Quebecers divided on GG’S shaky French

• Many Quebecers are unconvinced Mary Simon is the best choice for governor general of Canada due to her inability to speak French fluently, a new poll shows.

But it’s less of an issue for English-speaking Canadians, including those living in Quebec.

Produced by the Angus Reid Institute, the poll reveals while seven in 10 (68 per cent) of Canadians overall agree with her appointment, Quebecers are divided. Half of those surveyed (49 per cent) agree with her appointment, while more than one-third (35 per cent) disagree.

There is a further divide along language lines in Quebec. While 81 per cent of Quebec’s anglophones approve, only 40 per cent of francophones do.

Simon made history earlier this summer when she was named Canada’s fist Indigenous governor general.

Simon, an Inuk woman from northern Quebec, has had a long career as a diplomat and activist, is an officer of the Order of Canada and Ordre national du Québec and has 11 honorary doctorates.

“Despite being from Nunavik and having been awarded the province’s highest distinction, many Quebecers remain unconvinced Mary Simon is the best choice for governor general due to her lack of French fluency,” Angus Reid said in a statement.

“Support cleaved along linguistic lines in the only majority-francophone province in Canada.”

Even if Simon does not speak French now, she has committed to learning it. She explained the reason she did not learn French is that it was not taught in the federal day-school she attended in her youth.

Angus Reid notes many of those critical of her appointment go to lengths to say they are supportive of increased Indigenous representation, but the language issue is still a problem.

The office of the Commissioner of Official Languages announced in mid July that it had received 400 complaints about the issue.

Angus Reid also reveals a divide along partisan lines. People who previously voted Liberal or New Democrat approve of her nomination. Those who cast their ballots for the Bloc Québécois are the staunchest opponents.

Two-thirds of people outside Quebec who voted Conservative agree with Simon’s nomination, while 50 per cent of Conservatives within Quebec disagree.

Most people who identify as Indigenous or as a visible minority have few qualms about her lack of French. Two-thirds (66 per cent) among each group say they agree with the appointment.

The Angus Reid online survey was conducted from July 25 to July 30 among a randomized sample of 2,049 members of the Angus Reid Forum.

A poll of this size is considered accurate plus or minus 2.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20.