Immediate resignation, investigation of hate comments by Quebec radio host imperative - CUPE Ontario

    TORONTO, Sept. 19 /CNW Telbec/ - Quebec radio talk show host Benoît
Dutrizac must resign and the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC) should proceed with an investigation following blatantly
hateful and sexist comments made to a Muslim woman candidate running in the
federal election, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario.
The interview took place with Samira Laouni, NDP candidate for Montréal
Bourass on September 10.
    "The questioning and remarks by Dutrizac were racist and disgusting and
went far beyond the bounds of all that's decent in our society," said CUPE
Ontario President Sid Ryan. "Ms. Laouni was subjected to a line of questioning
that was nothing short of a shameful attack on her identity as both a Muslim
and a woman."
    Ryan is asking the labour movement and others to support the call by the
Canadian Arab Federation for the immediate resignation of Dutrizac. As well,
CUPE Ontario will send a formal complaint to the CRTC and request that they
carry out an investigation surrounding the broadcast by the publicly-licensed,
Toronto-based radio network Corus Radio.
    "If we, as a society, do not stand up when one person's identity, choice
of dress, religion or lifestyle is ridiculed and attacked, then we endanger
the freedom of all of us in this democratic society," added Ryan.
    "The CRTC must send the message to pundits on the airwaves, like
Dutrizac, that their actions are being monitored, and racist or sexist
behaviour will not be tolerated," said Ryan.
    The Canadian Arab Federation has also called for a thorough review of all
Corus Radio Network policies related to hate speech as well as mandatory
anti-oppression training for Corus management and staff.

For further information: Sid Ryan, CUPE Ontario President, (416)
209-0066; Valerie Dugale, CUPE Communications, [phone]