Rebel MPP’s neighbour OK with change to francophone services

They may be political neighbours, but the Tory elected in the riding next to rebel MPP Amanda Simard says he agrees with the Ford government’s decision to change services to Franco-Ontarians.

In particular, Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MPP Jim McDonell said he agreed with the decision not to build a francophone university because there are universities in Ontario now that offer francophone studies that are not at capacity.

“Our English universities are also not at capacity and we are not able to build three English universities as well,” he said. “We made the commitment that when the financial situation gets in better shape in Ontario then we will address the francophone university.”

As for the decision to merge the French Language Services Commission’s job and staff with the Ontario Ombudsman, McDonell said he was sure it would result in more capable investigations.

“We have moved all the independent officers to the ombudsman or the auditor general. A lot of the duplication that is being done will be hopefully eliminated so we can do more with less money.”

He also noted that the government this week announced it was making francophone affairs a full department.

“Those issues are being looked after and hopefully, but maybe not as completely as we would like them to be done.”

The government had originally announced it was abolishing the commissioner’s job but backed down in the face of loud protests over the moves.

Rookie Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MPP Amanda Simard became the public face of the resistance to the francophone cuts this week with her decision to leave the Tory caucus and sit as an independent.

Francophone groups have scheduled protests at more than three dozen sites across Ontario, including five in Ottawa, on Saturday to protest the measures.

McDonell repeated the Tory government’s contention that the decisions were purely deficit-cutting measures, although there has not been any number giving on any savings involved.

“There is a lot of asks, but there is only so much we can do,” he said.

“I think if you talked to many of the communities in SDSG, I think a number of them would say let’s get the needs of the province looked after first.

“Health care and education are top priorities. If we don’t have jobs, we don’t get the costs of doing business down, we are in trouble.”