MNA quick to say sorry for language gaffe
Public security minister apologizes after refusing to answer question in English
When it comes to language politics, the apology is in.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau learned it the hard way in January when he refused to answer questions in English from an anglophone at a town-hall meeting in Sherbrooke.
In that case Trudeau justified himself saying, “Since we’re in Quebec, I’ll respond in French.”
His apology a month later followed an uproar in the minority community, which promptly starting filing complaints with the Commissioner of Official Languages.
“Canada is a bilingual country and, as such, I recognize that I should have answered questions in the language they were asked, be it in Quebec or anywhere else in Canada,” Trudeau said in a primo mea culpa delivered to minorities on Valentine’s Day.
In that case, even Parti Québécois leader Jean-François Lisée sided with the anglophones.
On Tuesday, another politician, Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux, who represents the very anglophone West Island riding of Nelligan, found himself on the same slippery slope at the National Assembly. He, too, ended up in the ditch.
“I am going to stick to tradition in this assembly and I will answer in French,” Coiteux said after being asked a question in English by Mercier MNA Amir Khadir.
Oops, Coiteux conceded later. In fact, there is no such tradition, as minority groups including the Quebec Community Groups Network — which represents 53 anglophone groups in Quebec — noted in a statement after Coiteux’s gaffe became news.
The QCGN called Coiteux’s statement an affront to anglophones because nothing stops anyone from speaking English in the legislature.
Moments later, former Equality Party leader Robert Libman said Coiteux should either apologize or resign.
Out came another apology, but unlike Trudeau, Coiteux didn’t pussyfoot around for a month.
“I am really sorry about what this produced, but perhaps my words were not well chosen,” Coiteux told reporters a day after his gaffe. “I didn’t want to offend anybody and if I did offend somebody with the words I used I’m really sorry.
“Anybody who knows me knows how I represent my constituents in every event in the West Island. I always use English and French, and sometimes even other languages. So I’m really sorry about that. It doesn’t reflect the way I think.”
And so it goes. Politically, it’s called unruffling feathers — particularly among minority community members who know their rights and laws better than the politicians.
In both cases, Trudeau and Coiteux, the apologies were accepted and everyone moved along.
“To err is most certainly human,” QCGN president James Shea said in an opinion piece submitted to the Montreal Gazette in which he accepts Coiteux’s apology. “However, forgiveness in this instance should not and cannot be equated with forgetfulness.”
Coiteux’s fellow politicians, wary of daily pratfalls they all face on occasion, let Coiteux off the hook with a mild scolding Wednesday.
“I have no problem with questions in English,” said Coalition Avenir Québec leader François Legault. “I have no problem that people answer in English. I don’t understand why Mr. Coiteux, who is an MNA from the West Island, decided not to answer in English. Was he shy about what’s happening with Jean Charest and Marc Bibeau? Maybe that’s the real answer.”
Which brings us to Khadir, and what he was really up to in addressing Coiteux in English.
Khadir said he asked his question in English because he wanted the English-speaking community to hear a Liberal minister say something, in English, about the UPAC investigation over illegal Liberal party fundraising.
It was revealed this week that former premier Jean Charest and former Liberal fundraiser Marc Bibeau were under surveillance by UPAC.
Khadir Wednesday pursued his campaign, suggesting Coiteux did not answer in English for a reason. “Was it intentional because he didn’t want the English community to hear what we hear every day, every week in the National Assembly about a government which is plagued with corruption scandals?”
Coiteux dismissed Khadir’s theory outright.
“Absolutely not,” Coiteux said, noting Khadir usually asks his questions in French so he was surprised Tuesday that he didn’t.
Coiteux noted he often speaks English in the legislature, including two recent times when he paid tribute to volunteers in his riding.
Asked if he was surprised over the uproar, Coiteux said: “I will pay more attention to the words that we’re using.”
To err is most certainly human. However, forgiveness in this instance should not and cannot be equated with forgetfulness.