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Whether we like it or not, Canada has two official languages, French and English, entrenched in the Constitution, reflecting the early history of this country.

Over the past couple of weeks, however, hostility to bilingualism, especially in the West (example: Manitoba’s new minister for Francophone Affairs does not speak French) was felt once more, courtesy of Calgary Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner and ex-Maclean’s editor-in-chief Ken Whyte.

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Rempel Garner suggested that French is taking too much space in the Conservative leadership race. That it is a barrier to equality of opportunity for those who want to make it in Ottawa, elected or otherwise.

There’s something wrong with that picture. Conservatives don’t normally go for victimhood.

My one-time colleague at Rogers Publishing, Ken Whyte, a brilliant editor but not a man known for his warm and fuzzy feelings toward Quebec, published an op-ed piece in the Globe and Mail on Jan. 18 arguing that bilingualism should not be a requirement to become prime minister of Canada. “Scrap the notion of winning Quebec with bilingual leaders,” he told the Conservatives.