Leaders must be bilingual

Prime ministers in Canada, and those who want to be prime minister, have to speak both English and French well. Regardless of whether you are from the predominantly French areas such as Quebec and New Brunswick or Alberta, where French is rarely spoken, being bilingual is not negotiable.

Well, many who see a leadership opening in the Liberal Party are trying to take advantage. However, some of them have not fared as well when trying a language other than their own.

Stephane Dion has struggled in English, while several English-speaking candidates have had troubles with French.

Michael Ignatieff, the "outsider from America" as many have framed him, apparently speaks English and French well, but his French may not be Quebecois French. And since he supports Canada going to war in Iraq, it's doubtful he could truly win the leadership.

Other than most recent Conservatives, Quebec has been the home of numerous prime ministers. Even Conservative Brian Mulroney was from Quebec. Current Prime Minister Stephen Harper is from Alberta, but his French, while not great, is passable.

Canada is a bilingual country, and the Liberals need to win votes from Francophones and Anglophones. It's difficult to fathom that the legacy of Pierre Trudeau, Jean Chretien, and Paul Martin has fallen to "Can anyone here speak English AND French?"