TALQ director says new commissioner should focus on building trust

As the federal government moves forward with the nomination of Kelly Burke to become Canada’s next commissioner of Official Languages, the head of a Quebec-based minority language advocacy group says English-speaking Quebecers are watching closely and hoping to be understood and respected within Canadas’s evolving language framework.

Sylvia Martin-Laforge, Director General of TALQ, said her organization will be looking to the next Commissioner to continue building on the work of outgoing Commissioner Raymond Théberge, particularly when it comes to recognizing and defending Canada’s larges official language minority community.  “For the last couple of years, he’s been quite strong, fearless in his comments,” Martin-Laforge said of Théberge. “Even when outside of his direct jurisdiction, he really did try to explain that we’re not the best treated minority in the world.”