Tim Hudak has walked away from francophones in Ontario but this isn’t anything new to the PC Party.

Earlier this month, Hudak said that he would look to cut French language services to achieve his savings target and help fill the $14 billion hole in his platform.

But this shouldn’t be a surprise. After all, This is the same man who, shortly after winning the leadership of his party, admitted that his French was “very poor,” but he would make an effort to improve: “Certainly, that’s on my list of priorities.” (Guelph Mercury, July 3, 2009)

It’s been so much of a priority, that in August of this year – two years after saying it was a priority, - Hudak couldn’t answer a question put to him in French. Once again, he promised to “make every effort to improve...if I have the opportunity in the time ahead.” (Ottawa Citizen, September 9, 2011)

Meanwhile, the PC website isn’t offered in French and they won’t release their ads in French, claiming “they cost too much for the voters they reach” (Radio-Canada, August 24, 2011).

Hudak’s record has scared Trèva Cousineau, who used to be President of the Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario (ACFO), and someone who as recently as June 2011 was interested in running as a PC candidate. Cousineau now thinks that « [Le PPC] ne semble pas s'intéresser aux préoccupations des francophones. Rien n'a été fait pour offrir un site Web en français, pour corriger la piètre qualité de traduction de la plateforme électorale. Déjà que les francophones disposent de peu au palier provincial, les quelques candidats francophones du PPC seront-ils assez forts pour insister auprès de leur chef pour le maintien de ce qu'on a ? J'en doute » ( Le Droit, le 10 septembre, 2011).

Internet site reference: http://hazardoushudak.ca/09202011p.aspx