Pam Lynch read this statement this morning in the New Brunswick Legislature!!!
Mr. Speaker,
I am absolutely disgusted that we are now into December and Commissionaire Wayne Grant is still working outdoors. This is disgraceful. It was the Gallant government that changed the rules at the Centennial Building that put Mr. Grant outside. It is only the Gallant government that can return Mr. Grant to his former status by changing the rules back. And that is exactly what the Gallant government must do. Further, they must apologize to Mr. Grant and compensate him for the financial hardship that he suffered. Anything less will be unacceptable to all who believe in the principles of justice, fairness, and compassion.
I might add Pam Lynch letter to the Editor was denied by the Irving media -
Charles,
This is my Commentary that was submitted to the Daily Gleaner on November 8th, however, they chose not to print it. You will find it in this month's Grand Lake Mirror. I want my Constituents to know that I did not agree with the way this was handled by the Language Commissioner in any way.
Government without fairness and compassion
Watching the language commissioner’s news conference on Friday November 6th ignited my feelings of apprehension and frustration.
My constituents tell me they see Wayne Grant, a 64-year old man working for low wages, being bullied by a very highly paid bureaucrat. Worse, they see the specter of heavy-handed language police running rough-shod over the people; much like they do in Quebec. One can understand these sentiments.
No-one can convince me that this is the New Brunswick envisioned by Premiers Richard Hatfield, Louis Robichaud and all those who have worked to bring equality, understanding and harmony to our two linguistic communities. We are going in the wrong direction.
While the language commissioner has become the lightning rod for this issue, the Gallant government cannot be held blameless. Because it is the Gallant government that changed the rules so that commissioner Wayne Grant cannot return to his previous post inside the Centennial building. It is the Gallant government that sentenced this man, so close to retirement, to sit outside in the cold, rain and snow; if he wishes to continue working in downtown Fredericton, as he has for so many years.
You will note that Premier Gallant has tried to distance himself from the language commissioner. As premier of our province, it is time for him to stop dodging the issue and, in the name of fairness, to show some leadership.
Gallant’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure is also complicit, because it was his department that reacted in a panic when the language commissioner served notice that she was launching an investigation. It was his department that changed the rules for the Centennial Building that threw Mr. Grant’s life into chaos, without ever being granted the opportunity to face his accuser or having the benefit of due process. In fairness to the civil servants who likely made these choices, it appears they were led to believe by the language commissioner that a third party had laid the complaint. This apparently deceptive action has not found its way to the center of the discussion, but it will in time.
It was the Gallant government that changed the rules that put Mr. Grant outside. It is only the Gallant government that can return Mr. Grant to his former status by changing the rules back. And that is exactly what they must do. Further, they must apologize to Mr. Grant and compensate him for the financial hardship that he suffered. Anything less will be unacceptable to all who believe in the principles of justice, fairness, and compassion.
What I found most troubling about the language commissioner’s press conference was her utter lack of empathy for Mr. Grant. When the language commissioner was asked by the media what she would say to Mr. Grant if she saw him, she had the opportunity to say that she felt sorry for how her actions had impacted his life. She had the opportunity to show some compassion. Instead, her cheeky response was cold and callous, thereby telling us all we need to know to judge her actions. She replied “I would say hello, bonjour.” to the chuckles of the media.
In the matter of language commissioner Katherine D’Entremont , perhaps it is time we all said “GOODBYE, AU REVOIR “
