The president of the Commission des droits de la personne et de la jeunesse du Québec questioned the remarks made on October 4 by the mayor of Anjou, Luis Miranda, against a teenager during a session of the borough council.

• To read also: Luis Miranda will be the subject of a denunciation for his remarks against a teenager

• Read also: Mayor Miranda claims to have invited Ouendi's family to meet him

"The Commission deplores your remarks to this fifteen-year-old young man, Hocine Ouendi, who took a civic and committed approach and who used the democratic system of municipal life to avail himself of his fundamental rights and to defend the well-being young people in his borough,” said President Philippe-André Tessier in a letter sent to the mayor on October 19.

According to the organization, Article 3 of the Charter recognizes that everyone, including minors, has the fundamental right to freedom of expression.

“Therefore, children are subjects of law and persons in their own right, and they do not form a second class of citizens. We deplore the non-recognition of this fact, by an elected municipal authority in addition,” he argued.

Mr. Tessier thus urged the borough council to be “more inclusive and more respectful of children’s rights”.

Recall that the teenager had been rebuffed by Mayor Miranda for having inquired about the possible reopening of synthetic soccer fields. He then asked the mayor to reconsider his decision to close them, a measure taken because of “incivility” carried out by young people.

After several weeks of silence, Mr. Miranda had mentioned that he was ready to meet the Ouendi family, but the family indicated that no apology or invitation had been made.

The exit of the mayor of Anjou had caused a strong reaction on social networks and in the public space, the mayor of Montreal Valérie Plante having notably denounced the “discriminatory remarks” of Mr. Miranda.