{"id":17114,"date":"2025-09-08T16:12:51","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T20:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/?page_id=17114"},"modified":"2025-09-10T07:41:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T11:41:40","slug":"take-action-demand-retraction-and-apology-from-la-presse","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/take-action-demand-retraction-and-apology-from-la-presse\/","title":{"rendered":"Take Action: Demand Retraction and Apology from La Presse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Letter from ASEQ-EHAQ<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letter from EHAC-ASEC<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letter from COPHAN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Press Release<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Media Advisory<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On September 7, 2025, La Presse published a column by Patrick Lagac\u00e9 entitled \u00ab Avez-vous pens\u00e9 \u00e0 votre charge odorante aujourd\u2019hui ? \u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For English translation, click here<\/a> (Translation by DeepL)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here<\/a> to view the article in French<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article mocked fragrance-free policies and demeaned Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), a recognized disability under Canadian and Qu\u00e9bec human rights law, the Accessible Canada Act (2019), and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Articles like this are not harmless opinion pieces. They foster stigma, embolden people to ignore or defy fragrance-free rules, and place Canadians with MCS at real risk of harm. MCS affects approximately 3.5% of Canadians\u2014more than 1 million people\u2014and it is growing in prevalence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcda Learn More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 MCS Fact Sheet<\/a><\/strong>
\u2022 What is MCS?<\/a><\/strong>
\u2022 Understanding MCS<\/a><\/strong>

Please take a moment to review these resources before taking action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udce7 Who to Write<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We encourage you to write directly to Patrick Lagac\u00e9 and copy La Presse editors. Your voice matters\u2014when journalists demean disabilities, silence implies consent. By writing, you show that Canadians demand accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To: Patrick Lagac\u00e9 \u2013 lagace.patrick@lapresse.ca ; Patrick.Lagace@lapresse.ca<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>CC: St\u00e9phanie Grammond, Editor-in-Chief \u2013 grammond.stephanie@lapresse.ca<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>CC: Fran\u00e7ois Cardinal, VP Information \u2013 francois.cardinal@lapresse.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u270d\ufe0f How to Take Action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Below are two sample letters you can use as templates. Feel free to personalize them with your own experiences and perspectives. Always close by asking for a retraction of the article and a public apology.

\u2022 Click here<\/a> to view Sample Letters 1 & 2 \u2013 Human Rights & Accessibility & Personal Impact & Respect

You may also write your own letter. Share your story, your concern for human rights, or your experiences with accessibility barriers.

\u26a0\ufe0f Reminder: Please keep your messages polite and respectful, but firm. We are calling for accountability, not personal attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udce2 Amplify Your Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After sending your letter, help spread the word. Share this action page on social media and encourage others to join.

Suggested caption:
\u201c\ud83d\uded1 Enough is enough. La Presse published a column mocking disability rights. People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) deserve respect and accommodation. Join us in demanding a retraction and apology. [Insert link] #DisabilityRights #FragranceFree #CRPD #AccessibilityMatters\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udd0e Stay Updated<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We will update this page with press releases, complaint outcomes, and next steps. Please check back often and share widely to build momentum.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Letter from ASEQ-EHAQ Letter from EHAC-ASEC Letter from COPHAN Press Release Media Advisory Overview On September 7, 2025, La Presse published a column by Patrick Lagac\u00e9 entitled \u00ab Avez-vous pens\u00e9 \u00e0 votre charge odorante aujourd\u2019hui ? \u00bb. For English translation, click here (Translation by DeepL) Click here to view the article in French This article mocked fragrance-free policies and demeaned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17114","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17114\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}