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Will Francphone Culture Be The Deciding Factor In St. B?

Author: Lauralee Gooding (Non-Partisan)

18 Sep

This morning I amassed all the election flyers that have come in the mail and noticed something odd about the Conservative flyer.

St. Boniface is traditionally Francophone. The last two Liberal MPs have both been francophone. Raymond Simard is currently the Liberal incumbent. On a provincial level, the current MLA Greg Selinger is anglophone. However he married a francophone who taught him french and is raising his children francophone. His accent is horrible but he puts in the effort which endears him to the francophone community. So with that in mind, you’d think the Conservatives and the NDP would choose candidates that can at least speak French.

The NDP has, in a way. Matt Schaubreck went through French Immersion. Admittedly, I haven’t received a flyer from the NDP yet, but I went to school with him. Shelley Glover of the Conservatives appears to be an anglophone. The flyer that was dropped in my mailbox(BEFORE the election was called!) doesn’t mention whether or not she speaks French, but makes a big thing of her work the Winnipeg Police Service.

Francophones will always want someone who understands their need to preserve their language and culture, and many will vote based on the candidates langue maternelle. If the Conservatives really wanted to win St. Boniface, they would have put an obvious francophone in the race.

Filed under: Culture, Lauralee Gooding (Non-Partisan), Manitoba, Prairies, Voter Decision Making

6 Responses for "Will Francphone Culture Be The Deciding Factor In St. B?"

Bob September 18th, 2008 at 8:35 am 1
I thought all Canadians were allowed to run for office. I don’t know how many francophones live in St. Boniface. It’s their choice for whom they wish to vote. If the Conservatives wish to run a unilingual English speaking candidate, that is their choice. No Canadian should be disqualified from running in St. Boniface.
Martin Hamel (Non-Partisan) September 21st, 2008 at 7:05 am 2
Lauralee,
I wonder if you may be drawing conclusions a little fast. The conservative candidate, Glover, is an anglophone but she went to French school and has supposedly tied links with the francophone community. As you said, an anglophone who learned French is the incombent at the provincial level…

Of course, a massive francophone support can tip a candidate to victory in St-Boniface, but one could still win without having a majority support from francophone voters. Keep in mind that the francophone population has dropped to less than 17% in that federal riding.

I sure hope the voice of francophones continues to be heard and represented in St-Boniface, and I am glad to see that all parties have put forward a candidate that speaks French. But as far as having an “obvious francophone” as a condition to be a serious contender, I’m not that sure. One can argue that appealing to the 83% anglos is more important than to the 17% francos to win.
Dave Burns September 21st, 2008 at 5:24 pm 3
Actually I think Shelley Glover is Metis and speaks primarilly French at home.
Scott McFadyen September 24th, 2008 at 7:17 am 4
The Conservative candidate Shelley Glover is Metis and speaks French.
Jeff Bridges September 30th, 2008 at 4:03 am 5
Shelly Glover purports to be a family woman. She fails to tell the public that she had an affair with the Former Chief Jack Ewatski
Louise Fontaine. October 5th, 2008 at 4:59 am 6
Glover is in the election for herself. She lacks education, and a mother of five is not a qualification to be an MP. Tough on crime is not going to solve our problems. Kids under 16 will love to have their names in the paper or on databases if they are convicted for serious crimes. My vote is for Simard. Glove is not well liked is what I hear.

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