OTTAWA, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The man proposed as Canada's next auditor general is unqualified because he doesn't speak French, the opposition New Democratic Party and Bloc Quebecois said.
The federal government's own career posting says the $322,900-a-year government auditor position requires "proficiency in both official languages is essential," the parties and the Liberal Party of Canada said.
Michael Ferguson, New Brunswick's deputy finance minister, was nominated by Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper for the role last week.
Harper's government says Ferguson -- who was to testify before a House of Commons committee Monday and before the entire House Tuesday -- is learning French and is committed to becoming bilingual.
Graham Fraser, the federal government's commissioner of official languages, told Postmedia Network Canada Corp. he wouldn't comment specifically on Ferguson's case, but said mastery of English and French was "a key leadership competency'' for senior government officials.
