Legault apologizes for comments on Joyce Echaquan’s death

Coalition Avenir Québec Leader François Legault apologized to Joyce Echaquan’s husband on Tuesday, as he made a stop in Orford for a campaign announcement.

Carol Dubé said he was offended when during the first French debate last week, the leader of the CAQ said that the situation had been resolved at the Joliette hospital, where the 37-year-old Atikamekw mother died after being subjected to racism by nurses at the facility in September 2020.

Legault told reporters he never meant to offend.

“I can only imagine how hard it must be, what you went through,” Legault said.

In a letter made public through his lawyer on Friday evening, Dubé wrote that the changes at the hospital have been largely cosmetic and that deeper systemic issues have not been addressed.

The incumbent Premier said he recognizes Indigenous people in Quebec still face racism. “There are racist people in Quebec, particularly towards Indigenous people. We have to fight that; we can’t accept that.”

Legault invited Mr. Dubé to meet with him after the election to discuss the issues that concern him.

But did not commit to attending the ceremony planned for September 28 to mark the two-year anniversary of Echaquan’s death, saying he did not want to be a distraction.

Coroner Géhane Kamel concluded Echaquan’s initial diagnosis was based on prejudice and she wasn’t properly monitored before finally being transferred to intensive care. Kamel has said Echaquan would likely still be alive if she were a white woman and that systemic racism “undeniably” contributed to her death.

With files from The Canadian Press