New parliamentary secretary to Francophonie can't speak French

New parliamentary secretary to Francophonie can't speak French
Last Updated Fri, 10 Feb 2006 07:30:15 EST
CBC News

Francophone groups and opposition MPs are raising concerns about an appointment within Stephen Harper's government after learning the parliametary secretary for la Francophonie doesn't speak French.

Alberta MP Ted Menzies was sworn in on Monday as parliamentary secretary to la Francophonie and Official Languages Minister Josee Verner. He was also made parliamentary secretary to the minister of international co-operation.

The appointment raised concerns with minority French groups like the New Brunswick Acadian Society. It says nominating a uniligual anglophone to this position shows just how hard it is to communicate with the Harper government.

New Democrat MP Yvon Godin, an Acadian, says this is proof Prime Minister Harper didn't think these nominations through.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/02/10/menzies-french060210.html

It's extremely frustrating in this day and age.

;)

or is he flipping the bird at Quebec? :shrug:

throughout the country than it is to Québec.

After running a strategically masterful campaign which earned him a victory, he's spent his first week as PM making a series of completely ridiculous decisions. 'Tis a rather strange 180.

If he keeps it up at this pace, there will be an election in 4 months and Harper's government will have left such an impression on the minds of the Canadian electorate that the Liberals will hold power for the next 20 years.

On edit: Menzies: "Je ne parle pas français, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night!"

New parliamentary secretary to Francophonie can't speak French
Last Updated Fri, 10 Feb 2006 07:30:15 EST
CBC News

But Menzies, who has taken a French immersion course and says he plans to continue learning, brushed off the criticisms.

"We have two official languages in this country. Not just French. Not just English. We have two official languages," said Menzies.

Who better to represent Canada's two official languages than a minister from Quebec for the French and a parliamentary secretary for the English, he said.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/02/10/menzies-french060210.html

Believe that his French immersion course started very recently. Like say within the last week.

Glad that he changed his ways from "not continuing to learn".

The dumbest thing seems to be that he doesn't realize that "languages" is plural.

That's it. The two solitudes. Well welcome back to the fifties, just like the reformers dream of "how the good old times used to be".

This would be comic if it wasn't so tragic.

ie. "Clean Air" act. Incredibly, Harper has his own "clean air" legislation planned. Any bets that it'll be all about corporate self-regulation?