Both current and former Liberal Party officials are emphasizing the importance of bilingualism for the next leader of the party, as the race to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau begins.
“In my opinion, it’s essential for the leader of the Liberal Party to speak both official languages,” said former Housing Minister Sean Fraser, who announced in December that he will not seek re-election in his Nova Scotia riding. Fraser, who has been taking French courses, underscored the necessity of understanding the realities faced by linguistic minorities and Quebecers to be an effective leader.
While Manitoba MP Kevin Lamoureux does not believe unilingual candidates should be automatically excluded from the leadership race, he stated that he would not vote for a unilingual candidate and would feel “very uncomfortable” if the party chose someone who is not bilingual.
The Liberal Party has announced that the new leader will be revealed on March 9, leaving candidates with just two weeks to declare their intentions. The incoming leader will face off against Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, both fluent in French, in an upcoming federal election.
Manitoba MP Chandra Arya, one of the few candidates to officially declare his intention to run, has downplayed his lack of French, arguing that Quebecers prioritize a leader’s ability to deliver results over language proficiency. However, this stance has reignited calls for bilingualism as a non-negotiable requirement for leadership.
Quebec Liberal officials, including Quebec lieutenant Jean-Yves Duclos, were quick to assert the importance of bilingualism. “The leader will absolutely have to be bilingual. It’s a question of respect and values,” Duclos stated on X, formerly known as Twitter. Gatineau MP Steven MacKinnon, also a potential leadership contender, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that bilingualism reflects an appreciation for Canada’s linguistic diversity.
Ex-Liberal strategists have also weighed in. Sandra Aubé, former chief of staff to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, called French proficiency “inescapable” and “part of the very DNA of the party.” Greg MacEachern, president of lobbying firm KAN Strategies, stressed that “Whoever the leader is, he or she should be bilingual, period.”
Political science experts have criticized Arya’s argument. François Rocher, professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa, described it as “fallacious and asymmetrical,” noting that a unilingual francophone candidate would face widespread criticism elsewhere in Canada.
Traditionally, Liberal leaders have alternated between Quebec and the rest of Canada, and former strategists agree that Quebec remains crucial to the party’s electoral success. “If a leader lacks bilingualism, they’ll face significant challenges in Quebec, which will ultimately impact the Liberal Party’s overall results,” Aubé added.
As former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney and ex-B.C. premier Christy Clark weigh their bids, the race for the next Liberal leader continues to highlight the centrality of bilingualism in representing a linguistically diverse Canada.