At the request of Prime Minister François Legault, the Government of Quebec immediately suspends all of its advertising placements on the Facebook platform, for a period of 30 days, the entire month of July.

This decision is part of a movement launched to denounce the lack of supervision of the Facebook social network, which circulates messages and comments of a racist, hateful and discriminatory nature. Already, a number of financial institutions and companies, including several in Quebec, have joined the initiative by ceasing all advertising placement on Facebook, and by asking the American company to better frame this kind of messages.

This decision, in effect at 5 p.m., applies to all of the departments and agencies of the Gouvernement du Québec.

By this gesture, the Government of Quebec wishes to demonstrate the importance it attaches to the fight against racism as well as to access to fair and quality information. In no way does the government tolerate the circulation of racist, hateful and discriminatory messages. The Prime Minister also invites Crown corporations to follow suit.

Recall that on June 15, the Premier of Quebec announced the creation of the Action Group Against Racism, chaired by Ministers Lionel Carmant and Nadine Girault, whose mandate is to develop a series of effective actions to fight against racism. Recommendations will have to be tabled in the fall of 2020, so that lasting changes are implemented as quickly as possible.