Quebecers angry at Harper government’s ‘qualifications before bilingualism’ policy

To the chagrin of many in Quebec, the Harper Tories have seemingly instituted a policy of putting one's qualifications ahead of their ability to speak French when it comes to government appointments.

On Tuesday, the NDP cried foul after they learned that Michael Ferguson, Stephen Harper's nominee for auditor general was unilingual.

Ferguson's appointment comes just 2 weeks after Michael Moldaver, one of two justices nominated to sit on the Supreme Court, faced tough questions from a parliamentary panel about his limited abilities in French.

Moldaver vowed that if his nomination was successful, he would do "everything in my power in the years ahead to become more proficient in the French language," reports CBC News.

Nevertheless, the NDP vowed not to support the nomination.

Quebecers were also displeased in September when the PMO hired journalist Angelo Persichilli as the prime minister's director of communications. He is bilingual, speaking Italian and English, but doesn't speak French.

PMO spokesperson Sara McIntyre told the Globe and Mail that "appointments are based on merit." but as you might imagine, many in Quebec are outraged at the recent string of non-French speaking nominees.

Many voiced their displeasure at Radio-Canada.ca.

"Clear proof that the French language is considered a language of second order and that the French are seen as second class citizens in Canada," stated Fabien from Quebec City.

"The appointment of a unilingual Anglophone as auditor general of Canada…a unilingual Anglophone as judge of the supreme court…no naval contract for Quebec," wrote Guy from Montreal.

"This will continue. Why? Because the watchdog separatists in Quebec, the Bloc Quebecois are no longer there to act as a shield to the Anglicization (sic)"

Melanie from Montreal asked her Quebec brethren to imagine if the opposite were to happen.

"If the auditor general was a unilingual francophone," she wrote.

"The rest of the country would stop breathing and editors of the Gazette and the National Post (would be) on the verge of apoplexy."