Mr. Queija does right by withdrawing his candidacy to TFO's board: NDP

KAPUSKASING - MPP Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk-James Bay), NDP Official Opposition Critic for Francophone Affairs, issued the following statement after the decision by Mr. Barak Queija to withdraw his candidacy for the post of vice-president of the Ontario French-language Educational Communications Authority (TFO):

“Queija made the right decision to step down as a candidate for the TFO board of directors," said Bourgouin.

"What concerns me and worries me is the fact that the Minister of Education had offered a position of high importance for the future of French-language education in Ontario to a person without any qualifications in the field and with direct links to the Conservative Party and the Minister of Francophone Affairs."

During his appearance before the Standing Committee on Government Agencies on February 16, Queija admitted that he was approached directly by the Ministry of Education for this position and to having financially contributed more than $2,000 to the Conservative Party of Ontario, including over $1,000 for the leadership campaign of the current Minister of Francophone Affairs, Caroline Mulroney. Queija also failed to answer questions from NDP MPPs regarding his knowledge of the issues facing Ontario’s Francophones.

"I believe that Mr. Ford, Mr. Lecce and Ms. Mulroney owe an explanation and an apology to the Franco-Ontarian community," said Bourgouin.