Mr. Speaker, Joyce Echaquan of Manawan has died in hospital, a victim of abuse and racism.
Let me be clear. If not for this racist behaviour, Joyce Echaquan might still be alive. The Bloc Québécois offers its humble but sincere condolences to her family, to the Manawan community and to the Atikamekw nation.
Ms. Echaquan went to the hospital for help. What she got there was abuse. This is not a jurisdictional issue. The disgust I am feeling has nothing to do with politics. My outrage stems from the despicable picture that this incident paints of many of us, for which we all deserve to hang our heads in shame.
There is a grim reality we must acknowledge. When that nurse was hurling abuse at a patient, within the walls of a public institution for which we are collectively responsible, what she was attacking was her patient's indigenous identity.
The time for reports, symbols and messages of dubious sincerity is over. We need to ask indigenous nations, as equals, how they want to be treated, how they want us to respect who they are. First, however, we demand justice for Joyce Echaquan.