The difference in how France and Canada treat immigrant groups
While studying French in Nice, 25 years ago David Duchesne saw up close the difference in how he was treated compared to his friends of North African origin. His friends were constantly asked for their papers by law enforcement, which Duchesne suggests contributes to a feeling of discomfort between immigrant groups and the establishment.
Listen to Duchesne share his thoughts on the recent Bastille Day attack in Nice with Checkup guest host Asha Tomlinson.
Edited transcript
Both as a truck driver and as a person who's about to go over the U.S. border in the next two hours, I think that there could have easily been an outer security ring around the Promenade des Anglais. A person, if they were driving a truck, would have had to show papers as to why they are entering and where they are going for the delivery.
From what I've been given to understand of the particular truck involved, when they opened it up and looked inside, it had two packing crates and a bicycle. If the officer, who had given him permission to park near these crowds, had simply asked for his papers and details of the delivery, then he could deny access if there was no concrete reason for that person to be close to crowds at a very special event.
A second point I'll make is that was a very special event. Bastille Day is a very important day for the French revolution and you can almost guess it was going to be a target. I have several sons who just came back from a tour of Europe and they were in Paris, Brussels, and Spain. The one thing I told them that if there's a big event, stay away.
If you look at the government of Canada's website, foreign affairs has listed specific security warnings for France. It says the country is on high alert for potential terrorist threats. So I told them to stay away from crowds and mostly they did. Although one of my sons spent a lot of time by the Eiffel Tower during the parties accompanying the soccer matches, and I think that was a big mistake.
My last point is that I lived in Nice 25 years ago for six months. I was there learning French; I was about to receive a degree in French and I wanted to improve my French, so I took courses at the University of Nice along with many other immigrants. I lived in France for six months and I was never once stopped by a policeman. But it was different for my friends. And all around me there was constant controlling by the police of anyone who looked the least bit like they could be from North Africa.
I would imagine that if you walked around Ottawa today and you have a look that could be profiled police are not going to be asking you for your papers. There's quite a difference in how we treat our immigrants here, than how we treat our immigrants in France. And I only imagine it's getting worse.
I know that my friends were very uncomfortable. They were constantly being—I won't say "harassed", but constantly asked, "Your papers, your papers, your papers." I think that's a factor which leads the community in Nice to be uncomfortable with the French government.
In those days the government was led by Jean-Marie Le Pen, the father of the Marine Le Pen, who is now running for office. At that time there was a very strong anti-immigrant group, who really were uncomfortable with immigrants.
David Duchesne comments have been edited and condensed. This online segment was prepared by Ayesha Barmania.