Canada: No Longer a Democratic Country that Respects Basic Human Rights? by Don Smith

Supreme Court of Canada will NOT hear Galganov / Brisson Forced Bilingual Sign Appeal – Breaking

The Supreme Court of Canada (the court of last resort)

CFN – Human rights champion Howard Galganov reports that today he received the much-anticipated e-mail concerning his petition made to the Supreme Court.  The court of last resort was being asked to overturn a decision made by a Superior Court judge that allows muncipalities to over-ride the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Previously an Ontario Superior Court judge ruled that Russell Township violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but that doing so was acceptable.  By a very slim majoriy, the township passed a bylaw which demands that all new exterior commercial signage be in English and French, not one or the other and no provision for other languages.  Russell was the fourth Eastern Ontario township to do so.

Today the Township of Russell posted the following Press Statement on their website:

“In light of the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in regards to the leave of appeal from Galganov / Brisson versus Russell in the matter related to the Bilingual Sign Bylaw, we are extremely pleased that the plaintiffs were denied the hearing” said Mr. Jean Paul St-Pierre, Mayor for the Township of Russell. “It finally brings closure to the legal proceedings that were, in all instances, decided in favor of the Municipality by the court. The Court reiterates the fact that the Township was in its legal rights to adopt such bylaw and that Mr. Howard Galganov, a non-resident of the municipality, was in no position to contest the bylaw. We now can move forward for the benefit of our communities” concluded Mayor St.Pierre.”

How ironic that some Franco businesses and municipal agencies choose not to adhere to the bylaw.  The municipal Fire Hall in Embrun boasts a unilingual sign which reads:  “Poste de Pompiers”.

Russell Township imposes bilingual sign requirements on private businesses, yet displays French only signs on Township buildings like this one.

And, as we reported recently, the Francophone cultural/entertainment centre recently replaced its sign with a high tech version, but still in French only.  An employee of La Maison des Arts told us that they were zoned differently (institutional/non-profit), then said that it’s because they provide French education.  Apparently the centre previously had posted a small sign which explained that rationale. A member of the local community informed us that La Maison des Arts provides day care service for the French Catholic School across the street; would one not think that to be considered a business venture?

Pierre Leroux ran for and became a Russell Councillor two years ago; he told CFN that it’s widely known that one of his motivating forces in running for Council was the fact that he didn’t feel it right the way that bilingualism was forced upon local businesses.  As for today’s Supreme Court announcement, as a member of Council he’s happy that the Township will not have to pay for an expensive legal battle (which he feels could have been avoided), but as a person he feels that the decision is wrong.

Here are the old and new versions of the hard-to-miss, La Maison des Arts outdoor sign. Staff claim to be exempt from the Russell Township bylaw because they provide French education.

So, what about everyone else?  People are asking ‘What’s the problem with being fair and allowing everyone a similar degree of freedom of expression?’  That’s a great question!

In our short clip, viewers can plainly see that the animated sign is unilingual and hear for themselves the explanation we received from a staff member of the arts centre.

Galganov was among the presenters at the recent annual Christmas Luncheon hosted by Canadians for Language Fairness at an Ottawa area restaurant.  At the gathering, Galganov told the crowd:

 If the Supreme Court decides that they’re not going to hear the case, then it becomes the law of Canada.  Any municipality can legislate, not just on issues of language and culture, but on any of the guarantees in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  The Charter is essentially a Charter of Suggestions.  Any time a judge or group of judges of one mindset or the other can decide what is to be protected and what is not to be protected it means we have no guarantees.  Freedom of Expression is the foremost guarantee we have in any free society.”

In our highlight video clip (unedited footage provided by Danno Saunt) each of the key presenters at the CLF Luncheon (Beth Trudeau, Howard Galganov, Nick Vandergragt, Brian Lilley, Ron Barr and Jack MacLaren) shares an update on their involvement in the ongoing struggle to preserve basic human rights here in Canada.


It is anticipated that Galganov as well as Language Fairness for All and Canadians for Language Fairness will step up their efforts locally and nationally.

Part of an attractive new brochure being distributed to small town Ontario business

Don Smith reports on a variety of topics, notably good news items as well as social justice issues.

1,230 Comments

  1. No one should be surprised that a bilingual sign law doesn’t necessarily violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  Businesses have had to have bilingual packaging for decades. Now we know the Russell bylaw doesn’t violate the Charter.  But big deal!  The real problem with bilingualism is how it is applied to hiring practices.  It’ll be ironic if 440 municipalities in Ontario now amend their by-laws to support the Charter because the Charter actually allows bilingual signs.  Looks like this issue is dead.  Let’s deal with unfair hiring practices!

  2. This is a black letter day for Canada. Depending on how racist francophones react and how municipalities react to them, English could be a threatened language despite being spoken by 85% of the people. Apartheid rules in Canada. I weep for our democracy.

  3. this is a very confused idea.. it is not ‘fighting” for anyone`s rights to freedom of expression .. It is denying another`s right to protected respectful use of both official languages.to not judge one language or rights over another`s language or rights.. i agree 100 percent with our Supreme Court. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is a sign of..a deck of cards short of an ace… Pay back to the taxpayer what you owe,.. …and leave communities in peace and quiet..

  4. Canada: No Longer a Democratic Country that Respects Basic Human Rights. The mistake you made is that you put a question mark after that comment. Harper better fix this little problem.

  5. Do the justices have to give a reason for not hearing the case?

    If they do give a reason for not hearing the case what is it?

    This battle may be lost, but the war is not lost by a long shot, remember 27 million strong, we can make a lot happen

    Jim Quealey

    Mississauga

  6. Fire up the BBQ……thinking donations will be needed. Hmmm sorta, kinda quiet here tonight!!!

    John with all due respect when it comes to jobs, there are only so many jobs to go around especially in a city of 46,000. In larger cities with all the cutbacks, people face the same thing. Blaming language is a cop out.

  7. If they don’t give a reason it means their fine with the reasons provided by the Court of Appeal. And if they award costs against you it means they think you were wasting everyone’s time.

  8. Gee, I wonder if Russell council will ever be voted out? 🙂

    I believe that if the Supreme Court of Canada HAD heard the appeal against Russell and HAD agree the Russell by-law was wrong then they would be speaking FOR the Charter and therefore they would be compromising Quebec’s French only laws.

    That was my ‘aha’ moment for the day. Kind of like a pig in a poke on this one.

    Does this then mean that each and every community can require ENGLISH only if they so choose? What a dysfunctional province would that cause……..especially if they now had the new RIGHT not to provide alternate language municipal documentations either as the Charter of Rights is now officially the Charter of Suggestions as Don quoted in Galganov’s rebuttle.

    And here it goes. What narrow-mindedness what favoritism plain and simple.

    Time for a vote.

  9. Thinking they hit the nail right on the head when they said the g was a non resident and was in no position to contest. Thinking SG in an indirect way was saying the same thing……not his business. I hope many more municipalities follow suit. It’s total nonsense to be fighting over the language on signs. Good God……get a life!!!! To be asking for provisions for other languages is even more ridiculous.

    If Pierre Leroux felt it was wrong, as an elected official, did he fight it?

  10. Democracy is DEAD.

    When the rights of the few trump the rights of the many.

    The socialist state we have now decides for the business owners what language goes on their signs .

    The Charter IS NOT WORTH THE PAPER IT IS WRITTEN ON:
    for its been violated more then a hooker to protect the interest of one cultural group at the cost of the 200 others.

    Sad day I am not a proud Canadian ,for our Judiciary system in this decision does not allow the choice the 200 other languages to be put on those business signs .

    Welcome Socialism folks -State sanctioned languages only allowed ,
    we are such a backward country,taking rights away.

  11. So where is this so-called bilingual signage?

    I see that Freedom of Expression is okay for some (see above) in issues of French language educational instruction but not for displays of English only signage?

    Like I said before fellow Canadians, you’d better do something about this now or forever bow down on your knees. The issue is clear and the choice is even clearer.

  12. Judges should only be allowed to uphold laws not to create them,not their business,sad black day for Canada….so ashamed of our Judges for not protecting the charter of rights & freedoms, this brings in more problems ,but the majority can only blame themselves for not speaking up……Silence meant acceptance & that they don,t mind at all ….the calluses on their knees or footprints on their back

  13. I have been questioning my Canadian identity & feeling rather discouraged. Now with this ruling I am no longer questioning my identity my answer is clear.

    I am no longer proud to be a Canadian. Democracy is DEAD!!!!

    I hope & pray Howard & Jean Serge will continue this battle or God help us, our children & our grandchildren…

    What is the next step?

    I will continue to fight for Freedom of Expression, will you???

    Silence=Consent

  14. Concerned Citizen 2, Highlander, Edudyorlik etc.

    Perhaps the only way the other side can understand this issue is if our very fair and courageous moderator were to ‘silence’ their Freedom of Expression’ by not posting their comments!

    As we already know and feel how it is to have ‘OUR’ Freedom of Expression’ silenced through laws such as Bill 101 and now the Russel Court rulings.

    They will get No Merry Christmas directed to them from me.

  15. Any group or gathering that thinks IT is above the legal minds of Canada or the laws of Canada is severely disjointed. and persisting is only going to weaken your ” cause” more..

  16. Democracy is dead…..I haven’t stopped crying since yesterday. Terrible!!! I was praying that we could use the language of our choice on signs……my dreams have become a nightmare **s**

    This is all so ridiculous!!! Yep…no complaints from this gang on the wasted tax dollars to fight Russell? Had the g and his crew won an appeal and this went on for another 5 years, this group of radical activist and followers would have thought that was great with total disregard for our tax dollars. Go figure!!!

    Yep it comes to fight the french….there is no limit to the madness.

  17. To people who believe that Canada is the greatest democracy in the world:

    Do you still feel that way, when a decision like yesterday’s comes down.

    Canada’a democracy PERMITS RACIST AND DISCRIMINATORY LAWS TO BE UP HELD

    Bill 101, the russell township by law are examples that have and will affect milions of canadians negatively.

    When a charter CLAIMING it goes to freedom of choice, but is interpreted as freedom of choice for one linguastic group, resulting in the majority of canadians loosing their right to choose, then no, this is far from the greatest democracy in the world.

    I used to proud to be a Canadian. I lost that pride a long, long time ago, when the English of quebec, were left out in the cold
    and abandoned.

    Now its come here. The people MUST ACT, demonstrations, boycotts and serious political pressure must now be put on politicans.

    A New political Party must be formed to represent ONLY ENGLISH INTERESTS IN CANADA . If the bloc could do it, certainlty we can.

    That is how change must happen here.
    We should take a page from the french and use what they did to further their cause.

    They had strong, UNIFIED grass roots support. They made a hell of a lot of noise, and they didn’t give a damm about political correctness.

    They formed their own separatist party in Ottawa and change took place.

    With a majority of the population on our side this is more than within our grasp.
    It takes leadership and justifable anger to act as the catylist to kick start these actions.

    The one thing I know-if we don’t do this ourselves , no one else will. The rank and file, who support our cause must now, more than ever, begin to put the peices in place.

    It may take years , but as I stated many, many times, our English canadian heritage values and most importantly our rights as FREE citizens within this so-called democracy are at stake.

    I for, one, will fight to the grave for these rights.

    Jim Quealey

    Mississauga

  18. Surprised, no, disappointed yes.
    With hundreds of groups receiving taxpayer dollars to fund individual causes to the same goal, what should we expect? A couple of weekends ago http://www.jereveottawa.ca/ had additional consultations towards making the City of Ottawa bilingual, LaPresse, CBOFT and others are full of stories listing Francophone groups organizing and planning and working one law then another to get the domino’s in a row.

    The English press keeps quiet for the most part. If you are quiet, what can you expect?
    Until it affects people personally, we do not complain to the people who can make change happen.

    We have not seen much about Ontario immigration changes, Justice changes or even how the Federal and Ontario’s language commissioners have a memo of understanding to help each other out, increase French beyond what is needed and to be friends. With over 340 million dollars from Heritage Canada and who knows how much from the language commissions etc, you need friends to help spend it all!

  19. @mariah
    It seems we lay-people understand the law better than Supreme Court Judges. You are so right, Judges are SUPPOSED to uphold the law, not change or oppose it, but that too is being violated.
    How can a judge rule against The Charter? Needs a judge to explain that one. I wonder if some judges approve decriminalising marijuana

    @concerned citizen 2
    Well said. It is not only a sad day for democracy. It’s unbelievable
    that The Supreme Court would dismiss an appeal concerning The Charter of Right and Freedoms. Furthermore it’s disgraceful that
    they pile on the pain by charging Galganov with costs for Russell.
    Someone needs to offer an explanation for this Judgement, moreover, the SC Judges should explain the reasoning.
    Freedom fighters are with you all the way cc2.

    @Stella,
    You are one sick (and I’ll show some respect by calling you a) lady.
    Your BBQ comment shows you really have no style or class.

    @MacDonald
    No comment, YOU’RE just not worth wasting time on.

    @bella b
    Stella will say she isn’t interested in what Quebec does; that’s her cop-out. Stella is only interested in repeating Quebecs distinct society rules right across Canada so that she can get a job anywhere because she is French.

  20. Good points Jim Quealey, we don’t even need to waste time creating a flag, the Ontario Red Ensign would do. Next item?

  21. Denying a voice to any Canadian that objects to your one sided arguments C. How is that freedom of expression??

  22. Supreme Court just apponted a fully bilingual judge and 2 more coming it sort of means that the Anglophone was the most prominent seat of power in the Supreme Court.. Thank intelligence that they are far more fair than one sided arguments. 150,000 dollars to be paid back for this cockamamie idea ! if they persist in other arenas without success punitive damages should follow also…but of course the Charter of Rights gives you such a right to continue this cockamamie idea.. stop bashing the Charter! without it you would be in a worse situation..

  23. c`est drole, what is one sided about a business owner being ALLOWED to put up what ever sign he or she wants?

    And please, tell us how much worse of a situation English only speakers would be in without the Charter?

  24. It is absolutely mind boggling that the concensus from people such as stella conclude that this is an English/French issue.
    What part of Freedoms do they not understand?
    There have been so many posts over the last several months where the arguement is dragged into an anti-french tirade.
    THE ISSUE IS FREEDOM and the sooner you can shake your head and eliminate the emotion of your continued diatribe that we are all anti-french, then the sooner we can come to a fair resolution on the maintenance of our basic FREEDOMS no matter what language you speak!
    By ignoring the real issue that all of our freedoms are under attack the easier it is for these fundamental rights to be taken away.
    Stella and your ilk should be working with us to ensure our democracy instead of turning a blind eye and thinking that you are somehow victorious in this terrible decision.
    We all lost on this one, stella.

  25. Stella loves her country and what it stands for: PEACE!!

    Troublemakers who take piddly issues, that mean nothing to the majority of Canadians and use these issues to try and separate a country is not conducive to a peaceful country. Dictators and radical activist who are powerless and think they can control is a turn off for many.

    If this issue had any merit, it would get the respect it deserves. Because it is infantile, vindictive and a control thing it will never get recognized by the majority. SO……when it gets to this point and there is nothing of value left to say…..one goes along with the nonsense…..capish? Joyeux Noel!!!!

  26. Eric and those of your “ilk” Jurgen ask the Supreme Court of Canada about your ideas… and if history is an indicator of future actions then there is absolutely no denying what this small group is about.. publish the 2 pamphlets here for all to see and decide for themselves (you know the one Jurgen, you are part of the same message) let the general public decide what “How to wipe out the Franco-Ontarian language and culture” means..CFRA even gave you the heave-ho a few months ago !! they know a veiled anti french message when they hear it.. Canada has its problems but you and your little group add to them..if this continues pay up …the taxpayers are owed a bundle…

  27. Canada is a country that respects its minorities. How fitting it is that the three judges that dealt with this case are anglophones (mother tongue). In fact, two of them are unilingual anglophones. The vast majority of Canadians will support this decision because it is a typically Canadian decision. Canada is the greatest country!

  28. ON December 7, 2012 at 9:37 am Eric wrote, “A couple of weekends ago http://www.jereveottawa.ca/ had additional consultations towards making the City of Ottawa bilingual, LaPresse, CBOFT and others are full of stories listing Francophone groups organizing and planning and working one law then another to get the domino’s in a row.”

    They are doing all this planning in plain view and we are either
    A – not catching it as it’s in the French press
    or B)
    catching it and ignoring it which can and will no doubt lead to serious negative consequences I recommend that everyone have a look at this web site and the video’s on it. It’s pretty clear what they’re after.

    They are basically spelling it out in (pardon the bad pun) plain French.
    What the heck do you think “I Dream of Ottawa” is supposed to mean other than the obvious?

    C’mon folks… The warning bells are ringing. We CANNOT ALLOW Ottawa to become officially bilingual. It’s bad enough now. These things are easier to stop now than to try and change them later.

    GREAT POST btw Eric.
    Keep up the good work finding this stuff in the media and exposing it to others.

  29. Jurgen honey…….give your head a shake!!! It is english versus French….it has always been. Have you not seen the original pamphlets? Well those phamphlets were recently changed as said by one of their members. Now Jurgen…….why do you think it was changed? Oh OK….I knew you would get it.

    Drole has been asking for weeks now that this gang show their pamphlet on this site. Guess what? Never happened. Perhaps they may when some of the language gets changed again. Why don’t you think they would post the pamphlet? Oh OK…..I knew you would get it.

    Now Jurgen……you and your ilk keep bringing up FREEDOM……hmmm interesting. Where is the freedom when this group goes to small communities and tries to get them to pass by-laws on signage? Some of those small communities told them in no uncertain terms it wasn’t necessary because there is no problem to begin with. So why is this gang still doing it? The elected officials of those areas believe in FREEDOM…..they are not enforcing by-laws on their people……..they believe in live and let live…..I knew you would get it.

    Know what Jurgen…..me and my ilk don’t mind working with others for a good cause……..but this is nonsense, plain and simple. Language on a sign doesn’t change a thing nor does it benefit anyone.

    If you can’t see it’s a control thing by now……OH OK, I knew you would finally get the picture. The only ones that lost in this fiasco, is the g and his group……and of course the tax payers.

    This is not a “WE WON” thing and you lost…..common sense prevailed. If the tables were turned around, this place would be buzzing with comments and laughter…..not our style.

  30. Judges are not rubber stamps. They are there to JUDGE whether laws are JUST or not and if necessary to overrule or void them. And they have done so, mostly to their credit. This shames both them and the process. And gives racist francophones carte blanche to force French on the rest of the country WHILE KAYBEC CLAIMS EXEMPTION TO THE SAME LAW.
    One day marijuana will be legal, as it should be. THough what that has to do with this is beyond me. Ken and others are implying that all laws are just (really? Slavery? Women not voting? There are tons of unjust laws that in many cases have been overturned by judges if not by lawmakers.)

    Don’t believe the Stella troll. A TRUE French CANADIAN would be APPALLED and embarrassed at this ruling if she truly believed in freedom, equality and peace. Her constant taunting and insults prove to me that the LAST thing she wants is peace and that it is all perfectly fine with her AS LONG AS FRENCH REMAINS DOMINANT WHEREVER SHE GOES. She doesn’t care about Kaybec? Why should she? She gains nothing by fairness and equality imposed on that racist province; only the million plus anglos there (and by implication the 28 million across Canada) would. That does not help the troll.
    And Droll, read carefully what Galganov wrote. He is so rightwing he makes me sick sometimes. But on THIS issue he is 100% correct. How to wipe out the French language? Do you guys usually read only part of a headline or story? What am I saying, of course you do.
    And don’t spew your garbage about it costing the taxpayers. This travesty called Frenchification already costs us $10 BILLION A YEAR (possibly as much as $20B). Even the stanchest francophone with an ounce of grey matter cannot but agree that this is a giant waste of money and resources. TO spent a quarter million dollars to fight this monster is WELL worth it. Would I spend my money to fight it? In a goddamn nanosecond.

    I cannot fathom how John MacDonald can agree that this is a good decision. Why? How?

    And to the Stella troll, this is the OPPOSITE of good common sense. The most divisive issue in Canada has been surrendered to racist francophones. Which I am sure suits YOU just fine. For the rest of us 85%, not so much.
    I weep for our country if this is the beginning of the end. BILINGUALISM EVERYWHERE EXCEPT where francophones are.
    Black is white, Up is down. War is peace. Francophones are fair-minded. Judges seek truth. The CPC protects the environment. Corporations care about paying their people well.
    I think I am going to open the window and see if I can fly.
    Because THAT is the upside down world we are living in now.

    My only consolation is the supportive comments from most of you. Remember, it’s OK to get angry. Hate is not in itself a bad thing if it is directed against injustice. Remember, change is effected by people who were angry, fed up, and hated the way things were! We CAN do it!
    Indeed, we MUST do it.
    And kudos to Cornwall Free News for at least printing the truth, as ugly as it got this year.
    (BTW, did you notice the francophones here [or anywhere?] condemning the racist attacks on anglos in Montreal and elsewhere? Yeah, didn’t think so. Because it’s PERFECTLY OK with them. Let’s face it, it’s open season on anglos. Attack all you want, and you will get away with it. Subway workers, people in the street, bus drivers, go ahead and shit on us. Call us names. Tell us to move out of what used to be our province. Be as racist as you want. Because it’s OK. You’re francophones. Nothing bad will happen to you.
    Until this attitude changes, things will only get worse.)

  31. The Charter and everything connected with it should be repealed ASAP. The public really has no idea what this parasite, this anti-English language. anti-BNA bigot Trudeau actually did to this country. The charter was forced upon the public, like it or not.

    The Charter has put us at the mercy of political correctness.

    The simple facts are as more francophone’s get hired for all government positions less and less English speakers are working for their own governments across the country. Don’t believe me; Go check the stats for yourself. Francophone’s are grossly over-represented in all levels of government including hospitals, law, policing…etc. No fairness, no representation by population. They call it bilingualism, yet the term is never defined on purpose and believe me it doesn’t mean fluency in 2 languages in Canada, at least to the French it doesn’t. No political party will speak for the English speaking majority in this province and/or country. Practical bilingualism, where numbers warrant… is never defined on purpose. In Ontario, and New Brunswick it now means segregation. Nice eh? The French (they are actually metis, a mixed race, a mongrel, a mutt…not french) are demanding French only facilities all over the province, not bilingual, French only. $ Bilingualism is really nothing more then a hiring quota for francophone’s and that is a fact…just ask yourself, why are francophone’s over-represented in all government jobs and how come more and more positions are being designated bilingual all the time? And just as important, how come they are NOT fluently bilingual? Some can barely speak English!

    “Conservatives” have allowed all of these expensive, divisive liberal polices, and departments to remain. How come?

    See whats really going on here?

    Our BNA act served us well until Trudeau and his gang of bigots from Kebec forced the charter, bilingualism, multiculturalism…and all this expensive so called rights crap on the country. We have gone further and further into debt because of all this social engineering.

    So while Trudeau was forcing the French language all across the Canada, this same scum bag supported the banning (bills 22, 178, 101…) of our language in Kebec. He was a hypocrite, liar, corrupt to the core.

    They bragged about how they would turn Canada into a French state and they have been doing that for the last 5 decades…

    “First Quebec, then we take over the rest of the country, one step at a time…through bilingualism…” PT, “How to take over a country through bilingualism…” SD. How ? First comes the right to communicate with gov’t in a minority language (ie French),then comes bilingualism, then comes the right to work in the language of choice(ie French), then comes a bilingual boss,(ie French) then comes a exclusively French department and on it goes until its all French. Its happening all over the country, Ontario, New Brunswick…That’s what’s really going on.

    “My roll as Secretary of State of Canada is first and foremost to ensure that my French compatriots in Canada feel with deep conviction, as I do, that this is their country and that it reflects their image”. “I too had some difficult years as a politician; I’m still having them, in fact, because everything we undertake and everything we are doing to make Canada a French state is part of a venture I have shared for many years with a number of people”. “You know the idea, the challenge, the ambition of making Canada a French country both inside and outside Quebec — an idea some people consider a bit crazy, is something a little beyond the ordinary imagination”. – Serge Joyal, Secretary of State – Page 2 ‘ENOUGH’ by J.V. Andrew. – Serge Joyal – Now in the Senate.

    This is THE biggest scam, the biggest fraud and lie ever forced upon the Canadian public. People have no idea what this man Trudeau did to this country.

    “Quebec can make French the only official language in spite of the Constitution”. Pierre Trudeau, .

    “There is no way two ethnic groups in one country can be made equal before the law….and to say it is possible is to sow the seeds of destruction”. Pierre Trudeau,

    .” ….Given these facts, should French-speaking people concentrate their efforts on Quebec or take the whole of Canada as their base? In my opinion, they should do both; and for the purpose they could find no better instrument than federalism”, Pierre Trudeau,.

    “I cannot swear it but I think we were thinking to ourselves,… we are a small group, Trudeau, Pelletier, Marchand, Lalonde, Chrétien, myself and a few people in the civil service, say 50 all told…we were bringing off a revolution. We held the key posts. We were making the civil service bilingual (French), kicking and screaming all the time”. Jean-Luc Pepin, Minister of Industry, 1970.

    Go learn our proud, real BNA and UEL history. These were the builders of our country since 1763. Not this phony, revisionist lie, this bilingual, multicultural, 2 founding nations, linguistic duality lie, propaganda, spin that we’ve been living with since Trudeau, and kebec forced this upon the nation. We’ve been part of the British Empire since 1763 and officially an English speaking country for over 200 years…just a fact.

    Time to repeal all of this liberal Trudeau crap, hey “Conservatives”?

  32. This is a lose lose nobody wins,a black day for Canada

  33. Perhaps the Supreme Court Judges think this is something that should be decided by all Canadians and elected leaders????????

  34. Lou, mostly I don’t care about this decision. Bilingual signs? Big deal! And the majority of Canadians are with me on this. I haven’t seen ANYTHING about the Supreme Court rejecting this appeal on Sun News or ANY of the other major media. And that’s because they know most Canadians don’t care. When LFA first started their protests now THAT was something that was gaining traction in the media. I thought THAT was going to build up to something. Then they got away from the issue of fair hiring practices for all and got into municipal sign bylaws. Fair hiring practices interests me. But you’re going to hear a resounding who cares from Canadians on bilingual signs!

  35. Nice to see you having so much fun with this issue but, the truth of the matter is that we have to official language in Canada and french is fragile. That’s why we have law 101 in Québec and now this new sign law in some Ont. mun. where need be. I agree that you that it won’t change anything but it’s a show of respect to your french neighbors. Some of you need to do the same. As to the chalenge of it on grounds of freedom of expression well, now, your businesses will be able to express themselves in the two official languages.
    But anybody who followed Galganov in the past knows that he just wants to kill the french language averywhere in Canada… And as for Jean-serge Brisson, what a looser, hey…He had always had an english sign on his business because, a french sign on a business around there, is a sign of no business but changed it for a frenh one, to pretend he was defending the rights of the francophone. Now because of stupid pride, he says he won’t
    change it Ha,ha,ha!

  36. It is not difficult to say that comments made by c’est droule and stella are written purposely to inflame and not as part of a logical fair discourse.

    Having read their blogs, and dismissed all of them, I simply ignore them, I don’t lend any credence to their views.

    I want to also say that both Lou and James Wolfe are right on with their take on the SC decision, or lack thereof.

    For those of who have read my blogs, you know how I feel about this issue. Not only a sad day for Canada, but one that makes me ashamed of being a Canadian.

    I have a question, if anyone out there knows the answwer please respond.

    The people in Russell that passed this by law, can they be replaced? If so when and how can this happen?

    If these people can be replaced by a council that will rescind this by law, then russell can go back to being a township of free choice again.

    I believe now, the ball is squarely in our court. I know money talks, and we mst organize to develop a game plan, to ensure boycotts take place, and make life miserable for all those that infringe on our freedom. Openly question why there are francophoes in positions, where they clearly have no business being in. MAKE A LOT OF NOISE, AND DON’T BE AFRAID

    What do we have to loose?

    Keep the pressure on politicans

    Begin awareness campaigns started to communicate what has happened to ALL CANADIANS.

    Again, I say we desparately need leadership and the formation of an English political party to stand up for English rights and elect these people to office.

    In the meantime, I would put pressure on the testing process that determines wheather someone is bilingual or not.

    Who writes the tests?

    Are the tests the same for both francophone and anglophone?

    Who administers these tests, what are their qualifications?

    ETC,ETC ETC

    These are issues to be put to the present government.

    Mr. Harper’s conservatives, have to be pressured to answer why there are inqualities in hiring. Why merit, is not a criteria for federal positions any more, but language is?

    All of the issues mentioned on these blogs, from real freedom loving Canadians must be organized, and packaged to be presented to the conservatives so we know where they stand.

    But, I believe the only way to keeep our heritage, values etc, is to form an All English party hell bent on representing us, and at the same time, to get quebec out of Canada

    Jim Quealey

    Mississauga

  37. Trudeau will go down in history as being the best PM we ever had. Thinking that someday his son will follow in his Dad’s footsteps and be as successful. They are peace loving people who truly care about this country.

  38. Why wouldn’t the judge have the g pay the expenses? Isn’t he the one that pushed it…..on the tax payers dime, no less? Didn’t he start the BS in Russell? To make matters worse, he doesn’t even live there. Thinking the judges need to be commended on their decision to have the g pay……the tax payers paid enough already.

  39. Jim……you don’t like this country……move. Canada doesn’t need troublemakers. We want to remain a peaceful nation and the envy of the world. We also don’t want to be dictated to by ordinary citizens who think they have the answer to the world’s problems.

    Jim do you honestly think the majority lend any credence to your views……think again. Thinking many are not into reading entire novels when they come here.

  40. Since “the G” (nice sign of respect there troll) was representing a whole class of people (disaffected—or more precisely AFFECTED) anglophones, not himself individually, it would be a gross injustice to have him pay the whole cost of the trial.
    But the racist francophones have no problem with that. Remember, they never pay for anything themselves. Why should they? They’re FRANCOPHONES.
    What a country….

  41. Ha ha Stella you are only happy because you can stand behind laws

    I think that “other” people were behind this desicion, who the hell gives the right to 3 or 4 (people) “Judges” to decide what happens to ALL of Canadians? I’ll betcha 95% ‘(being generous)of Canadians didnt even know this happened.

  42. BS undemocratic laws, Stella, I made a mistake that I cant take away, didn’t want to respond to Stella, not worth it.

  43. There is one thing ya’ll should note: The French (Stella’s etc) pay attention to the small things. We should learn from this. I can guarantee you the first thing she does when she see’s a post by someone on her side is clicks the thumbs up AND increases the star rating (bottom left of the messages) for that person. Course the first thing she does for the rest of us is the opposite.

    But, my point here is this. Despite that not really being anything of significance in the grand scheme of things, it DOES illustrate a tenacity and a willingness to do ANYTHING to improve ones odds. And, like the example of the tap with the worn out washer. The constant one drop of water over and over again WILL, over time, INDEED wear away that hardened porcelain surface and create quite a hole.
    In other words, EVERY little thing counts. You may not think it but, talking to someone on the bus about these injustices can and often is, over heard and that person then tells someone else, and so on. We should all be making every injustice an every day common thing to hear. Believe me, that opens the door to the “comfort factor” regarding this topic. Sort of like when cell phones first came out, many felt odd talking on them in public and now, because so may did it, it’s now an accepted thing.

  44. The greatest display of respect the English ever accorede the french, was after their defeat on the Plains of Abraham, the English immediately passed the Proclaimation treay of 1763.

    This was followed up by the Quebec Act of 1774. Both of these treaties gave back the following to the defeated French:

    1) Thier land the seingural system

    2) their culture and language were to remain intact

    3) the right to education in french and thefreedom to development of their society unimpeded

    In addition there were a whole host of other clauses too numerous to mention here.

    Suffice to say, they retained all of which they lost during the conquest of 1756-57. Now that;s respect.

    Bill 101 have two main targets : Business and Education

    The goal , as written by Claude Charron, a prominent P.Q, mintiser was to eraduicate and semblemces of English from quebec.

    Business: It is legal to put up a french and Korean sign. A french and Italian sign. A french and german sign . A french and any other language sign.

    BUT IT IS ILLEGAL TO PUT UP A french and ENGLISH sign.

    This sir is discriminatory and bias. The united nations ruled on this and deemde this law as such.

    Education: It is against the law to send english students to a publically funded school unless: Both their parents were educated in English, in quebec . This is a vile restrictive law.

    There are many, many more examples of how this anti-English legislation is an affront to democracy, but you get the idea.

    As for french being fragile, where did that scenario come from?

    There are no facts anywhere to substanicate this.

    Perhaps any francophones out there would give their reaction to an English province passing bill 101 type legislation say, in Saskatchewan, or Newfoundland or anywhere.

    I,d be interested in hearing how they would react if laws like bill 101 were targetting them

    Jim Quealey

    Mississauga

  45. RE: POST BY Lou December 7, 2012 at 3:45 pm
    Great post Lou. Well written and, for the most part, I agree with everything you said.

    This part —

    “(BTW, did you notice the francophones here [or anywhere?] condemning the racist attacks on anglos in Montreal and elsewhere? Yeah, didn’t think so. Because it’s PERFECTLY OK with them. Let’s face it, it’s open season on anglos. Attack all you want, and you will get away with it. Subway workers, people in the street, bus drivers, go ahead and shit on us. Call us names. Tell us to move out of what used to be our province. Be as racist as you want. Because it’s OK. You’re francophones. Nothing bad will happen to you.”

    — is absolutely so poignant Lou. It is shameful when considering this is within Canada and coming from people who… Wait, I was about to say, — from people who call themselves Canadian — but that’s not even true, is it? They don’t consider themselves Canadian at all. Sad to think this is the Canada I grew up in where everyone used to get along (remember that Stella?) Before the French decided to “START ALL OF THIS BS cr@p…?” Yes, they were the ones that started this. Not Howard. There is some history here Stella. Even if you and your ilk have a hard time with history. Oh wait, it’s only the history that is unfavorable to your side of the issue that you have a hard time with. That’s right, as you are VERY quick to bring up the history that favors your side i noticed.

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