The Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, responded Thursday evening to criticism regarding her ability to express herself in French, a few days after her visit to the Quebec region.
After strong reactions in Ottawa at the beginning of the weeks, the office of Mme Simon announced Wednesday morning that she had had to give up visiting a community organization where she was expected.
In a statement communicated by the Office of the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon responded to the reactions provoked during her visit to Quebec regarding her inability to express herself in French.
“Being Canadian and Quebecois, I understand very well the critical relationship between identity, culture and language,” she writes. This is why speaking my mother tongue, Inuktitut, is an integral part of my identity. »
“Although I was fluent in Inuktitut and English, I was unable to speak French. »
She adds that she understands the importance of French for French-speaking Canadians and that “it is an essential element of their culture and their identity. »
“This is one of the reasons why, when I took office as Governor General, I committed to learning French and continuing to practice, in order to improve and use the three LANGUAGES. »
She also indicates her desire to remain true to what she said in her installation speech that she will strive to “build bridges between the diverse backgrounds and cultures that reflect the unique and promising character of our great country “.
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