Sunday, July 11, 2021

Governor General and Her Bilingualism: Unnecesary Comment During These Times From Mary Simon

Like it or not, the recent GG is not bilingual, meaning in Canada's two official languages;  however ticks the first nations box after the horrific events of children 's graves being discovered (and concidentally several Catholic churches also horrifically being burned down). 

After the disastrous previous pick, maybe all the boxes could not have been ticked. Maybe the bilingual aspect could have been relaxed with an explanation or an effort to learn it over the upcoming term. 

But no, going beyond the reference to English and French as the two official languages and stepping into the lions' den of knowing questions, her response was more than flippant but childish and instigatorly.  

"...Knowing 11 years ago that she could well become a candidate in the future, Simon nevertheless chose not to take up the challenge of acquiring functional French (which is not rocket science, as several anglophone party leaders have discovered over the last several decades).

...The only fly in the ointment is Simon’s near-complete unfamiliarity with French. She knew this would be a sticking point, and had a zingy, but disingenuous, response at the ready, one I believe must have been vetted (or perhaps suggested) by the prime minister: she said she was indeed bilingual, only “my bilingualism is in Inuktitut and English.”..."

Count bilingualism as part of another Canadian institution being eroded by our appointed and elected officials. 


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