Liberals apologize after 'chuckling' over health minister's mistaken French

New Brunswick's health minister got an apology Thursday from Opposition Liberal Leader Susan Holt and other party MLAs who acknowledged that they "chuckled" at his mangled French a day earlier.

Bruce Fitch has been speaking more and more French recently as he prepares to retire after 21 years as the MLA for Riverview.

Liberals have spent the last six years complaining that the Higgs government often neglects its bilingualism obligations and doesn't have enough ministers who can communicate in French.

So the apparent mockery of Fitch's good-faith attempt on Wednesday struck a nerve.

"It's important for everyone within New Brunswick to try, and we need that support to do it," Fitch said.

He said Holt approached him at the start of Thursday's sitting day to apologize.

"I appreciate that, it was sincere, so in my opinion, the case is closed."

WATCH | 'It's important for everyone in New Brunswick to try':

Fitch was fielding a question posed by the Liberals in French during Question Period on Wednesday when he began his answer in French.

He referred to the chair of the Vitalité health authority board as the chaise — the French word for a chair you sit in. Someone who chairs or presides over a board is referred to as a président.

Fitch stopped speaking mid-sentence to address Restigouche-Chaleur Liberal MLA Marco LeBlanc across the aisle.

"Well, Marco, thanks for your support. I appreciate that," he said sarcastically.

'I wasn't laughing at him'

He later told reporters LeBlanc had laughed at his French, something the rookie Liberal denied.

"I'd never laugh at anyone trying to speak a second language," LeBlanc said, through he couldn't explain what he was doing or saying when Fitch reacted.

"A lot was going on in the chamber. What was happening when he accused me — I wasn't laughing at him. I can't say exactly what I was doing, but I can guarantee you one thing. I wasn't laughing at him."

Holt acknowledged Thursday that she, in fact, was among several Liberals who chuckled at the mistake, though she said LeBlanc was not among them.

She also said she instantly regretted it, having made the same error herself in the past.

"I've been in that exact position where you're translating the word chair in your head and chaise comes out, so I chuckled at it, then realized, 'Ah, it's not a situation to make light of.' He's making an effort and it should be encouraged."

Fitch said there was no doubt in his mind he was being mocked by someone.

"Definitely. I know what I saw. I know what I heard. That is my belief."

Liberal Marco LeBlanc denied he'd laughed at Fitch, saying he'd 'never laugh at anyone trying to speak a second language.' (Sam Farley/CBC)

Holt told reporters she "had a conversation" with her caucus Thursday about the need to be respectful and to not discourage anyone trying to express themselves in a second language.

As for Fitch, he conducted his Thursday scrum with reporters in both languages, frequently hopping back and forth between English and French.

He laughed when reporters asked about his sudden enthusiasm for French in the final months of his long political career.

"I guess in my old age I'm a little freer, less inhibited," he joked.

He did not rule out running as a federal candidate in Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, a riding with many more francophone voters than his current provincial constituency.

But he said it was more the result of an acquaintance from Shediac encouraging him to make the effort without fear of mistakes.

"I had a friend who said —j'avais un ami qui a dit — 'Parlez en français, worry pas, go for it.'"