New Quebec political party emphasizes cultural diversity

A new provincial political party wants to bring more cultural and ethnic diversity to the National Assembly in Quebec City.

Called RECIPACC, or the Regroupement citoyen pour l'avancement de nos communautés, the party was registered in December and is now in the process of getting formal authorization and recruiting members.

Party president Fabrice Ntompa Ilunga, 27, said RECIPACC addresses what he said is the lack of visible minority representation in the province's leading political parties.

"We've had hope, but the years go by and not much has changed," said Ntompa, who moved to Montreal at the age of 13 and has worked for the federal NDP in Ottawa.

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That lack of representation means the concerns of Quebec's visible minorities — who represent 11 per cent of the province's population — are not being voiced in the National Assembly.

According to Radio-Canada, only five MNAs among the legislative body's 125 representatives are members of visible minority groups.

Ilunga also points to the lack of diversity in Quebec's public service and among elected officials in Montreal, where he said four of 103 representatives are from visible minority communities.

"We're not content just being a pressure group that meets with existing political parties. We want to be where the decision are made, we want to have a voice," he said.

Ilunga and RECIPACC are making their presence felt in Montreal North, where a movement is afoot to put forward a black candidate to replace former mayor Gilles Deguire, who stepped down late last year.

New party not the answer, says PQ's Maka Kotto

Not everyone is thrilled with the rise of RECIPACC, including Parti Québécois immigration and cultural communities critic Maka Kotto.

While acknowledging diversity is an issue in the National Assembly, he said a party dedicated to that cause alone is doomed to fail.

"Politics in Quebec are not ethnic or community-based, they're civic," he said.

"If people have a passion for public service and want to get involved, it would be easier to join an existing parties and promote these ideas," he said.

Kotto said it's up to individuals to approach the major political parties and prove they have what it takes.

"It's through talent that you find your place," he said.