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Embassy sorry for controversial Canada Day invite
Updated Wed. Jul. 2 2008 10:19 PM ET
The Canadian Press
MONTREAL -- The Canadian embassy in Washington is apologizing after it sent out a Canada Day invitation which showed Samuel de Champlain, the founder of Quebec City, holding a plate of poutine.
Jean-Paul Perreault, the president of Imperatif francais, a group that defends and promotes the French language, called the embassy's behaviour "contemptuous and unacceptable."
"It's ridiculous, it's a.....lack of respect towards the Canadian identity which proudly includes French-speaking communities," he said in an interview Wednesday.
Poutine is a popular Quebec dish that consists of french fries topped with fresh cheese curds and covered with brown gravy.
"If it was a joke, it was a joke in bad taste which we can't allow as part of the activities of a (Canadian) embassy," he added.
Perreault said several citizens also complained to Imperatif francais about the invitation.
The Canada Day invitation was placed on the embassy's website and about 2,000 people showed up for the July 1 party in the U.S. capital.
Perreault pointed out that this year marks the 400th anniversary of the July 3 founding of Quebec City by Champlain.
The event will be celebrated Thursday with various events in the provincial capital.
Tristan Landry, a spokesman for the Canadian embassy, says the online invite was eventually changed and the plate of poutine was removed from Champlain's right hand.
"It was obviously not intended to offend anybody and we apologize if it offended anyone," he told The Canadian Press.
Landry also said changes would be made internally to the process when invitations are sent out.
Perreault wants Prime Minister Stephen Harper to offer "sincere" apologies nationally and internationally because the invitation appeared on the Internet.
"The way the Canadian government, through its embassy, treats the francophone aspect of Canadian identity has been seen internationally," he said.
Perreault also said Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson and the ambassador in Washington should resign.
"There should also be disciplinary measures towards the employees who created an unacceptable and ridiculous situation on the website," he added.
Landry would not comment when asked if any disciplinary measures are being considered.
Perreault also complained that the invitation was sent out on the Internet only in English.
But the embassy spokesman said it was emailed both in English and in French.
"We do have a French version and the people who wanted it in French got it in French," Landry said.
The invitations were shipped out by the embassy on what's called Connect2Canada, a network which sends out email notices on a range
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories
Updated Wed. Jul. 2 2008 10:19 PM ET
The Canadian Press
MONTREAL -- The Canadian embassy in Washington is apologizing after it sent out a Canada Day invitation which showed Samuel de Champlain, the founder of Quebec City, holding a plate of poutine.
Jean-Paul Perreault, the president of Imperatif francais, a group that defends and promotes the French language, called the embassy's behaviour "contemptuous and unacceptable."
"It's ridiculous, it's a.....lack of respect towards the Canadian identity which proudly includes French-speaking communities," he said in an interview Wednesday.
Poutine is a popular Quebec dish that consists of french fries topped with fresh cheese curds and covered with brown gravy.
"If it was a joke, it was a joke in bad taste which we can't allow as part of the activities of a (Canadian) embassy," he added.
Perreault said several citizens also complained to Imperatif francais about the invitation.
The Canada Day invitation was placed on the embassy's website and about 2,000 people showed up for the July 1 party in the U.S. capital.
Perreault pointed out that this year marks the 400th anniversary of the July 3 founding of Quebec City by Champlain.
The event will be celebrated Thursday with various events in the provincial capital.
Tristan Landry, a spokesman for the Canadian embassy, says the online invite was eventually changed and the plate of poutine was removed from Champlain's right hand.
"It was obviously not intended to offend anybody and we apologize if it offended anyone," he told The Canadian Press.
Landry also said changes would be made internally to the process when invitations are sent out.
Perreault wants Prime Minister Stephen Harper to offer "sincere" apologies nationally and internationally because the invitation appeared on the Internet.
"The way the Canadian government, through its embassy, treats the francophone aspect of Canadian identity has been seen internationally," he said.
Perreault also said Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson and the ambassador in Washington should resign.
"There should also be disciplinary measures towards the employees who created an unacceptable and ridiculous situation on the website," he added.
Landry would not comment when asked if any disciplinary measures are being considered.
Perreault also complained that the invitation was sent out on the Internet only in English.
But the embassy spokesman said it was emailed both in English and in French.
"We do have a French version and the people who wanted it in French got it in French," Landry said.
The invitations were shipped out by the embassy on what's called Connect2Canada, a network which sends out email notices on a range
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories
