As controversy swirls, Franois Legault concedes Islamophobia exists in Quebec

Quebec Premier Franois Legault has clarified his controversial comments about Islamophobia, now saying such discriminationexists but that it isnot widespread.

In a statement Friday,the premier's office said Legaultmeant to say that there isn't an"undercurrent" of Islamophobia in Quebec.

"Quebecers are open and tolerant and will continue to be," the statement said.

"Unfortunately, too many racist acts still occur today in our society, and everything must be done to denounce and combat hatred and intolerance. We will continue to honour the memory of the sixvictims of the tragedy of the Quebec mosque on Jan. 29."

Friday's statement comes after the premier told reporters Thursdaythat there's no need for a day devoted to action against Islamophobia because it's not a problem in the province.Legault was responding to calls for the anniversary of the Quebec mosque shooting to be established as an anti-Islamaphobia day.

"I don't think there is Islamophobia in Quebec, so I don't see why there would be a day dedicated to Islamophobia," he said Thursday.

Thosecomments prompted an outpouringof criticism from Muslim groups. Theywant the province to take a stronger stance against anti-Muslim actions and rhetoric.

'Out of touch'

IhsaanGardee, executive director of the NationalCouncil of CanadianMuslims, saidLegault's initial comments were"clearly out of touch with the realities of Islamophobia on the ground in Quebec."

KarimElabed, an imam at amosque inLvis, a small city across the river from Quebec City,said the premier'scomments were irresponsible.

"The general opinion is that there is no problem in Quebec. But the problem is real," he said.

The province should be striving toward educating the future generations andteaching youth to accept cultural differences, said Elabed.

Liberal MP Gatan Barrette also said Legault'scomments were out of touch with reality, though he toocautioned the problem isn't "systemic" in Quebec.

"I'm not saying that society is Islamophobic. I say there are people, no doubt, who are," he said.

At the federal level, the Commons heritagecommittee recommended last year that Jan. 29 be declared a "national day ofremembrance and action onIslamophobiaand other forms of religious discrimination."

Toronto Mayor John Tory announced this week that the city was proclaiming Jan. 29 a day of remembrance and action onIslamophobia.

Like the ruling Coalition Avenir Qubec, Quebec's previous Liberal government also rejected the idea of setting aside a day against Islamophobia.

Former premier Philippe Couillardsaid last year he preferred to make a commitment against racism and discrimination,rather than single out a particular group or religion.

The latest controversy comes amid a renewed focus on the province's longstandingdebate over the accommodation of religious minorities.

Legaulthas promised legislation early this year blockingpublic servants in positions of authority, includingpolice officers, judges, prosecutors, prison guards and teachers, from wearing religious symbols at work.