During a campaign event in Musquodoboit Harbour in Central Nova, Liberal Leader Mark Carney mistakenly mentioned the wrong university in relation to the 1989 Montreal massacre and mispronounced the last name of Liberal candidate Nathalie Provost, who is a survivor of the tragedy.
Carney referred to Provost as a champion of social justice by stating, “You want les défenseurs de la justice sociale, like Nathalie Pronovost à Montréal.” He then reiterated her name, repeating the error and introducing another by saying, “Nathalie Pronovost, who out of the tragedy of the shootings at Concordia, became a social justice activist and she’s put her hand up and she’s running for us.”
The Montreal massacre took place at Polytechnique, the engineering school within Université de Montréal. Carney later apologized to Provost over the phone for his mistakes. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet criticized Carney for his errors, following another Quebec-related blunder of declining an invitation to TVA’s Face-à-Face debate.
Blanchet emphasized the significance of the Montreal massacre in Quebec’s history and suggested that Provost inform Carney about her background and efforts regarding gun control. He also mentioned the Bloc’s support for Provost’s advocacy work on gun law reforms.
Nathalie Provost is running as the Liberal candidate in Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville, a suburban riding outside Montreal. She is renowned for her extensive campaigning for stricter gun control laws, alongside fellow survivor Heidi Rathjen. Both survivors were recognized for their efforts by PolySeSouvient on Parliament Hill in February 2024.
Provost, who survived being shot four times during the Polytechnique tragedy, engaged with the shooter before he carried out the massacre. She highlighted that Carney’s mispronunciation of her name was a minor error and emphasized her commitment to gun control advocacy due to her personal experience.
In a French interview with CBC News, Provost acknowledged Carney’s understanding of her advocacy work, despite the name mishap. She clarified that she initiated contact with the Liberal Party, indicating her proactive involvement in pursuing her political aspirations.
