Whatever his get-out-of-jail-card (married to a Holocaust survivor), Parizeau was out of line in the manner that he singled out ethnic people (and/or those with money, but that is not what provoked the negative reaction). He even admitted this years later, saying that his remarks "were most unfortunate and meriting the disapproval that they received". Singling out an ethnic group or groups as a scapegoat for electoral failure is irresponsible, especially when emotions are running high. It also has the effect of implying (which was the point) that these "ethnic" people are thwarting the will of "Nous"--i.e., the Quebecois de souche--and that by extension, are less "Quebeckers" than "Nous".
I don't think Parizeau is any more racist than Trudeau or for that matter Poilievre (which is to say, none of them are racist), but he used his bully pulpit to incite anger towards ethnic minorities. There were incidents of very foul language and vitriol received by some ethnic minorities in the aftermath of the referendum result. Parizeau should have known better. It was, and quite rightly so, a smear on an otherwise impressive professional career.
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The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. (Bertrand Russell)
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