Rona Ambrose's French-language skills defended by Quebec MP

One of the Conservative Party's fresh faces in Quebec is coming to the defence of new interim party leader Rona Ambrose.

Ambrose spoke stilted French and eventually switched to English on Thursday, in her first meeting with reporters since being chosen for the position.

"Well, first of all,I have to tell you I had a personal chat with Madame Ambrose and on a personal level, one-on-one, she is good in French," Grard Deltell, a former television broadcaster and provincial MNA, told CBC Montreal's Daybreak on Friday.

"But when you have to talk to people, when you have to talk publicly it is quite difficult."

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Regardless of Ambrose's languageabilities,Deltell said Quebecwill be well represented within the party.

The Conservatives gained seats in the province the Oct. 19 election, holding onto its base of five ridings and adding seven more.

"There are 12 members of parliament from Quebec so there is plenty of talent in our caucus," said Deltell,who wontheQuebec City riding ofLouisSaint-Laurent.

Asked whether he could be tapped as the party's Quebec spokesperson, Deltell said it was too soon to say and that the decision is up to Ambrose.