GLENGARRY-PRESCOTT-RUSSELL, Ontario – Progressive Conservative (PC) MPP Amanda Simard who represents Glengarry-Prescott-Russell says that she is "definitely upset", by her own party’s recent actions towards Franco-Ontarians.
Doug Ford’s PC government recently announced that it was eliminating the position of Ontario’s French Language Commissioner and cancelling plans for a proposed French language university in Toronto.
The Ford government has stated that the responsibilities of Ontario’s French Language Commissioner will be folded into the office of the Ombudsman.
Simard, who is the Parliamentary Secretary for Franco-Ontarian Affairs expressed her disappointment in her own government’s actions on Facebook.
“The decisions made last week concerning the Office of the Commissioner and the Franco-Ontarienne University disappoint me greatly, and I share this disappointment and frustration today, having initially worked as much internally as possible to reverse these decisions,” Simard said in a post on Facebook, translated by Seaway News. “I asked the Premier to reconsider these measures.”
Simard explained that she only became aware of her government’s decisions momemnts before they were made public.
“I always have the reflex to use the diplomatic channels to resolve situations, and that’s what I did, before reacting publicly, as soon as I became aware of these decisions (which was just minutes before the official announcements),” she wrote. “By the way, I read somewhere that MPP Simard “might be upset”. False. I am “definitely upset.””
Simard went on to explain that she grew up and still lives in a francophone community and did her schooling in French.
“Now we need to assess where we are, and what we can and must do,” she wrote. “I am with you. I hope you will support me.”
