The controversy around Governor-General-designate Michaëlle Jean converged on Parliament Hill as nearly 250 protesters demanded Prime Minister Paul Martin rescind the appointment.
But the weekend protest was mired in accusations of racism by a second group of about 20 people claiming the demonstrators' objections to Ms. Jean are based on her skin colour, and not her alleged ties to Quebec separatists.
Protest organizer Debbie Jodoin, a member of the conservative group Free Dominion, denied the allegation, saying the protest had nothing to do with Ms. Jean's race but rather the controversy surrounding her appointment.
The protest also called Mr. Martin's selection of Ms. Jean a Liberal ploy to lure back Quebec voters. CP