Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP Amanda Simard says she is against her government's cuts to French-language services. Source: Facebook.

TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford is now taking fire from his own caucus over his cuts to Franco-Ontarian services.

Last week, the Ford government announced it was breaking its election promise to build a French-language university, and axed the office of the French-language services commissioner. The government said the office’s responsibilities would be absorbed by the provincial ombudsman.

In a rare move, Progressive Conservative MPP Amanda Simard released a statement on her Facebook page saying she was disappointed by the cuts.

“You have an ally in me, and I will never let you down,” Simard said in a translated version of the post. She said the cuts “disappoint me greatly, and I share this disappointment and frustration today, having initially worked internally as much as possible to reverse these decisions.”

[READ MORE: Ford rejects calls to reverse cuts to French-language services]

Simard is one of Ford’s few fluently bilingual MPPs and is also the parliamentary assistant to Francophone Affairs Minister Caroline Mulroney. Simard is the first Tory MPP to publicly break ranks with the government, and the unusual move comes just five months into Ford’s tenure.

“I asked the premier to reconsider these measures,” Simard said on Facebook. On Monday, Ford and Mulroney both strongly defended the cuts, saying they were necessary because of budget constraints.

On top of those changes, TFO also reported on Wednesday that the government had cut a $2.9-million grant for La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins — a French arts centre in Ottawa.

In her post, Simard says: “I read somewhere that MPP Simard ‘might be upset.’ False. I am ‘definitely upset.’ “

The MPP’s displeasure echoes that of a growing list of community and political leaders who have spoken out against the cuts. They include: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, Quebec Premier François Legault, and former governor general Michaëlle Jean. On Friday, Mulroney will speak with federal Francophone Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.

[READ MORE: Feds increase pressure on Ford to reverse Franco-Ontarian service cuts]

“To my friends, to my community, to my riding, you know me — my Francophonie is important to me,” Simard continues in her Facebook post.

She addresses Ontario’s 600,000 francophones, saying “You may not know me yet, but know that I am with you.

“I was born, raised, and still live in my French-speaking Prescott-Russell community. I completed all my schooling in French, elementary school (St-Jean school, La Croisée Pavilion), high school (Embrun), college (La Cité), and university (uOttawa), where I chose to study law… in French!”

She goes on to say it was never a question for her to support the government’s measures.

Simard ends her post by saying: “Now we need to assess where we are, and what we can and must do. I am with you. I hope you will support me.”

The premier’s office issued a conciliatory statement in response to Simard’s comments.

“MPP Amanda Simard is an advocate for Franco-Ontarians and we appreciate having her voice in caucus,” said Ford’s spokesperson, Simon Jefferies, in an email.

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