We 'chuckled' at Fitch's French, and I'm sorry: Holt

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Liberal Leader Susan Holt has apologized to Health Minister Bruce Fitch for laughing at him misusing a French word in the legislature, and admitted several other members of her party did too.

But the person Fitch accused, MLA Marco LeBlanc, wasn’t one of them, she said – but Fitch doesn’t believe that, and said he “knows what I saw.”

The exchange happened in the legislature on Wednesday.

Recently, Fitch has been trying to speak more French in the House, but used the wrong word for “chair” while speaking about Vitalité Health Network board chair Tom Soucy. The word Fitch used refers to a chair to sit on.

Afterwards, Fitch wrote about what happened on X.

“This AM during (Question Period) I was doing my best to answer a question in French. Liberal MLA Marco LeBlanc laughed at my attempt, disappointed not to be encouraged to speak in my second language especially in the legislature. No (New Brunswicker) should be shamed for trying.”

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Fitch revealed that Holt had contacted him to apologize on behalf of her caucus.

“I appreciate that, it was sincere,” he said. “So in my opinion, the case is closed. (The apology wasn’t made) publicly, in the House, but I’ll just leave it at that.”

Asked whether he may have misidentified LeBlanc, Fitch replied: “I know what I saw, I know what I heard, and that is my belief. No one has talked to me since (the incident) but the leader of the opposition, and I appreciate the apology.”

A contrite Holt, who is bilingual, was the one who revealed that she was one of several Liberals who laughed at Fitch.

“Members of my team and I chuckled at the minister’s use of the word chaise (chair) yesterday. Marco wasn’t one of them,” she said. “But we feel bad about that, because we want to celebrate people who are trying to speak in a second language, and we felt bad for hurting the minister.

“So I went over to apologize on behalf of myself and members of our team.”

Holt said the Liberal caucus had a discussion about “those reactions” on Thursday morning, “and our desire not to discourage people from trying to speak French, and maintaining respectful behaviour in the House.”

Holt admitted that she’s been “in that exact position, where you’re translating the word ‘chair’ and ‘chaise’ comes out.”

“I sort of chuckled at (Fitch’s mispronunciation), and then sort of realized … it’s not a situation to make light of,” she said. “He’s making an effort, and that should be encouraged.”