The Guardian (Charlottetown)

‘I am sorry, je m’excuse’

Paula Biggar apologizes for curt email sent to francophon­e parent

- BY STU NEATBY THE GUARDIAN Biggar

Paula Biggar has apologized, in both French and English, for a curt email sent to a francophon­e parent.

In response to a Nov. 7 email sent from francophon­e parent Melanie Gallant concerning the state of the aging École Évangéline in AbramVilla­ge, Biggar sent a short response demonstrat­ed on Nov. 8 with the words ‘I don’t speak French.’

The email prompted an outcry on social media, with some parents claiming that the message Biggar’s lack of respect for P.E.I.’s Acadian community. In response, Biggar posted a brief apology on Facebook last week.

But on Friday, in response to a question from Tignish-Palmer Road MLA Hal Perry, Biggar finally provided a formal apology to Gallant.

“I want to extend my apology to Ms. Gallant and thef community for my hasty response. I offer the opportunit­y to meet with her or representa­tives of the francophon­e community,” Biggar said, reading a prepared statement during question period on Friday morning.

“Again, I say I am sorry. Je m’excuse.”

The apology followed several questions posed by Perry about francophon­e services in the West Prince region.

Perry began by asking his government colleague why bilingual jobs at the Tignish Access P.E.I. location had been moved to Alberton. Biggar responded that the Alberton office location was more centrally located for francophon­e residents in the region.

“I am disappoint­ed with that decision,” Perry responded.

Perry then asked Biggar to outline the translatio­n services available to her as Minister.

“Translatio­n services are available to all of our government department­s,” Biggar said.

“All government institutio­ns also have French language services co-ordinators that work with senior staff and deputy ministers to do the planning of programs and services.”

Perry then asked Biggar to apologize formally in the legislatur­e for the email.

The email exchange between Biggar and Gallant followed public statements by members of the Commission Scolaire de Langue Française (CLSF), the Island’s French-language school board, about the state of École Évangeline.

In early November, CLSF trustee Janine Gallant told the Journal Pioneer that the school’s roof frequently leaked when it rained, and that the school, built in the 1960s, was difficult to heat.

The province’s recent capital budget did not include allocation­s for improvemen­ts to École Évangeline but did include funding for a $500,000 assessment of infrastruc­ture requiremen­ts of schools across the province.

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