CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Paula Biggar has apologized, in both French and English, for a curt email sent to a francophone parent.
In response to a Nov. 7 email sent from francophone parent Melanie Gallant concerning the state of the aging École Évangéline in Abram-Village, Biggar sent a short response on Nov. 8 with the words ‘I don’t speak French.’
The email prompted an outcry on social media, with some parents claiming that the message demonstrated Biggar’s lack of respect for P.E.I.’s Acadian community.
In response, Biggar posted a brief apology on Facebook last week.
But on Friday, in response to a question from Tignish-Palmer Road MLA Hal Perry, Biggar finally provided a formal apology to Gallant.
“I want to extend my apology to Ms. Gallant and the francophone community for my hasty response. I offer the opportunity to meet with her or representatives of the francophone community,” Biggar said, reading a prepared statement during question period on Friday morning.
“Again, I say I am sorry. Je m'excuse.”
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The apology followed several questions posed by Perry about francophone services in the West Prince region. Perry began by asking his government colleague why bilingual jobs at the Tignish Access P.E.I. location had been moved to Alberton.
Biggar responded that the Alberton office location was more centrally located for francophone residents in the region.
“I am disappointed with that decision,” Perry responded.
Perry then asked Biggar to outline the translation services available to her as Minister.
“Translation services are available to all of our government departments,” Biggar said.
“All government institutions also have French language services co-ordinators that work with senior staff and deputy ministers to do the planning of programs and services.”
Perry then asked Biggar to apologize formally in the legislature for the email.
The email exchange between Biggar and Gallant followed public statements by members of the Commission Scolaire de Langue Française (CLSF), the Island’s French-language school board, about the state of École Évangeline.
In early November, CLSF trustee Janine Gallant told the Journal Pioneer that the school’s roof frequently leaked when it rained, and that the school, built in the 1960s, was difficult to heat.
The province’s recent capital budget did not include allocations for improvements to École Évangeline but did include funding for a $500,000 assessment of infrastructure requirements of schools across the province.
