Martin Coiteux apologizes for answering English question in French - Action News
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Montreal

Martin Coiteux apologizes for answering English question in French

Quebec's public security minister says he didn't mean any offence when he decided to respond in French to a question posed to him in English during question period yesterday.

QCGN accepts apology after calling Coiteux's remark 'an insult' to Anglo electors in his West Island riding

Critics say Quebec Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux could have and should have answered a question posed in the National Assembly in English. Citing 'tradition,' Coiteux answered in French. (Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot)

Public Security Minister MartinCoiteuxsays he didn't mean any offence when he spoke French in response to aquestion posed to him in Englishduring question period yesterday.

Coiteux was criticized by theQuebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) for how he prefaced his answer to a question, asked in English, from Qubec Solidaire MNA Amir Khadir about the investigation into allegedillegal political financing within Coiteux's Quebec Liberal Party.

Coiteux stood and said, in French, that he would "stick to tradition of the National Assembly and answer in French."

On Wednesday, heapologized and said he"didn't choose the right words" before giving his answer.

The QCGN says it's satisfied with Coiteux'sapology.

'An insult to the community'

Geoffrey Chambers, vice-president of the QCGN,explainedthe 1867 Constitution Act allows French or English to be used in the legislative body during debates.

Chambers had saidCoiteux'sinitial commentswere especially disrespectfulconsidering herepresents the West Island riding ofNelligan, where a third of the constituents are predominantly English speaking.

"Standing up and explaining that it was improper to use the English language, that's an insult to the community, an insult to his electors, many of whom are English, and very hard to understand," he said.

Geoffrey Chambers, vice-president of the Quebec Community Groups Network, says it's not true that MNAs can only speak French in the National Assembly. (Simon Nakonechny/CBC)

Both the Parti Qubcois and the Coalition Avenir Qubec said Coiteux could have answered the question in English.

CAQ MNAric Caire went a step further, saying Coiteux should have responded in English.

During anews conference Wednesday morning,Khadirsaid he asked the question in English because he believes Quebecanglophones aren't well informed about corruption within the provincial Liberal Party.

With files from Ryan Hicks and Simon Nakonechny