The head of a race relations group is calling on Andre Boisclair to correct comments he made regarding Asian students.
The Center for Research-Action on Race Relations is angry after the PQ leader remarked that Asian students "have slanting eyes."
"It is rather disappointing to hear Mr. Boisclair, and an aspiring premier at that, refer to students of Asian heritage in this manner,'' president Colleen Hua told the Canadian Press.
Boisclair responded by repeating numerous times, "I don't have any intention of apologizing."
He went on to defend himself by saying it's a term he uses all of the time.
Fo Niemi of the Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations said on Thursday the remark was offensive to people of Asian descent.
"This is the year 2007 and if they still don't get it and they aspire to lead the province and lead the government, especially a province that is so open to free trade with Asia, than certainly there is some educational activity that has to be carried out eventually," told CTV Montreal.
He went on to say that he knows Boisclair is sensitive to race issues and probably just made a simple mistake.
"I'm convinced this was a slip of the tongue but it is important that this is an issue they address and an important issue for the campaign," Niemi said.
Boisclair responded by accusing Niemi of trying to wage a political fight against him.
Boisclair made the comment during a speech in Quebec City to students about global competitiveness.
In his speech, Boisclair referred to global competition from Asian economies like India and China and the number of young people who leave these countries to pursue studies in the United States.
"The reality is these countries are not just working to create jobs in sweatshops,'' Boisclair said in Trois-Rivieres, Que.
He went on to say that he noticed a large number of Asian students while he was completing graduate studies at Harvard University.
"When I was in Boston, where I spent a year, I was surprised to see that on campus about one-third of the students doing their bachelor's degrees had slanting eyes."
But Niemi said a PQ party official contacted after the speech insisted there was nothing wrong with the description of Asians.
"She was very aggressive and confrontational," Niemi said. "Basically, she said 'What's the problem?"'
In his defence
In a rare showing of support, Boisclair's opponents came to his defence.
"I'm told all the time I have slanting eyes,'' he said, laughing, before adding he does not believe Boisclair meant any disrespect to Asians," joked ADQ Leader Mario Dumont to the Canadian Press.
Liberal Leader Jean Charest reiterated Dumont's sentiment by saying he didn't think the remarks were meant to be disparaging.
"Believe me, I find plenty of fault politically with Mr. Boisclair and I'm not shy about saying that,'' Charest told the Canadian Press in Montreal.
He added, "I think I know Mr. Boisclair enough to know Mr. Boisclair did not use that term in a pejorative way.''
Race relations have plagued the Quebec election campaign. The Action democratique du Quebec dropped candidate Christian Raymond after he told a Quebec newspaper the province needs to boost its birth rate, otherwise, "ethnic groups will take over.
Niemi said the race issue has been an "Achilles heel" for both the ADQ and the PQ, and it shows a need for more education in political ranks.
With files from CTV Montreal's John Grant and the Canadian Press
