Premier had promised that the Quebec Cabinet would study the possibility of legislating against such discrimination. The Jewish group also noted that while the Premier had emphasized on several occasions that he was firmly against discrimination, he appeared hesitant on the advisability of legislation to deal with the problem. The Premier said that it was “evident” that by passing an anti-discrimination law, “we infringe upon certain rights and liberties recognized up until now.”
The Premier repeatedly questioned members of a delegation of labor, social agencies and religious and ethnic groups, which met with him on February 4, on whether they were convinced that legislation would be effective in stemming discrimination. Their reply was a strong affirmative.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
