City councillor in Quebec facing hearing after complaint about Facebook spat over language

Andrew Caddell, president of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy. (CTV News)

A city councillor in Quebec is in hot water and facing possible fines after a profanity-laced Facebook spat with users over his defence of anglophone rights.

The Quebec Municipal Commission is investigating Kamouraska city councillor Andrew Caddell for breaching ethics and professional conduct rules at the end of 2024, citing two article’s in the municipality’s ethics code.

“Go f&$k yourself. C’est évident que vous etes un vrai ‘’loser’’ et pleurnichard,” the commission’s complaint quotes Caddell as saying.

Caddell, who is a contributor for CJAD 800 Radio and columnist for The Hill Times in Ottawa, told CJAD 800 host Trudie Mason that the online firestorm erupted when he questioned French political commentator Nic Payne after Payne criticized Conservative Party of Quebec leader Éric Duhaime for appealing to “anti-Quebec anglophones.”

“Duhaime’s sometimes crass opportunism -- including stooping to appeal to anti-Quebec anglos,” Payne wrote (in French) on Facebook on Dec. 31.

“I just made a little comment to him saying, ‘Hey. Why do you think that Duhaime is ‘stooping’ by supporting anglo rights? Is it because they’re not really Quebecers or because they don’t deserve to have rights?’” said Caddell. “Well, then, the hordes descended on me.”

Caddell said that Facebook users called him “racist, Rhodesian, Orangeman, KK-Canada,” and other derogatory things.

“’Get the hell out of Quebec,’ things like that,” he said. “I was not very pleased.”

The online spat escalated from there and Caddell said he “just responded in kind.”

“MENSONGES ET MÉPRIS!! JE SUIS PRÊT DE VOUS DEBATTRE EN PUBLIC DANS LES DEUX LANGUES, VOUS ÊTES UN HOSTIE DE BIGOT ET JE VOUS EVISCERAI,” the document quotes Caddell as saying.

He also called (in French) other users “ignorant,” “idiots” and derogatory comments including curse words.

“I didn’t threaten anybody,” said Caddell. “I just told them, in French, what I thought of them.”

Caddell said he has hired a lawyer and will defend himself.

He added that he hopes the topic will be brought up in the National Assembly.

“It deserves to be questioned,” he told CJAD 800.

“You have anonymous comments allowed in Bill 96, which weren’t allowed before. You have this idea of ‘snitch line’ on Bill 21, and now you’ve got this. At what point does our society become really authoritarian in that anyone can inform on their neighbour?”