OTTAWA — Gov. Gen. Mary Simon remains “deeply committed” to learning French, her office said, after releasing updated figures that show she has taken an average of 1.5 hours of French classes per week since her appointment in July 2021.

The Office of the Governor General said Simon has taken “approximately 324 hours” of French classes from two providers, at a cost of $52,415.

The cost was provided to Parliament in response to questions from Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval, who raised the issue in question period on Friday.

Steven Guilbeault, the minister of Canadian identity, responded to Barsalou-Duval’s question by saying Simon should be commended for her efforts to learn French, which he noted is her third language.

Simon, who was born in the Nunavik region of Quebec, speaks

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