1. Yesterday, I took @JFLisee to task for the Télé-Québec video in an editorial. I don’t want to relitigate it. I found the way he went about criticizing the video hurtful and I wrote a fiery as hell piece. Lisée disagrees with how I characterized his position.

2. I didn’t ask him for a quote when writing it because I didn’t think he needed more space in this debate. I tried to give Maïtée Saganash the platform and explain her point of view while using my wit to land a few sick burns and make my point.

3. I should have asked Lisée for his quote. Because I don’t necessarily think I had to but I wouldn’t have liked it had the same thing been done to me (actually it has in a JdeM column and on Martineau’s radio show )

4. I don’t think Lisee is racist but his views on religion are, in my opinion, sometimes used to dehumanize Muslims. I don’t think he intends to do this but the net result remains the same: idiots use his words to hurt minorities.

5. And he would likely admit that his role in the debate over reasonable accommodations has contributed to a less than tolerant climate in this province at times. But again, I don’t think he’s racist. I think his views will lead to fewer Muslims in the public sector.

6. I believe fewer Muslims in the public sector is dangerous and isolating. He would likely say that, over time, the measures he supports would actually increase integration. We disagree. I think the France approach to secularism is dangerous and doesn’t contribute to cohesion.

7. All of which is to say, I regret how I handled the situation, I apologize to Lisée but he should reach out to Maïtée and say sorry. I stand by the thesis of my column. I think Lisée’s tweet (whether intentional or not) led to bullying and harassment of an Indigenous woman.

8. And that’s not okay. Never is. I think individuals can not be racist but perpetuate systemic racism. If you insist on calling it something else, fine... whatever. The fact remains that our institutions are failing minorities, are keeping minorities at a disadvantage.

9. For everyone who tore their shirt open to defend the n-word in an academic setting, do your part to realize how harmful that word is. Engage with opposing viewpoints. Be open to realizing you can hurt people without having intended to. Be better.

10. To everyone using the n-word debate as a way of comparing the lot of QC in Canada to minorities in Quebec: don’t fucking do that. It’s dumb. It doesn’t mean QC wasn’t the victim of colonialism. It was. But we perpetuate colonial violence too. We’re not magic ppl. We’re human.

11. To those who question my Quebecness. This is my home. When you negate that you’re doing the same thing Anglo colonialists did to you. So fuck off with that please.

12. The Gazette a produit du criss de bon journalisme, il continue de le faire, mais il a aussi contribué à une dehumanizations des souverainistes et je regrette ce fait énormément. Mais reste que mes anciens collègues son parmi les meilleurs dans la business.

13. And for God sake, ROC, don’t generalize that the whole of Quebec is racist or more racist. Harper’s anti Muslim snitch line was popular in Ontario. Indigenous folk aren’t exactly treated well in the prairies. We all have work to do.

14. I don’t think anyone gets up in the morning and tries to make the world a less hospitable place. Well, maybe Richard Martineau. But my point is, we’re all doing our best and I’ll always be optimistic that we can change for the better. Peace