NDP candidates acknowledge weak French as Montreal debate shifts mostly to English

The NDP leadership candidates admitted they need to brush up on their French-language skills when they faced off for the campaign’s first debate in Montreal.

The debate on Thursday began with a plan to have 60 per cent of it take place in French, but most of the conversation happened in English.

Documentarian Avi Lewis and Alberta MP Heather McPherson spoke the most French, while union leader Rob Ashton, social worker Tanille Johnston and organic farmer Tony McQuail worked it in. Ashton pledged to continue building his French skills on about five separate occasions.

One of the five themes of the debate was how to rebuild support and win in Quebec, the province that sent the NDP to the official Opposition benches in the 2011 election.

“If we want to come back in Quebec, we need to speak to Quebecers in their language,” Lewis said in French. “Right now, we’re not up to the job to come back in strength. We need to come back with a clear offer in French.”

Story continues below advertisement

However, other candidates argued that their message can transcend language barriers. “I don’t believe a language barrier should prevent us from being great. I think we can work across that,” Johnston said.

View image in full screen Edmonton Strathcona MP, Heather McPherson, made the announcement that she’s running to be the new leader of the federal NDP, before a crowd of supporters in Edmonton on Sunday. Global News

“My adult life has been spent trying to hone my native language of Likwala … I really feel the commitment, deep, to language as Quebecers do, as francophone folks do. I really hope that we can bridge that gap.”

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

McPherson said the party needs to focus on building stronger local riding associations in order to have a solid funding and volunteer base to rebuild its presence in Quebec.

McQuail said he wants to see alliances built with other progressive parties in Quebec, and nationally, to get more like-minded people in office.

Ashton said that while his French skills aren’t strong, he speaks the language of labour that is universal and the cost-of-living challenges faced by workers are the same.

Story continues below advertisement

Other topics included advancing Indigenous reconciliation, winning back workers, and if candidates see the NDP as an election winner or the conscience of Parliament.

McPherson talked about how she bridged gaps between the federal party and former Alberta NDP premier Rachel Notley.

“I have to say, when Rachel Notley stood with me and endorsed me at my launch, I was extraordinarily proud, because rebuilding the relationship between the federal NDP and the provincial NDP was a goal of mine,” McPherson said.

Trending Now

• U.K. to start enforcing new travel permit rules for Canadian visitors
• Molson Canada accuses ex-managers of embezzling millions in fraud scheme

More on Politics More videos

• Speculation on B.C.’s tanker ban ‘premature,’ federal energy minister says
• Here’s a timeline of Guilbeault’s decision to resign from Carney cabinet
• Party remains united after Guilbeault’s exit from cabinet, Liberal MPs say
• Consular services won’t be affected by Global Affairs Canada cuts: minister

• Guilbeault resigns from cabinet after Carney signs pipeline deal
• Will Carney and Smith’s coastal pipeline dream ever become B.C. First Nations reality?
• Petition to recall MLA Tara Armstrong
• Cowichan soil dump cleanup

“When we win, when New Democrats get elected, we make life better for Canadians and that is so important.”

Ashton said he sees the path to victory by showing regular people how to fight against “the language of hate” he said is coming from the political right.

“If you look what they’re doing in Manitoba and B.C., what they did in Alberta, when the NDP takes power, they show people that it’s OK to love each other, that it’s OK to give somebody a hand up. That’s what we have to do with workers today,” Ashton said.

McQuail said that if the NDP wants to have a shot, Canada needs to move toward a proportional representation electoral system.

“I’ve been listening to speeches and great ideas like the ones we’ve just heard for over 45 years. But unless we start fixing our relationship with the first-past-the-post electoral system, none of this will come to pass,” he said.

Story continues below advertisement

Johnston said the federal NDP needs to make better use of student activists, pointing to successful volunteer mobilization at the provincial level.

“The students come out in 30 and 40 folks to come and help door-knock in provincial elections. We’re not seeing that turnout federally. That relationship is not there, and that has to change,” she said.

Lewis said there is a “false dichotomy” between the idea of having to decide between putting forward big ideas, like public grocery stores, and winnability.

“Ideas like this won’t just win us back voters, they’ll bring in people who don’t vote at all. We win by offering hope in hard times,” Lewis said.  The candidates are scheduled to meet again in February for a debate being held in B.C.

New Democrats are set to choose their next leader on March 29 during the party’s annual convention in Winnipeg.