Montreal city cop in trouble over song on accommodating minorities

MONTREAL (CP) - A Montreal city police faces disciplinary action over a ontroversial song about accommodating minorities. The title of the French-language song means "That's Enough Already."

It says Quebec culture is being spit on and suggests those who don't like the way things are should head to the airport.

"Reasonable accommodation, we're no longer able," says the song, which was not commercially produced but is circulating on the Internet.

"We like to accept ethnic (minorities), but not at any price."

The song cites specifically a controversy over a Sikh boy carrying a ceremonial kirpan knife to school and a Hasidic Jewish synagogue that wanted the windows of a gym covered to block the view of women exercising inside.

Ian Lafreniere, spokesman for city police, said Sunday that the song does not portray the kind of image the force wants.

"After listening to the song, I can tell you it has nothing to do with the values of the Montreal police on respect and integrity," Lafreniere said.

Lafreniere said there will definitely be an investigation.

"We're looking into it," he said.

"We want to know... what would motivate this person to write a song like that."

The 37-year-old singer could face a disciplinary hearing over the matter.

The debate over so-called "reasonable accommodation" of racial, ethnic and religious minorities has been a topic of great debate lately in Quebec.

Now a rural Quebec town has taken the unusual step of formally declaring a set of "norms" aimed at potential immigrants.

Among the norms passed by town council in Herouxville, 165 kilometres east of Montreal, it is unacceptable to burn a woman alive or cover one's face other that on Halloween.

The document, sent to the federal and provincial governments, says boys and girls swim in the same pool and that women can drive a car, dance and make decisions on their own.

Herouxville does not currently have any immigrants among its population of 1,300.

© The Canadian Press, 2007