Supreme Court of Canada will NOT hear Galganov / Brisson Forced Bilingual Sign Appeal – Breaking
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”.
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.
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.
Don Smith reports on a variety of topics, notably good news items as well as social justice issues.
Bilingualism is a — temporary condition — of a particular area or entity. It is a smokescrene and while the smoke is there, the area or entity are in transition from English to French.
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J.V. Andrew
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Hey, eddy baby, nice to see you gat reined in, not so mouthy now are you?
Why should Canada be only English? From the horse’s mouth:
7% of Anglophones outside of Quebec are bilingual.
84% of Francophones outside of Quebec are bilingual.
http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/newsletter_cyberbulletin/12_09_2012/content_contenu_e.htm
“Interestingly, (in 1969, during Parliamentary debates) both Progressive Conservative Leader Robert Stanfield and the New Democratic Party Leader David Lewis expressed concern, right from the start, that the Official Languages Act not result in reverse discrimination that might permit the creation of new inequalities in Canada” and that it be “achieved without discrimination and without compulsion, without creating some new injustice.”
(Mr. Stanfield) Hansard 28(1) p.1484.
(Mr. Lewis) Hansard 28(1) p.1486.
Interestingly, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
@ Pat thanks for that. Hope you don’t mind if I post it again. This needs to be reposted over and over again.
“Interestingly, (in 1969, during Parliamentary debates) both Progressive Conservative Leader Robert Stanfield and the New Democratic Party Leader David Lewis expressed concern, right from the start, that the Official Languages Act not result in reverse discrimination that might permit the creation of new inequalities in Canada” and that it be “achieved without discrimination and without compulsion, without creating some new injustice.”
(Mr. Stanfield) Hansard 28(1) p.1484.
(Mr. Lewis) Hansard 28(1) p.1486.
Interestingly, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED”
@ Stella “If the child really had a problem with french, the principle would request that the child be changed schools. It has been done many many times……that I know for a fact”
I’m going to agree with you somewhat but fact also is, many, many parents do not remove their children from the immersion program for the simple fear their children will never be successful in the job market. They realize only when it’s too late.
Why should Canada be English only? Because Canada IS English!
Population by Language Spoken Most Often at Home, Canada Less Quebec, Provinces and Territories, Census 2001:
———–English %—–French %
Canada – 86.6 ———–2.7
Nfld—— 99.2 ———–0.2
PEI —— 97.4 ———–2.1
NS ——- 96.2 ———–2.2
NB ——- 69.0 ———-30.3
ON ——- 82.7 ———–2.7
MB ——- 89.1 ———–1.9
SK ——– 95.2 ———- 4.3
AB ——– 91.2 ———- 0.7
BC ——– 84.8 ———- 0.4
YT ——– 95.8 ———- 1.5
NWT —– 89.9 ———–1.1
NT ——– 41.5 ———- 0.8
Census 2011 shows even less percentages for French. It’s ABSURD to suggest Canada is or should be bilingual. No wonder, resistance from the provinces and its people to comply with the Charter imposed bilingualism has been strong.
Stella said “If the child really had a problem with french, the principle would request that the child be changed schools. It has been done many many times……that I know for a fact”
FYI: Why would a child change schools, said child could change to core English, not immersion.
Rosie said,”many parents do not remove their children from the immersion program for the simple fear their children will never be successful in the job market. They realize only when it’s too late.”
Exactly!!!
Why are we forced to jeopardize our children’s education for the sake of of forced Frenchifcation.
Social engineering of our children…
Helga January 12, 2013 at 2:58 pm
Thanks Helga ,proving once again that fair hiring advocates backup thier statements.
Now if only the English haters could do the same!
Thanks Pat for the Hansard report ,that once again backing up your statement.
Thanks Helga for your link to once again back up what you say.
See Stella,Pierre the separatist ,ed ,Pj (English haters) this is how when you have a statement and a point to prove you provide the source ,otherwise All you have is what Stella writes PROPAGANDA.
Rosie wrote: “I’m going to agree with you somewhat but fact also is, many, many parents do not remove their children from the immersion program for the simple fear their children will never be successful in the job market.
Exactly Rosie…..those parents are doing their child a favor. Anyone with half a brain would admit that 2 or 3 or 4 languages is a benefit in life and it doesn’t necessarily have to be french, however, being this country has two official languages French and english, common sense would dictate that French would be an asset when looking for employment.
cc2 wrote: FYI: Why would a child change schools
I can’t believe this!!! If the principle or teacher sees that a student is struggling and falling behind and there is no hope, rather then have this child struggle, facing humiliation and losing his/her self esteem because they can’t keep up, it is in the child’s interest that this child be moved to another school where the curriculum is easier. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FORCING FRENCH ON ANYONE…..capish?
Helga, you are a gem. of course it will be viewed by THE FRAUD SQUAD as propaganda and skewed numbers.
When they are hit in the face with real honest to goodness proof, they fold like cheap deck chairs.
They have absolutely no crediable comeback or valid arguments to back up anything they say.
I challenge them to refute these numbers and put forth any crediable argument that would remotely contrdicte these facts.
Now ,why should 97% of English taxpayers pay for forced bilingualism when the percentages listed above doesn’t justify one red cent to pay for this divisive ,costly and totally unacceptable policy
waiting for your responses FRAUD SQUAD
@ Helga,
So to me , it makes sense to get quebec OUT OF CANADA
It is to our advantage to get them out.
In the last quebec election , a full 66% voted for parties that are separatists
33% P.Q.
33% CAC
the CAC is a separatist party. headed by former P.Q. minister F.Legaultst.
So, lets support quebec separation and let them be gone
Who cares? And we will only have 4% french in the remaining 9 provinces, try justifing bilingualism then
As for quebec, good riddance
OK, I have tried to be nice, but I have to ask Stella do you actually understand the English language???
Do you not understand that public schools offer CORE English or French Immersion!!!!
WTH does the child need to as you say “change” schools.
Better take a refresher English course in your spare time Stella!!!!
Stella Said,
“cc2 wrote: FYI: Why would a child change schools
I can’t believe this!!! If the principle or teacher sees that a student is struggling and falling behind and there is no hope, rather then have this child struggle, facing humiliation and losing his/her self esteem because they can’t keep up, it is in the child’s interest that this child be moved to another school where the curriculum is easier. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FORCING FRENCH ON ANYONE…..capish?”
@ CC # 2
You are far too knid to stella. If that is who she/he says he/she is.
If you have read stellas posts you will know she NEVER EVER BACKS anything up with fact.
She went so far in one post as to say looking things up on the net etc. is a waste of time, or something to that effect.
So to take her seriously, in any way is a mistake.
Your are absolutely corrrect in your assessment regarding your child. People here know that. The french zealots will say anything to discredit us in our quest for freedom of choice.
They are desparate, its that simple. They are also fearful, because for the first time in 50 years the Englsih are starting to fight back
This is why the stellas of the world know, that if we are successful , her days are numbered as a very privledged francophone in Ontario.
So she pretends to be Canadian to hide her pro french and pro separatist agenda.
She is fooling no one. The gig is up. She is like a three dollar bill Phoney
regards,
Leo
In the early forties Pierre Trudeau was fully determined to find a way to separate Quebec from Canada, make it totally French and an authoritarian state. He was secretly planning a coup. Yes, it is true and an established fact. Later he learned there is never peace and harmony for a government after a coup; so he abandoned his
plan. Notwithstanding ( how useful that word is) the problem of a coup, Trudeau figured out a way to provide advantages to Quebec, and to Francophones in ROC in pursuit of something much greater.
He allowed the “Notwithstanding” clause in the Constitution (1982)
and I believe it’s reasonable to assume he did so to further his plan for Quebec, and ROC. (Read the book “The Young Trudeau”)
The “Notwithstanding” clause allows Quebec to legislate French as the only official language in Quebec, and supresses English, even making it illegal in some instances.
He introduced “BILIGUALISM” and sold it like a bill of goods to ROC.
What you see today is (in my opinion) a far greater plan than he had for Quebec. He could visualise a wholly French Canada.
Compare the above with what is happening in ROC and see the similarities:
1. French is mandatory in government and the Public Service in ROC. It’s already spread to the private sector in Eastern Ontario.
2. Speaking English only inhibits opportunites for Anglophones in
Ontario, a 96% English speaking Province.
3. Bilingualism is a peaceful way to achieve Trudeaus goal for a
French Canada. It is more powerful than a coup and
will succeed if allowed to continue. It was a brilliant plan and that
is what we are up against folks.
@ leo
January 13, 2013 at 12:32 am
Thanks Leo for your above post!
It’s very disheartening when the English Hater’s will not even try to understand the plight of a small child. I guess I should expect nothing less from “them”.
I thought human kindness might prevail, but sadly, I was wrong…
@ Ken,
Good post, Ken.
In all honesty I don’t see bilingualism being accepted west pf prescott with the fevor it has been in easter Ontario.
I travel extensively in canada. Believe me the french are HATED.
The feds may try to force bilingualism on Canada regarding the powers they oversee, but that’s it,
It has not been embraced or accepted anywhere else. There may be pockets that spring up here and there, but for the most part it is moot.
loomat even prescott, not too many french sins or talk for that matter ther.
Kingston , even less french. Belleville, same and on into Toronto.
No way in Toronto, ever. Believe I know . the french zealots and separatists are realyy HATED there.
Manitobia, a prenence, but a weakl presence. A lot of noise
Saskatchewan, No way, same as Toronto . Alberta ,they are really HATED THERE.
In B.C. Ditto.
In N.S. pockets of acadians, not much presence
In N.B. a forceful presence that is mainly due to provinical laws amking it bilingual.
However, even here the English have a comfortable 70 % anglo presence. Although this province is of concern
P.E.I. Very little presence.
In NFLD, same as Ab. and SA. and B.C.
So when you breakl it down, although Trudeau did have a brillent plan, to apply it to the way he wanted would be a monumentla task.
What he probablt didn’t count on was the pushback that is now only starting to surface.
Remember Ken, we are only at the pre-game warmup stage of our Fight. We ahve a long way to go. Each day, thanks to sites lik e this, more an dmore people are beoming attuned to these issues.
There a millions out there that have silent for years and tears that are truly fed up and ready to act.
We need leadership, money and the WILL to carry this as far as needs be.
This is a reciepe for success.
the communication via the internet is an extremely powerful tool, not available when trudeau was P.M.
The last resort, if we fail, id=s that quebec, WILL vote to seoarate anyway. This is becoming inevietable with each passing year.
So one way or another quebec will be gone, and no government , can ever justify a bilingual Canada with a mere 4% of the population being frecng and quebec oput of Canada.
This the English canadian population
@ Ken
To finish my thought on my last blog;
This the canadian people will NEVER stand for.
Regards
Peter
Sorry, hit a wrong key
@ Ken
Sorry about the poor English here Ken
I have a terrible keyboard and I have a tendency to type faster than my mind thinks
I’ll try to be very, very vigilant in future
Peter
@Concerned Citizen 2
When you mentioned that this child would not have to change schools but rather the program am I to understand that they run both immersion and core in the same school?
@ Stella.” I can’t believe this!!! If the principle or teacher sees that a student is struggling and falling behind and there is no hope, rather then have this child struggle, facing humiliation and losing his/her self esteem because they can’t keep up, it is in the child’s interest that this child be moved to another school where the curriculum is easier. ”
STELLA WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY THE CURRICULUM WOULD BE EASIER?
ON January 12, 2013 at 8:04 pm leo wrote, “@ Helga,
So to me , it makes sense to get quebec OUT OF CANADA
It is to our advantage to get them out.
In the last quebec election , a full 66% voted for parties that are separatists
33% P.Q.
33% CAC
the CAC is a separatist party. headed by former P.Q. minister F. Legault.”
Another thing to note about the Mr. Legault’s CAC party is his blatant statement while the campaign was running.
Something to the effect, “we should put separation of the back burner for 10 years and concentrate on internal issues: re-building our infrastructure, building our wealth and producing more brilliant young Quebec’s (making babies) to bring us forward into the future.”
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Translation – { let’s keep sucking money out of Canada and the Anglophone majority tax paying citizens of Canada in order to build up our province with more wealth. Let’s let the ROC pay for the re-building of our infrastructure which is crumbling right now. Let’s USE them even more than we are doing and for the next 10 years and THEN, we can leave them behind and tell them where to stick the debt that we have accumulated over that 10 years span building our own province etc. }
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Funny how they have the nerve to come right out and say EXACTLY how they PLAN to F*&(K us without so much as a kiss. Hummm that sounds familiar. Ah yes, that’s what they are doing right now also. Both in how they are treating the “province” of Quebec and how they are demanding to be treated outside the “province” of Quebec.
Speaking of discrimination and slippery slopes …
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Rosie asked,
January 13, 2013 at 7:53 pm
“@Concerned Citizen 2
When you mentioned that this child would not have to change schools but rather the program am I to understand that they run both immersion and core in the same school?”
Yes, Rosie that is correct.
@ concerned Citizen 2
Wow, so even if you excelled in the Core program you would never be regarded as a high achiever in that kind of dual tracking now would you. So happy my children didn’t have to go through that. Core program was all that we wanted; it was all the school offered, they were very successful in that system, award winners in high school and recipient of university prize. They never had to deal with humiliation or loss-of self-esteem that goes along with the comparison of immersion vs core. Thankful that these schools still exists.
@ Stella, please answer my question to you regarding you views on the CORE program. Why do you think it has an easier curriculum
—————- THE WAY IT SHOULD BE ———–
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https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6R3n_ToPtYc/UPWg9sADnJI/AAAAAAAAAW0/9fu7ydOFv8g/s1566/Poste+de+Pompiers+02.jpg
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@ Peter
First let me say it’s a nice change to hear from someone presenting an intelligent post for a change. One gets so fed up with the idiots who simply particpate in futile name calling and even profanities.
Thank you for the stats and I fully understand what you are saying. I accept that opposition to French across Canada is as you have found. However, one must recognise the power rests with the government. Currently under P.M.Harper there might be a bit of protection but there are times when because of how he turns to speak in French so often, particularly on the front lawn of the Whitehouse, I’m sort of disillusioned.
Before I would say, “It will never happen” I look to history for examples. The French occupied Algeria, Arab speaking at the onset,
outlawed the Arabic language, and 100years later, Algeria’s common language is French. I learned that from an Arab living in Canada, and have also been to Algeria where I HAD to speak French.
Great Britain is probably the best example of world domination and implementation of a language. Likewise the French and Spanish
were successfull in changing languages in other countries.
I think you have to agree, it can be done.
As you know of course, Engilsh is regognised and accepted as the international language of communication so I guess you could say Britain is the overall winner. That is, except in Quebec where a few years back they attempted change the language of Air Traffic Controllers to French. Suffice to say that didn’t fly (ooooh what a pun). Today they are endeavouring to outlaw English and who knows what the future holds. For me, the sooner they separate, the better for both sides. The country won’t fall apart with a wall around Quebec and border guards.
I have had many business and social dealing over the years with France and they are quite different from English. Determined, quite prepared to be patient for many years to achieve their objectives. Russia was once on a similar path when seeking a way across Europe to have a warm water port in the Mediterranean.
Europeans stood by, watched and waited without taking any action as Russia invaded countries en route. Fortunately the USSR fragmented and the Russian dream is history.
I have been fighting this French Candian takeover since the mid-seventies and working at a level where I met some of the key Francophone players surrounding Pierre Trudeau. Most people have no idea how Bilingualism was being implemented throughout top levels of the government around that time. What was really taking place was the replacement of English incumbents with French radicals.
I was told first hand by a person who had been talking to Jean Chretien that there was a definite plan for French control and it would be successful. It has been, to a large degree, as many people are seeing today. The package Trudeau sold to Canadians in the early seventies, bilingualism and French Immersion, is not what was really intended and the English are rebelling. It was/is only the means to an end. I firmly believe the Trudeau “team” and/or the successors are still running the show.
I sincerely hope you are right and I am over re-acting, but I will continue to fight on nevertheless. Unfortunately I don’t have enough years left to see the final outcome, maybe you do.
If it’s any consolation, my fingers fly to keys in the wrong sequence too. (:>)
Welcome to the supporters group and best wishes.
Ken
Ken
January 15, 2013 at 1:51 pm
“For me, the sooner they separate, the better for both sides. The country won’t fall apart with a wall around Quebec and border guards.”
Like the Berlin wall as the Quebecers try to climb the wall to the promised land(Canada) their own will shoot them .
“I sincerely hope you are right and I am over re-acting, but I will continue to fight on nevertheless. Unfortunately I don’t have enough years left to see the final outcome, maybe you do.”
-Ah Ken its already starting many believe that this will end up in civil war ,I certainly hope not ,but change is on the horizon .
-Generations of disenchanted Canadians who are not good enough to work for their government are treated as second class citizens in Quebec ,New Brunswick and now Ontario -for only one thing… language!!!!!
ON January 15, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Ken Wrote, “Before I would say, “It will never happen” I look to history for examples. The French occupied Algeria, Arab speaking at the onset, outlawed the Arabic language, and 100years later, Algeria’s common language is French. I learned that from an Arab living in Canada, and have also been to Algeria where I HAD to speak French.”
Wow!! That’s interesting Ken. I didn’t know that. So, they stole the Arabic language from Algeria as they are trying to steal the English language from Canada.
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AND YES, I DID take note that you were sure to write that you — HAD — to speak French while you were there. None of this accommodation stuff they are so keen on demanding from others. Damn…
While there might well be a case to support that most of Canada would be better off with one less province this is not likely a situation that will occur in a peaceful manner. Apathy has brought us to where we are. Democracy is suffering in that all levels of governments with few exceptions are elected by a majority of a minority of voters. When finally a population has been delivered that final straw the result usually is violence and extremism. But then who says history has to repeat itself?