By Justine Frangouli-Argyris
I followed the conversation with Ville Saint-Laurent MP,
Emmanuella Lambropoulos, and Commissioner of the Official Languages, Raymond
Théberge, which took place virtually a few days ago.
Emmanuella Lambropoulos, a Greek-origin MP in her early 30’s
currently serving her second term in Parliament as a member of the ruling
Liberal Party, is there defending the rights of the English-speaking minority
of Quebec. In this capacity, she conveyed certain questions to Théberge, noting
that unilingual anglophones in Quebec are experiencing difficulties
in the workplace due to a lack of knowledge of French where it is very difficult
for all non-French speakers to secure employment.
Emmanuella Lambropoulos did not make any statement, but, rather,
asked the following question to the Commissioner for Official Languages:
"I
have another question along the same lines. We hear that the French
language is declining in Quebec. I don't want to call it a myth; I'll give it
the benefit of the doubt. I've heard that on several occasions. I have to see
proof in order to believe that."
It is at this point that Conservative MP, Alain Rayes, and Bloc
Québécois MP, Stéphane Bergeron, stood up and demanded her expulsion from the
Commission. In fact, similar remarks were made in Parliament by other MPs from
the New Democratic Party and the Conservative Party. How could Emmanuela
Lambropoulos dare challenge the concept of the use of the French language in
Quebec, they intended?
Of course, without any valid reason, the knives were out for the ethnic
MP Lambropoulos in the French media. The result being that some MPs from the
Liberal Party attacked Lambropoulos (Propos
d’Emmanuella Lambropoulos sur le français | « J’étais vraiment abasourdie »
(lapresse.ca)
It should be noted that the attack on Emmanuella Lambropoulos
culminated in an ugly sketch published in the vaunted Montreal French-language
newspaper, “La Presse,” where she appears to be slapped by a Liberal colleague
while others await their turn in line to do likewise.
Needless to say, the sketch had Canada’s Greek community up in
arms. The Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal, the Hellenic Congress of
Quebec and the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal addressed statements to the
Prime Minister's Office, the Inter-Party Committee for Official Languages and
to “La Presse” condemning the sexist and misogynistic depiction of the
young Lambropoulos being subjected to violence by men in a country of
democracy and equality such as Canada.
The falsification of Emmanuela Lambropoulos' question by
opposition MPs, but also by those of her own party, clearly shows that it is
fodder for any politician of any faction to try and take advantage of the
sensitive issue of the French language in Quebec. It can offer political
benefits and all sides are eyeing the many seats in Canada’s French-speaking
province, knowing full well that an election could be around the corner.
Quebec’s anglophones often do not dare ask the obvious questions
about the use of the English language and the difficult realities of their
monolingualism. Those belonging to ethnic
communities, even though often trilingual, continue to be bullied and made to
feel like second class citizens by those allegedly cut from the French-speaking
cloth of Quebec society.
The Greek community of Quebec and Canada is fully supportive of Ms. Lambropoulos and
may end up being indifferent for the Liberals in the next federal election, especially
in Justin Trudeau's Greek-heavy riding of Papineau.
It is noteworthy that, although this shameful sketch should have
been a rallying point for an “egalitarian” party like the Liberals, neither the
Prime Minister nor anyone in his parliamentary caucus has come out with an
official condemnation!
