Should he?

Quebec group demands apology for francophone 'ethnocide'
Canwest News Service
Published: Friday, October 30, 2009
Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, Oct. 27, 2009, in Windsor, England. The Societe Saint-Jean-Baptiste wants the Prince to apologize for francophone 'ethnocide.' (Leon Neal/Getty Image)

MONTREAL -- Prince Charles should use the occasion of his visit to Quebec next month to apologize on behalf of the British Crown for past harm caused to French culture in North America, says the Societe Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will visit Montreal during the couple's visit to Canada from November 2 to November 12.

The group says it wrote the Prince on Friday to say he will be welcome in Quebec if he apologizes for "ethnocide" of francophones after New France passed into the hands of Britain in 1763.

Among the alleged acts of oppression: Acadian deportations; deporting or executing the leaders of the Patriote rebellions of 1837-1838; instituting a majority-English Canada in 1840; execution of Metis leader Louis Riel in 1885; and repatriation of the Canadian Constitution in 1982 without Quebec approval.

The hardline French-language rights organization says it will support anti-British demonstrations during the visit if an apology is not forthcoming.

Montreal Gazette