Pauline Marois has marked her first year in power by claiming multiculturalism is to blame for violence and “bomb throwing” in England as she seeks to push ahead with her controversial Charter of Quebec Values.

The Quebec premier, who says she is proud of her first year in power even though she admits it’s been difficult, told Montreal’s Le Devoir that secularism measures will be phased in over a few years.

She conceded that the French model of secularism “isn’t perfect,” Le Devoir reported, but Marois said that “in England, they’re knocking each other over the head and throwing bombs because of multiculturalism and nobody knowing any more who they are in that society.”

Marois also said that wearing a hijab can be seen as a “form of submission,” and said she feared daycare workers in positions of authority could incite kids to practice religion.

Canadian Press, 6 September 2013

Update:  See “Marois needs to apologize for linking multiculturalism to bombs: Liberal leader”, CTV News, 6 September 2013

And “Quebec charter of values divisive, discriminatory and unlikely to withstand legal challenges: experts”, National Post, 6 September 2013

Update 2:  See “Quebec’s charter: Canada still has work to do on multiculturalism”, Toronto Star, 7 September 2013