Dominic Cardy language comments unacceptable, says Yvon Godin

NDP Member of Parliament Yvon Godin has taken a direct shot at a member of his own party, Dominic Cardy.

Godin saidthe provincial NDP leader should have thought twice before he raised the idea of sending anglophone and francophone students to New Brunswick schools on the same buses. He went on to say Cardyshould now retract his statement and apologize.

"It's not a good idea, it's not acceptable and the francophones will not accept it," said Godin, who represents the New Brunswick riding of Acadie-Bathurst.

"We don't believe what Dominic Cardy is saying is right and he should speak to the French community about how they see duality."

Being the only bilingual province in Canada, New Brunswick offers dual services in English and French, such as separate school buses.

"[Cardy] should not touch the issue with a 10-foot pole," said Godin.

On CBC Radio's Information Morning Fredericton with Terry Seguin on Friday, Cardy said bilingual school buses would not violate the rights of francophones.

"[Buses] are not classed as being part of the education day. So when you're in your school bus, you're not at class," Cardy said.

"The reason why it was separated is because it was administratively simpler to do it. These days, there are all sorts of traffic flow systems you could use to easily combine the systems," Cardy said.

According to Godin,Cardy's proposal would divide the province.

"This was a battle that was done a long time ago and was accepted," Godin said. "I don't think it's good for the anglophone and francophone to start the fight again, that's not what we need."

Last week, Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside stirred the pot when he suggestedin a tweet that duality in government departments "makes no sense" and should be reviewed.

Woodside later tweeted that Premier Brian Gallant had responded to him, saying duality will not be on the table for its cost-cutting review.

The provincial government has said duality is a constitutionally protected right and will not be prone to cuts.