Is Maxime Bernier Canada's Sarah Palin?

There’s a strong backlash to Conservative MP Maxime Bernier’s recent language comments. In an offhand remark to a Halifax radio station Bernier questioned Bill 101 as restricting people’s linguistic freedom and choice.

Amongst the fury of responses Liberal MP Denis Coderre charged that Bernier’s arguments make Sarah Palin look like an intellectual. The online culture was less than polite in their response, resorting to name-calling. Most of the supportive responses came -not surprisingly - from English Canada.

Prime Minister Steven Harper’s distancing response is seen as not enough. Liberal party leader Michael Ignatieff wants a clear denouncement of Bernier’s comments. Talking the Globe and Mail he asked “is t his the real Conservative position being floated out the back door by a convenient spokesperson?”

Enacted in 1977 Bill 101 has been credited with saving the French language. It limits the use of English on commercial signs and controls access to English public schools. It is rarely criticized by politicians. Over the years Bill 101 has become as much a fixture in Quebec as the Canada Health Act and the federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms have countrywide.