In an interview published by the French newspaper Le Monde on the weekend, Michaëlle Jean said she intends to speak about the importance of Canadian francophones who live outside Quebec when she meets with President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday.

“There are a million of them out there fighting to save their language and their culture,” said Ms. Jean, who is in France to underline the significance of this year’s 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City.

“And I will tell President Sarkozy, ‘Look beyond Quebec,’” she said.

That prompted an angry outburst by Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe, who dismissed Ms. Jean and the monarchy she represents as “ridiculous.”

“I think France should go beyond Michaëlle Jean,” Mr. Duceppe said during Question Period.

“The representative of the Queen repeated that the 400th anniversary celebrated France and Canada,” he said. “Does the Prime Minister realize that we’re talking about the 400th anniversary of Quebec City and of the Quebec nation? Isn’t it the Quebec Nation that we’re celebrating and not a ridiculous monarchy?”

Look, I agree with Gilles the monarchy should be scrapped. And since no one in Canada knows who is actually in the “Quebecois nation“, I guess Gilles’ interpretation that it doesn’t include francophones outside of Quebec isn’t more asinine than any others out there.

But can anyone explain to me what he has his hairnet in a bunch over here? As I read the Globe article I kept expecting some offensive comment to come out but…nada.

The Canadian Head of State is promoting a big event for Quebec City? Sounds good to me. She says the million francophones living outside of Quebec shouldn’t be ignored? Sounds reasonable.

I’m really at a loss to explain what set Gilles off on this one.