In a recent television interview, Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon attempted to establish a direct link between immigration and the involvement of minors in crimes.

“Immigrant criminal groups are bringing new and especially aggressive methods to Quebec,” he stated.

“(Gangs have) names like Arab Power, so there’s no doubt about their ethnocultural affiliation. Recruitment is done on an ethnocultural basis.”

The PQ leader’s main concern, he said, lies with street gangs’ recruitment efforts primarily targeting minors, in light of a recent report showing a third of homicides in Quebec this year have involved young people age 21 and under.

His concerns aren’t entirely unfounded. Gangs are indeed luring younger and younger victims into their fold. Montreal’s Maghrebi community already raised the alarm about criminals recruiting their youth.

There’s nothing wrong........

© Montreal Gazette