The opposition parties in Ottawa unanimously denounce the absence of Francophones in key positions in Canadian diplomacy and call on the Trudeau government to act as quickly as possible to restore the bilingual character of the country abroad.
“Global Affairs Canada has literally abandoned French. [Le Canada] is a country which promotes bilingualism, but which is displayed in English internationally, even though French is spoken on the five continents of the planet and is one of the two working languages of the UN ”laments Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc Québécois spokesperson for Foreign Affairs.
The duty revealed Monday that the senior management of Global Affairs Canada is almost entirely made up of Anglophones and only gives access to other Anglophones to strategic positions. Several experienced employees, executives and ex-executives of Global Affairs Canada – including a working ambassador – said they were very concerned about the situation, denouncing a climate of indifference to French which has grown over time. The situation is such that it forces many French-speaking civil servants to work in English in order to hope to advance their careers.
If he initially refused to answer the questions of the Duty, leaving the drafting of a response to his officials, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, François-Philippe Champagne, wished to react on Monday evening. “As a Quebecer and a Francophone, I am always attentive to the use of French within our institutions and a fervent defender of the French language. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, I make sure that our two languages shine both here in Canada and abroad, ”he says, adding that it is essential, according to him, that everyone can work in the language. Of his choice.
“We recognize that there are challenges and I am aware that we can and must always commit to doing better. We are working on this in particular as part of our Action Plan for Official Languages 2019-2022, ”added the Minister without providing further details.
In defense of bilingualism
For the Bloc Québécois, it is a “real culture” of rejection of the language of Molière that has crept into Global Affairs Canada. “It has happened to me that a briefing session has been offered in the language of Shakespeare at the Canadian Embassy in Paris! “, Gives Stéphane Bergeron as an example.
“We want to give the image of a proudly bilingual country, but in reality French is clearly in the minority. Bilingualism nevertheless attracts the respect of the whole world, it differentiates us from several countries. We shouldn’t neglect that, ”adds Niki Ashton, MP and official languages critic for the New Democratic Party.
This situation feeds, according to her, growing concerns about the decline of French in Quebec, but also in Canada. It also confirms that the Trudeau government “ignores this reality” and “does nothing to correct it”.
For his part, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Erin O’Toole, believes that a greater number of French-speaking executives at Global Affairs Canada would “have a positive impact on our international relations”. He cites as an example the “Liberals’“ lack of leadership ”with regard to Canada’s role within the Organization internationale de la Francophonie. ” [C’est] an important role which requires the expertise of French-speaking diplomats, ”he insists.
The situation at Global Affairs Canada also raised concerns in the Parti Québécois without creating any surprises. For its leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, bilingualism as promised by former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau never really existed.
“Everyone still speaks English in the Canadian public service and many do not speak French. It is therefore impossible to evolve and flourish there while being French-speaking, ”he regrets. As a lawyer, he explains that he worked in several cases concerning public service executives who were discriminated against because they are French-speaking and wish to work in the language of Molière.
“It is a powerful metaphor for what is happening for Quebec within Canada. To move forward, we have to use the language espoused by the country, namely English, because French is only a language spoken locally, especially by Quebecers, ”he adds.
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