Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Federal Experience

Opposition Parties Dept: The Conservative government says Ferguson's selection was based on merit and that he has committed to learning French, even though last year's posting for the $322,900-ayear job said: "proficiency in both official languages is essential.", according to Montreal Gazette. Interim Liberal leader Bob Rae said Prime Minister Stephen Harper notified opposition parties of his decision to nominate Ferguson in a letter dated Aug. 31, 2011, but did not inform them that Ferguson was unilingual. Rae said it's "ludicrous" to believe the government could not find a competent, qualified candidate who is also bilingual and the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Qu b cois are all opposing the Harper government's nomination of Michael Ferguson as Canada's next auditor general because he doesn't speak French. The Liberals on Wednesday joined the NDP and Bloc in saying they can't support Ferguson - a former auditor general in New Brunswick - as Canada's top spending watchdog because he lacks federal experience and doesn't meet the job requirement of being proficient in both English and French. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.