VIDEO: Conservative critic draws criticism after she asks heritage minister to speak English

A Conservative critic is drawing criticism after she asked federal Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge to answer a question in English during a parliamentary committee meeting.

Heritage critic Rachael Thomas said today that while Canada is a bilingual country and St-Onge could respond in either official language, she would prefer the minister answered her in English.

Thomas, who is an MP for Lethbridge, Alta., complained the minister representing Brome—Missisquoi in Quebec was answering questions from fellow Liberals in English but responded to her questions only in French.

She was quickly cut off by other members of the committee calling for a point of order — when members believe the rules or procedures of the House of Commons have been broken.

Martin Champoux, the Bloc Québécois heritage critic, described Thomas’s attitude as insulting to Quebecers, adding that the committee’s interpretation service works well.

Liberal MP Michael Coteau said Thomas’s comments were unacceptable and go against everything Canada was built on.

Videos

Une ministre francophone qui se fait demander de répondre en anglais par une députée conservatrice. Insultant pour tous les parlementaires francophones qui peinent déjà à faire respecter le français au parlement.
Et silence radio de ses collègues québécois du @PCC_HQ pic.twitter.com/DSTX7qd6je

— Martin Champoux (@martchampoux) November 30, 2023