However, faced with recent events in some schools in the Montreal area, restraint does not come easily to someone like me. Those incidents strike at the heart of what I consider non-negotiable values.
I ask myself: are we losing ourselves? In wanting to be inclusive at any cost, and in fearing accusations of racism, are we forgetting where our Quebec identity comes from? Secularism, that fragile and recent legacy, the fruit of battles fought by our parents and grandparents during the Quiet Revolution, which transformed Quebec profoundly and for the better. The events at Bedford school remind us that these gains are not eternal.
I ask my daughters to choose their battles and defend the causes they care about. Happiness lies in being consistent with our own values, which deserve to be protected. Our cultural gains, so precious, must not be sacrificed in the name of a supposed “tolerance”. Equity, diversity and inclusion — EDI — have become social and organizational priorities. But a strong culture rests on values that are clearly defined and respected by everyone, regardless of origin or belief.
Diversity is an asset; of that I am convinced. Quebec can evolve for the better, but only if we establish solid cultural consensus. Otherwise we risk fragmenting our society, with everyone frozen in their position, out of fear of the other. It is essential to choose leaders capable of defending those consensuses. Managing safety in a company, for example, rests on visible behaviours and constant vigilance. Our values demand the same degree of commitment.
In the case of Bedford school, where was that commitment? Where were the leaders ready to defend secularism, a fundamental principle of modern Quebec? The structures were in place, from the school principal to the premier, but accountability was sorely lacking. Faced with groups that call our values of inclusion and secularism into question, processes and forms are not enough. We need leaders with a strong mandate, ready to act when needed.
Our convictions live only through our actions. Doing nothing means accepting the unacceptable. To protect what defines us takes courage and vigilance. That means owning our choices: making the foundations of our society non-negotiable and electing leaders capable of embodying them.
Diversity and inclusion must not come at the expense of what defines us. If we want to move forward together, it has to be around solid, shared principles. That is the fight worth having on EDI.
