(Orta, Ontario KIA A2 FES 14 207 Dear Me. Shea: 1am reaching out to you following my recent vist to Sherbrooke, where I participated in a ‘own hall meeting with ciizens in Janay. Following chat event, many Canadians and organizations such asthe QCGN wrote to me to share their concerns regueding our two official languages and my French responses to English questions First ofall, let me be clear that my personal commitment tothe sights ofthe English language minority community in Quebec and French language minority communities ouside (Quebec is unequivocal Thave stood up my entite ie for ne ingustic minorities acxoss the country, and [will continue to do soas Prime Minister As forthe Sherbrooke town hall, woul like to expres my sincere regrets. Canada isa bilingual county, and as such, I recognize that I should have answered questions in the language they were asked, be it in Quebee or anywhere else in Canada, You can rest assured that Til do so in the future. I understand the importance of the rime Minister of Canada speaking to minority Tanguage communis in their own language. As you may know, I grew up in a house where both languages were commonly used. My smother is English-speaking and my father firmly believed in the importance of bilingualism, the historical importance of out two offal languages, and the richness that resulted from thet coesistence. I share these beliefs and our two offical languages are pare of my cultural hesitage Me, James Shes President Quebec Community Groups Network 400-1819 René-Lévesque O Boulevard Monwéal, Québec HSH 2P5)| want to reiterate my government's commitment to supporting our offical language ‘minority communities. We recognize the importance and role ofthese communities, ke the Quebec [English-speaking commoaity, in out society. Indeed, they are par of ot social contact know thatthe Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Mélanie Joy, has also heard you: As you know, she is curently preparing our government's fist ation plan on offic languages ‘The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie and MP for Compton-Stanstead, is also a great ally. And so ate your English speaking MPs from (Quebec who came to me and stood up for your community: "You can count on them, just as you can count on me and all out Government. Sincerely, —