Quebecers deserve better than the government they have, says Maclean's

Maclean's's Quebec bureau chief Martin Patriquin says in an online editorial  that the magazine rejects the demand of Quebec premier Jean Charest for an apology for a cover story that said the province was the most corrupt in Canada. He was quoted by the CBC:

"They're asking us to apologize on behalf of all Quebecers. We didn't target all Quebecers in the piece. We targeted the political class of which Mr. Charest is a member," [he said.] "The idea of apologizing for something that we didn't do is absurd."

The online editorial suggested Charest's interpretation of the article is "not only false but cheap in that it implicates the citizenry in the misdeeds of the politicians and their cronies.

"It is bad enough that the people of Quebec have to put up with corruption in public office — they shouldn't be smeared by it as well."

 Meanwhile, an all-party motion mentioned in an earlier post was passed tonight:

"That this House, while recognizing the importance of vigorous debate on subjects of public interest, expresses its profound sadness at the prejudice displayed and the stereotypes employed by Maclean's Magazine to denigrate Quebec nation, its history and its institutions."

 The MPs (the House, according to David Aikin of Sun Media, was half full) apparently missed  the point of free speech, which is principally to defend the right of someone to say something that you disagree with. 

Related posts:

• Everybody on the Hill is mad at Maclean's
• Provocation for the nation: Maclean's slammed for calling Quebec "most corrupt province"