Language watchdog fields PM complaints
• The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages has received 14 complaints related to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s choice of English or French when answering questions at recent town hall meetings.
Spokesman Nelson Kalil said Thursday that 11 complaints stem from an event on Tuesday in Sherbrooke, Que., where Trudeau angered some anglophones by insisting on answering English questions in French.
The others are related to a previous town hall gathering in Peterborough, Ont., where Trudeau responded in English to a French question.
On Wednesday he said that on reflection he maybe should have answered partly in English and partly in French at the Sherbrooke event.
Kalil said it could take three to six months for the office to investigate.
Because the office cannot investigate individuals, the probe will focus on whether the Privy Council Office violated the Official Languages Act in its role of supporting the prime minister.
The controversy erupted when Trudeau answered English questions in French on Tuesday night — including one about how English speakers could get help to gain access to mental health services.
“Thank you f or using our country’s two official languages, but since we’re in Quebec I’ ll respond in French,” Trudeau replied.
His unilingual performance drew an angry response from groups that represent Quebec anglophones, with some calling on the prime minister to apologize for showing what they called disrespect toward the English speakers in the audience.
At first, Trudeau defended his stance at a news conference Wednesday as he mentioned the Peterborough example.
But Trudeau changed his mind a few minutes later when a reporter revisited the topic.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard was asked about the brouhaha Thursday as he attended the Davos economic summit in Switzerland.
“It’s true we speak French in Quebec, it’s our common language,” Couillard said. “When English- speaking Quebecers address me, I answer them in their language and I will continue to do that.”
In Montreal, Parti Quebecois Leader Jean- Francois Lisee was also asked — in English — about Trudeau’s language imbroglio. He said Trudeau is “simply out of his depth” in matters of language and identity.
“In Quebec, we have French as the official and common language but we also know something called courtesy.
“And t here’s nothing wrong with speaking English to our important Anglo community. What we saw there is Mr. Trudeau having no grasp of reality and of policy on matters of language and identity.”
The Canadian Press, with files from Morgan Lowrie and Pierre Saint- Arnaud in Montreal