By André Pratte Opinion Mon., Nov. 19, 2018 For anyone convinced that the existence of vibrant French speaking communities from sea to sea is crucial to the future of Canada as a united country and as a beacon of successful diversity, the latest decisions of Doug Ford’s government are extremely disappointing. Not only will eliminating the position of the French Language Services Commissioner and killing the project of a French language university in Toronto have little impact on the provincial government’s balance sheet; they demonstrate a profound indifference, if not worse, toward the French minority’s rights and needs. This incident is particularly sad when you consider that these decisions were justified by Ontario’s attorney general, Caroline Mulroney, daughter of Canada’s 18th prime minister, a man who, throughout his career, showed great political courage in defending minority rights. Unfortunately, neither Ms. Mulroney nor Andrew Scheer, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, have shown anything resembling that kind of courage. It was 35 years ago. Following a Supreme Court decision, an agreement had been struck between the governments of Canada and of Manitoba aiming to restore Franco-Manitobans’ language rights, taken away from them by the provincial government in 1890. Mulroney had just been elected leader of the Progressive Conservatives. Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau moved a motion in the House of Commons in support of the federal-provincial agreement. This may have been a ploy to embarrass the new Conservative leader, who’s caucus was divided on the matter of bilingualism. Mulroney did… [Read full story]
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