Mary Simon should have been considered bilingual even if she didn't speak fluent French | Letters to the editor

Governor General Mary Simon. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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Farewell to GG Mary Simon

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I will miss hearing Mary Simon speak Inuktitut. I was very disappointed in Canadians who criticized the fact that she did not speak French.

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I always thought that instead to criticize her, we should have celebrated the fact that the Inuktitut language has survived and is still very much alive in Canada and that our Governor General speaks it fluently. The importance of the North being more widely recognized than ever by Canadians, it made Mary Simon very much a representative of our times. Sometimes the rule books should be looked at in the broader context. We, French speaking people, are concerned about the survival of our own language, shouldn’t we be more understanding and make room for our Indigenous peoples’ languages? After all, there are 12 official languages in South Africa.

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My simple way of looking at it is: when Canada was founded, the Indigenous people should have been included at the table. They were not; and as a gesture of reconciliation, Mary Simon should have been considered bilingual, because she is.

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I will miss her. I hope the new Governor General will learn some Inuktitut or Cree or use various greetings in various Indigenous languages when she makes speeches.

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Dominique Boucher, Nepean

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24 Sussex is an Ottawa issue, not a Canadian issue

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I read Mary James’ recent Letter to the Editor about the embarrassment all Canadians should be feeling that the PM and family still live on GG property and not at 24 Sussex, clearly decrepit. She then asks what is wrong with “us”?

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The “us” is clearly not all Canadians. Indeed this is really another Ottawa-centric issue with extremely poor governance and accountability, that most of the country could care less about.

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Top of the list is the NCC. Make them accountable. How many jobs and budget were shed there in last years budget? No reason the GG and PM can’t both be on GG property and sell 24 Sussex property to an embassy.

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Steven Poole, Orléans

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Sandy Hillers are thrilled to have Dinette Atomique

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Your food editor, Peter Hum, brings a refreshing perspective to the Ottawa food scene, even daring to cross the river to check out the offerings in Gatineau.

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Mr. Hum recently reviewed Dinette Atomique in Sandy Hill. Coincidentally, I went there the following day with a few friends, having made the reservation a week before. Our family style served dinner was absolutely delicious. It actually reminded me of a meal I had in Montreal at the Violin, another neighbourhood restaurant that is a little fancier.

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I feel that the Citizen review did not do Dinette Atomique justice. This is a restaurant that Sandy Hillers are thrilled to have — great food, good value and friendly staff. Any neighbourhood in Ottawa would be lucky to have an establishment like this, and it is worth the trip regardless of where one lives. I was therefore disappointed in the review that did not reflect my very positive experience. I suspect I am not the only one writing to ask Mr. Hum to return and reconsider his assessment of the establishment.

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Elizabeth Grace, Ottawa

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