10°c Light rain
16°c Variable cloudiness
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Staffer quits as unilingual top auditor appointed
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper officially named Michael Ferguson as Canada's new auditor general Friday, but the government's appointment of someone who doesn't speak French has prompted a former deputy minister who works with the AG's office to resign in protest.
The 10-year appointment, which takes effect Nov. 28, effectively ignores the government's own job posting for a bilingual candidate, which has sparked protest from opposition parties and now a resignation from a veteran public servant who worked alongside the auditor general.
Michel Dorais, one of two independent members of the federal auditor general's internal audit committee, quit earlier Friday over the government's decision to appoint the unilingual Ferguson as Canada's top spending watchdog.
"While I have no doubt that (Ferguson's) professional credentials are outstanding, I think that the nomination of an unilingual Canadian to this highly visible position is a serious mistake," Dorais says in his resignation letter, which was held up by Liberal MP Denis Coderre in the House of Commons Friday.
The Conservatives used their majority in the Commons and Senate on Thursday to approve the unilingual Ferguson for the $334,500-a-year job, even though the government's own job posting said: "proficiency in both official languages is essential."
Senior Conservative cabinet minister John Baird said the government is trying to offer equal opportunity to all Canadians and noted Ferguson is committed to learning French.
Ferguson, a former New Brunswick auditor general and outgoing deputy minister of finance in the province, has said his goal is to be proficient in French within a year. However, he won't commit to resigning the post if he doesn't meet that goal.
The office of the official languages commissioner announced Friday it has decided to investigate the NDP's complaint about Ferguson's appointment.
The NDP asked languages commissioner Graham Fraser to investigate whether having a unilingual officer of Parliament when the job posting called for a bilingual candidate breaks the Official Languages Act.
-- Postmedia News
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 5, 2011 A22
More Canada
- Back to Top
- Return to Canada
More Canada
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Driver charged after SUV smashes through restaurant patio, killing 2-year-old
05/20/2013 3:54 PM 0EDMONTON - Police in Edmonton have laid numerous impaired driving charges after a toddler was killed by an SUV that ...
Poll
Most Popular Canada
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Harper to be on hot seat at Tuesday caucus after chief of staff quits
- A look at the life and career of Ray Novak, prime minister's new chief of staff
- Harper expected to speak to Tory caucus Tuesday in wake of Senate scandal
- Harper's body to lie in state today
- Anarchist 'panda' leads a new fight in Montreal: this one's against tickets
- On Victoria Day, protesters at Montreal rally call for end to ties with monarchy
- B.C. NDP's 24-hour bus ride goes beyond Hope and crashes on election night
- Driver charged after SUV smashes through restaurant patio, killing 2-year-old
- First-degree murder charge to be laid in test drive death; remains badly burned
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Harper to be on hot seat at Tuesday caucus after chief of staff quits
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Duffy quits Conservative caucus over expenses as colleagues began turning on him
- Liberals blaze to stunning B.C. victory, but Clark loses own seat
- A look at the life and career of Ray Novak, prime minister's new chief of staff
- Quake near Ottawa rattles residents across wide swath of Ontario, Quebec
- Sen. Pamela Wallin, target of expense audit, latest to leave Conservative caucus
- First-degree murder charge to be laid in test drive death; remains badly burned
- Multiple fatalities after serious crash near U.S. border
- Canadian tourist dies after falling from hotel in Mexican resort
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Engineer charged in mall collapse
- Arrest made in case of Hamilton, Ont., man missing after pickup truck test drive
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Harper to be on hot seat at Tuesday caucus after chief of staff quits
- Suspects arrested in Via train terror plot linked to al-Qaida in Iran: RCMP
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- A look at the life and career of Ray Novak, prime minister's new chief of staff
- Canadians invited to weigh in on wind turbine proposal for Juno Beach
- Survey says: Can't trust those polls
- Harper government buying ads to promote job grant program that doesn't yet exist
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- First-degree murder charge to be laid in test drive death; remains badly burned
- Search on for living creatures far beneath Canadian Shield
- Quake near Ottawa rattles residents across wide swath of Ontario, Quebec
- Conservative senator Duffy claimed expenses while campaigning in 2011 election
- Grade 5 kids urge Harper to drop mean attack ads against Justin Trudeau
- Secret CSIS source, allied intelligence cited in high-profile terror case
- The Gretzky of Gretzky collectors
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Foul fascination: Edmonton plant beautiful, but stinks like diapers, dead animals
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Suspects arrested in Via train terror plot linked to al-Qaida in Iran: RCMP
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Commanding officer of Canadian Forces base in Alberta charged with sex assault
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Engineer charged in mall collapse
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.