Eric Little of Ottawa Ontario Suggests Service Ontario Offer More Language Services – LTE

LTEImagine walking into a Service Ontario location and being served. Now imagine sitting in a comfortable chair and having a voice/video link with a government office. Now imagine speaking in one of say 5 main languages with a real person just like at a counter. Using technology to help people is not new, you can even get an app on your smart phone to detect where your metal property line marker is. Of course that app would not help to get your new license plates or help order a new health card but there is technology that can.

Surely with a bit of planning and will, we can create something to help more people get things done in a manner that concentrates on citizens needs. Some bank machines already provide several languages to use, there are 9-1-1 call centers that instantly connect to translation services that can cover 140 languages and we have had hearing/speech impaired interfaces for years.

Why can’t we have a central station in say Toronto with round the clock operators that can provide assistance in several languages? Assistance for health cards, some translation and real time support. If after a hundred plus years of language issues that no one seems ready to discuss and work towards solutions, the least we can do is help people that need it, is that not what multiculturism & bilingualism was about? Language duality is a wonderful concept but really, after 40 plus years of the Official Languages Act, 26 years of the Ontario French Languages Services Act and billions of dollars, the percentage of bilingual Canadians has remained stagnant outside of Quebec, but let’s put technology to work for the benefit of all Canadians even as a trial, each Ontario ministry already has a language coordinator, give them technology as well,and stop saying why we can’t do something, ask your MP and MPP how we can!

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James Moak

446 Comments

  1. Excellent letter, Eric! Imagine the millions saved on this? More money for social services! Imagine too, the best person getting the job!

  2. Imagine the best person not getting the job, then who gets the blame?

  3. Cory Cameron
    August 6, 2013 at 7:27 am

    “Excellent letter, Eric! Imagine the millions saved on this? More money for social services! Imagine too, the best person getting the job!”

    Eric firstly thanks very thought provoking and I plan on writing directly.

    Cory it could save billions and that money can go to social services where it could help our the needy and disadvantaged.

    stellabystarlight
    August 6, 2013 at 9:29 am

    “Imagine the best person not getting the job, then who gets the blame?”

    It already happens now stella !
    But this concept could actually provide better services to the many that do not grasp those official languages effectively.
    Why wouldn’t it provide the best applicant for the job,in fact perhaps the government then could set standards in hiring and provide the best person.

    WOW WHAT A CONCEPT.

  4. Cory Cameron
    August 6, 2013 at 7:27 am

    How do you arrive at the conclusion that using Linguistic Interpretation would save billions. The Medical Institutions presently provides French services to their french-speaking patients at a cost of 0.

    They hire bilingual staff that does not cost anymore than uni-lingual staff. There is no savings from your suggested venture of Linguistic Translation.

    The Total bilingual budget for the whole of Canada is 2.4 Billion annually.

    Medical Services still have to print all information in both official languages. And provide at a cost the Linguistic Translation Service. Technology or human translation will bring additional investments or cost that are presently not required.

  5. Hungry for the Truth….
    August 6, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    “How do you arrive at the conclusion that using Linguistic Interpretation would save billions. The Medical Institutions presently provides French services to their french-speaking patients at a cost of 0.”

    At a cost of zero? really ? What of the cost of language testing alone ? So thereby your wrong !
    What of the human cost with not hiring the best individual when language takes precedence over merit?

    “Medical Services still have to print all information in both official languages.”

    Wrong again -geez you should be getting used to that -patient charts where most communication occurs is in English -do you honestly think its transcribed in french?

  6. Eric,

    Once again a great concept here :

    “Why can’t we have a central station in say Toronto with round the clock operators that can provide assistance in several languages? Assistance for health cards, some translation and real time support.”

    Yes it would be cost effective and provide many languages and services 24 hrs a day.
    Not all people can get access to those services as working the 9-5 shift and inability to get time off work during those hours.
    Lets not forget those who are mobility impaired who could have access form home.
    What of shift workers as well having difficulty to access those services due to their work schedule ?

    yes -press 1 for English ,2 for French and 3 for list of other languages services provided.

    The government could provide more effective services with the capability to serve those many other language groups and 24 hrs a day service…those government services could be sub contracted out and save a lot of money ….but oh the unions would not be happy but less civil servants means much more savings and more money IN YOUR POCKET!

    The concept would benefit the consumers as well as the taxpayer.
    Imagine not paying rental on service outlets or those service outlets would provide services under one umbrella for provincial and federal at shared costs .
    Most services can be attained through a central station and reducing the work load on those over worked civil servants at service outlet centers lol.lol.

    For those language service needs when the language service number is pressed(press #1,2 ect) upon accessing those services this can be recorded and thereby staffing needs can be allocated accordingly .

    The technology is there to provide better service and save taxpayer’s much money .But surly Unions and language rights activists would not agree to a solution that would better serve the public and save taxpayers as it is not in their interest ….but should this be in the interest of servicing those taxpayers in a cost efficient manner?

  7. Could probably even SKYPE…….it would reduce numbers for counter service even.

  8. Highlander August 7, 2013 at 7:00 am
    “Wrong again -geez you should be getting used to that -patient charts where most communication occurs is in English -do you honestly think its transcribedin frenchSpecifically,”

    Canadians have legal rights to access their personal health information and medical record. The Personal Health Information Privacy Act, passed in 2004, opened the door for greater access to personal medical records. In Ontario, the College of Physicians and Surgeons has a policy that all information in the medical record must be released to patients upon request, in one of the two official languages.

    Hungry for the Truth….August 6, 2013 at 2:20 pm
    Medical Services still have to print all information in both official languages.

    As for my assertions that informational documentation will continue to have to be offered in the two official languages. Read on and see what the rules and requirements are in the USA. And I can only think that if such a service was to be offered in Canada,
    we would have certain rules and requirements established.

    To be in compliance the Patient’s Bill of Rights requires that:

    (iii) the development of materials that will be made available for patients and potential patients that summarize the process and method to access free language assistance services;

    (iv) ongoing education and training for administrative, clinical and other employees with direct patient care contact regarding the importance of culturally and linguistically competent service delivery and how to access the hospital’s language assistance services on behalf of patients;

    (v) signage, as designated by the Department of Health, regarding the availability of free language assistance services in public entry locations and other public locations;

    (vi) identification of language of preference and language needs of each patient upon initial visit to the hospital;

    You’re making this sound like it’s as simple as picking up the phone and the problem is solved. If you research the available existing services you’d find that there is a whole administrative bureaucracy that is required. IT COMES AT A COST. There are many many many more requirements to make this a feasible service alternative. .

    So really geeeeez my assertions are pretty accurate and close to the FACTUAL TRUTH.

  9. Eric, your suggestion of using technology to solve our language problem is good but would not suit the French agenda. The French-speakers of Canada have pulled the wool over the eyes of English-speakers (by whining about their language “dying” on the world stage) for so long that they feel entitled to their “entitlement” i.e. that they must be supported or they would “disappear”.

    The fact that they have taken full advantage of the Constitution to be able to force their dying language on the rest of us should make any right-thinking person who believes in fairness squirm with shame!!

    Unfortunately, the proverbial French pride is totally missing here – they’ve found a legal method to dominate and subjugate a peaceful country and by jingo, they’re going to use it to its limit.

    It is one thing to provide service in a minority language, it is quite another to use it as a weapon to dominate in Canada.

  10. This is information that I found to be very similar to Canada’s Languages Act.

    1 Introduction

    Hospitals in New York State are required to provide language assistance to consumers with limited English proficiency (LEP). LEP individuals are unable to communicate effectively in English because their primary language is not English and they have not developed fluency in the English language.

    2 This article provides an overview and analysis of the applicable federal and state law and compliance processes of the right to meaningful language access available to LEP persons in New York hospitals.

    State Law

    Article 28 of NY Public Health Law sets forth the legal obligations of hospitals, residential health care facilities, and other health care providers to their patients. The statute also charges the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health (NYDOH) with the responsibility of monitoring compliance. Although the statute itself does not address language access in a hospital setting, the regulations make it clear that meaningful language access is a patient right.

    Federal Compliance

    Title VI regulations and federal funding mechanisms provide alternative means to enforce language access mandates. Pursuant to Title VI, Executive Order 13166-10 requires recipients of federal funds to take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to their programs by LEP persons.

    For hospitals, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires the provision of language access as a condition of federal funding. A patient denied language services by a hospital has the option to file a complaint with the HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR).

  11. For those that are suggesting that this a no additional cost telephone interpretation service I’m posting this post so you can be TRUTHFULLY INFORMED. This is not just a simple pick up the phone or Skype solution. TELEPHONE SERVICE is a secondary option to Live on site interpreters. NOT THE PRIMARY. It is only a part of the service not the WHOLE SERVICE. IT COMES AT A COST. And it’s not a self diagnostic tool as some have suggested.

    Flushing Hospital Medical Center serves a diverse community and prides itself on offering a variety of language assistance services to our non-English speaking and Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients and their families. In order to accommodate our community and eliminate the language and cultural barriers, the hospital offers the following services:

    Signage and forms. Flushing Hospital has multi-lingual signage posted throughout the main floor of the campus. Signs indicating Patient Rights as well as notices of the interpretive services are on display throughout the hospital in their primary languages. A variety of vital forms, documents, and other materials are also provided to our non-English speaking patients in their primary languages.

    On-Site Medical Interpreters. Flushing Hospital has over 200 on-site medical interpreters, in a variety of languages. Interpreters are either tested and deemed qualified by NYU’s School of Medicine or are native speakers with medical experience in a foreign country.

    Telephone Interpretation Service. If a qualified medical interpreter is not available, employees can utilize the hospital’s over-the-phone interpreting service. This service, available 24 hours a day, allows employees to access medical interpreters for over 180 languages.

    Language Bank Manual. Comprised of communication policies and procedures, a listing of all hospital qualified medical and non-medical interpreters, tools for the hearing and visually impaired, and much more, these manuals are accessible to all personnel and departments at all times.

    Our interpretation services are available at no cost, 24 hours a day. In addition to these services, Flushing Hospital employees are educated and trained on language assistance policies and procedures and cultural competency. All employees are also provided with information on a variety of topics pertinent to language assistance, including: the impact of language barriers on patient care, requesting an interpreter, problems associated with using family members as interpreters, and cultural competency, to name a few.

    To contact Flushing Hospital’s Language Assistance Department, please call the Administrator of the program during regular business hours.

  12. Good find HFTT, lets replace our laws with that common sense one, or I don’t know, allow the country to have to talk about it.

  13. Eric August 7, 2013 at 10:57 am

    “Good find HFTT, lets replace our laws with that common sense one, or I don’t know, allow the country to have to talk about it.”

    What does “replace our laws with the common sense one.” What does that mean?

  14. Hungry for the Truth….
    August 6, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    “Medical Services still have to print all information in both official languages.”

    Hungry for the Truth….
    August 7, 2013 at 10:10 am

    “As for my assertions that informational documentation will continue to have to be offered in the two official languages.”

    You see your first statement that they have to print ALL INFORMATION in both official languages !

    Then you said at a latter time that has to be offered in two official languages .

    Pt charts are in English only and it would have to be transcribed in French if requested therefore not all medical services have to be in both official languages but can be transcribed as needed.

    Hungry for the Truth….
    August 7, 2013 at 10:10 am

    You’re making this sound like it’s as simple as picking up the phone and the problem is solved. If you research the available existing services you’d find that there is a whole administrative bureaucracy that is required. IT COMES AT A COST. There are many many many more requirements to make this a feasible service alternative.

    Well hungry we spend $760,000,000 yearly for French services and a huge bureaucracy for 4% of the population in Ontario .
    Could not some of that 760 million be better allocated to serve most linguistic needs INSTEAD OF JUST ONE!

    What of that 2.4 billion a year for bilingualism certainly some crumbs from that expenditure can go to provide better linguistic services for those many languages as opposed to JUST ONE LANGUAGE

    I did not see any reference of any ONE particular language that the state and federal department are mandating .

    The difference here is only ONE LANGUAGE in Ontario Hospitals is mandated and all others are irrelevant .

    In American Hospitals no language is mandated but many language services are available !

    So which system is more equitable and fair ?
    CLEARLY THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL!

  15. What does that mean?
    A return to serving the public! Now that Service Ontario depots provide more services (health cards, license plates, hunting licenses for ex.) fewer people would be needed at a counter providing tele-connect services.

    Health care is different, the community needs are different but instituting laws are just leading to more divisions in those communities. French people in Ontario did not just start getting sick recently, communication may have been strained at times but no different than travelling the world.

  16. HFTT………EXCELLENT!!!! You clearly have them baffled. Thank-you for taking the time to research and sharing. Your moniker suits you, you do seek the truth and prove what you are saying is actually the truth…..

    highlander wrote: The difference here is only ONE LANGUAGE in Ontario Hospitals is mandated and all others are irrelevant .

    Not true…..others are not irrelevant. Do Like HFTT and check it out…….like in BC.

    highlander wrote: In American Hospitals no language is mandated but many language services are available

    Many language services are available in Canada also, in the larger suburban areas.

  17. Highlander August 7, 2013 at 11:57 am

    “Medical Services still have to print all information in both official languages.”

    Where did I mention patient charts. Information is ALL information such as Informational pamphlets. Program information, Heart and Stroke, Cancer, Diabetes, etc… signage in
    both languages….

    “In American Hospitals no language is mandated but many language services are available !

    In Canada two languages are mandated and the others are not needed. We design our services to serve all Canadians in two official Languages. There is no mandated requirement as in the US to provide multilingual services.

    “I did not see any reference of any ONE particular language that the state and federal department are mandating .”

    Bill S469-2011

    Makes English the official language of New York state
    Enacts the New York state English language empowerment act which deems English the official language of the government of the state of New York.

    “The difference here is only ONE LANGUAGE in Ontario Hospitals is mandated and all others are irrelevant .”

    Wrong. In Canada there is two mandated languages. French and English. And your right when you say all others are irrelevant. We design Canadian Medical Services to serve all Canadians in two official Languages. No need for 200 others.

    “Well hungry we spend $760,000,000 yearly for French services and a huge bureaucracy for 4% of the population in Ontario . Could not some of that 760 million be betterallocated to serve most linguistic needs INSTEAD OF JUST ONE!”

    The 760 million that you are referring to, is not only for Medical Services. That is the whole of the cost for all bilingual services for all Departments and Crown Corporations of Ontario. Such as LCBO, Go Transit, Ontario Hydro, Ontario Lottery Corporation, just to name a few. That is part of the 2.4 billion in CANADA. Not just French services in hospitals.

  18. stellabystarlight
    August 7, 2013 at 1:22 pm
    HFTT………EXCELLENT!!!! You clearly have them baffled. Thank-you for taking the time to research and sharing. Your moniker suits you, you do seek the truth and prove what you are saying is actually the truth…..

    OMG LOL LOL -now stella needs to have her nose surgically removed from lives for lies bottom .

    Well it only has been 12 days now waiting on hospital research but all that was copy past policy …still no info language services provided.

    “Many language services are available in Canada also, in the larger suburban areas.”

    Provide the proof there stella ,or what you say is hearsay!

    “Not true…..others are not irrelevant. Do Like HFTT and check it out…….like in BC.”

    Well I will have to call Mr.Harper on that and take 12 days to copy and past policies .

    But being you refute this please make yourself available for that research ……….OH that’s right you have admitted many times you look up NOTHING!

    Don’t forget that surgeon of which you desperately need.

  19. @Highlander

    The information may be late as you say, but it is there.
    There is obviously something troubling about it because
    your not referring to the Information but to your usual
    innuendos when you don’t like something.

    And how could I resist after such insistence and badger.
    That seems to be continuing, with no end.

    Mr. Harper is out for the rest of the summer.
    You may have do like I did research it on your own.

  20. Highlander August 7, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    “Well it only has been 12 days now waiting on hospital research but all that was copy past policy …still no info language services provided.”

    You must have scrolled by them to fast and didn’t see them. I supplied the tag times of the post to help you out. I know how is important this is to you.

    Hungry for the Truth…. August 7, 2013 at 10:10 am
    Hungry for the Truth…. August 7, 2013 at 10:16 am
    Hungry for the Truth…. August 7, 2013 at 10:41 am

    And there is another one posted under Eric’s Other LTE.
    All on US mandated language and linguistic services.

  21. Dear Sir,
    I just read Cory Cameron’s letter and she says O.B. for all of Canada is $2.4 Billion that is wrong according to retired govt. accountant Jim Allan it is $19 Billion a year or $1.169 Billion or $1.6 TRILLION for the past 41 years.
    What ever the Canadian Parents for French ask for they get . French Embassies around the world along side ours. It is all endless and costly expenses for us to pay .
    Jim Allan’s figures are correct. We would be a rich country if we didn’t have albatross on our shoulders.
    Please remember these correct figures.
    Dot Fuhrman

  22. Hungry for the Truth….
    August 7, 2013 at 2:53 pm

    Sorry missed those 200 language services available on site as well as 180 languages through other services.

    So to say they provide better language service then Ontario hospitals .

    Hungry for the Truth….
    August 7, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    ‘Wrong. In Canada there is two mandated languages. French and English. And your right when you say all others are irrelevant. We design Canadian Medical Services to serve all Canadians in two official Languages. No need for 200 others.”

    So you are saying no need to provide linguistic services to those that do not grasp those 2 official languages .
    I have heard the argument on here from Richard and stella that people when feeling vulnerable or sick revert to their mother tongue as this justifies bilingual staff at the hospital!

    What of those that revert to their mother tongue that is neither French or English are they not worth providing language services for!

    The 760 million that you are referring to, is not only for Medical Services. That is the whole of the cost for all bilingual services for all Departments and Crown Corporations of Ontario. Such as LCBO, Go Transit, Ontario Hydro, Ontario Lottery Corporation, just to name a few. That is part of the 2.4 billion in CANADA. Not just French services in hospitals.

    You are serious?Those services are already covered by operating budgets ,so having hired French bilingual in those government positions are part of bilingual budget?NO!
    Are those signs changed every year as well .NO!

    The majority of that bilingual money is granted to french interest groups and organization including the many events such as this:

    CHECK OUT THE TRILLIUM FOUNDATION ONTARIO’S SLUSH FUND FOR MANY SUCH EVENTS

    http://festivaldelacurd.ca/

    http://festivaldelacurd.ca/partenaires/

    Whereby 2 Federal and 7 provincial partners are involved .

    These ARE just a few out of thousands of similar “PARTNERSHIPS” where government spends those billions on “CULTURAL” EVENTS.
    DIRECTLY FROM THE BILINGUALISM BUDGET AND HERITAGE CANADA

    THERE ARE OVER 700+FRENCH LANGUAGE RIGHTS GROUPS ALL SPONSORED BY FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL TAXES.

    JUST PERHAPS A FEW OF THOSE SCRAPS FROM THAT 2.4 BILLION BUT(APPROX 10-12 BILLION EST BY J.ALLEN A REPUTABLE FINANCIAL RESEARCHER HAS QUOTED).

    JUST A FEW SCRAPS OF THOSE BILLIONS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF THOSE THAT DO NOT GRASP THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES BY PROVIDING LINGUISTIC SERVICES.

  23. If Mr Allan retired government accountant was correct each province would be spending 1.9billion per year. Even PEI. Their total budget is 75,000.0000.

    Hallo….Is there anybody in that dot. The total Armed forces Budget is 18.9 billion So how can the cost of bilingualism be more than the Armed Forces Total Budget.

    Come on…..Get real. It is 2.4billion that is correct.

  24. Dot Fuhhrman
    August 7, 2013 at 2:56 pm

    Dot welcome back

    “I just read Cory Cameron’s letter and she says O.B. for all of Canada is $2.4 Billion that is wrong according to retired govt. accountant Jim Allan it is $19 Billion a year or $1.169 Billion or $1.6 TRILLION for the past 41 years.”

    I stand corrected 19 billion a year estimate , 1.169 trillion lets see
    that’s $33,400 per person with today’s population.

    That could have payed our national debt 3x over .
    We could have eradicated poverty with that !
    All those social inadequacies resolved !

    But no 1.169 trillion for a net bilingual increase of .1 % over 42 years .

    Talk about a poor return on investment ,NO COMPANY WOULD CONTINUE DOWN A PATH LIKE THIS!

    But at last this is not about providing a service but to PUSH AN AGENDA!

  25. Hungry for the Truth….
    August 7, 2013 at 4:29 pm

    If Mr Allan retired government accountant was correct each province would be spending 1.9billion per year.

    Come on…..Get real. It is 2.4billion that is correct.

    So you are an expert in that field as he is ,he is a respected financial researcher and accountant .

    So you would know better then he ?
    You must have all that data in front of you?

    The government will never inform the public on the true costs of bilingualism as that would certainly incite great anger among the people and certainly civil unrest would occur .

    Like mushrooms they would prefer to keep us in the dark and feed us lots of B.S.

    “Come on…..Get real.”

    Welcome to reality!

  26. Highlander August 7, 2013 at 4:21 pm

    “So to say they provide better language service then Ontario hospitals .”

    Not better. More reflective to the New York demographers.
    They have the LEP Federal Law that they have to comply to.

    We have two official languages. And all our Medical Services are to serve Canadians. That are required according to our laws to speak one of the two official languages.

    “So you are saying no need to provide linguistic services to those that do not grasp those 2 official languages .”

    If they are Canadians and do not grasp one of the two official languages, how can they be receiving any other Public Service. How are they gainfully employed in Canada. They have to speak one of the two to access Public Services. It’s the Law.

    “What of those that revert to their mother tongue that is neither French or English are they not worth providing language services for!”

    Canada has been a country for 146years. We have always had a diverse ethnic population. Never in the history of the country have we ever considered having to offer Public Services to New or Born Canadians in any other languages than the two original official languages of the land. Immigration Laws are clear and specific on it’s expectations for New Canadians as a condition of Citizenship.

    “You are serious?Those services are already covered by operating budgets ,so having hired French bilingual in those government positions are part of bilingual budget?NO! Are those signs changed every year as well .NO!”

    This budget of 2.4billion is not for staff. It is for the expenditures of print services, translation, and implementation of bilingualism. Every Department or Crown Corporation utilize the same budgetary envelope for print translation and implementation.
    The needs change yearly.

    “The majority of that bilingual money is granted to french interest groups and organization including the many events such as this:”

    The Trillium Foundation is a separate entity and is financially sourced from the Lottery Corporations. It has an Independent Board of directors. The monies that are allocated to groups are not funded from the Capital Expenditure Budget of the Province of Ontario. These are not Government allocations. The Government does not vote on these allocations. The Board of directors are members from various communities of Ontario. They are the deciding body. The Trillium Foundation is a
    registered not for profit organization.

  27. Kim, using technology, what are we going to use ipads ? why not replace every front line staff at a hospital with a giant computer. Come on…Francophones just want what they have fought for years to keep. We deserve service in our own language in our own government institutions. It is part of our history kim. Wether you like it or not, 200 million people across the world can speak french and we invest 2.4 billion in bilingualism, and it is only 1% of our national budget, that makes it a good economic investment. J’abandonne madame koo I would think that even if you had proof right in front of you yet you would choose not to look at it. Les choses ne sont pas si pire que ça madame etet cette profonde haine que vous avez pour les Francophones est mal placé. La vie est courte, libérez-vous de cette haine et faite un câlin à un francophone. Peut-être que cela fera dissiper votre haine. Jim allans figures are just pure fiction. 1.16 trillion, please… that would mean that for a good third of the last 41 years of government revenues was spent on bilingualism. SI vous croyez cela, j’ai un terrain sur la lune à vous vendre..

  28. HighlanderAugust 7, 2013 at 5:11 pm

    It doesn’t make any sense. I’m not an expert but I can
    count and use logic.

    This has no possible logic of sustainability.

    You don’t have to be an expert to know something
    doesn’t add up.

    Come on why waste your time on this.

  29. Richard tremblay
    August 7, 2013 at 6:53 pm

    “… Come on…Francophones just want what they have fought for years to keep. We deserve service in our own language in our own government institutions…..”

    I just want to travel across Quebec on the TransCanada highway and know what the heck is going on. What makes a francophones rights in Ontario more important than and anglos rights in Quebec?

  30. Hungry for the Truth….August 7, 2013 at 5:37 pm

    “What of those that revert to their mother tongue that is neither French or English are they not worth providing language services for!”

    That’s what you are saying not me. You’re creating a hypothetical
    situation that does not exist and has no factual relevance.

    Canadians that need services have always gotten services in one of the two official languages of the land for the past 146 years.
    And we have always had an ethnic diversity.

    Every Life is worth saving. What your arguing is not substantiated. It’s hypotheticals.

  31. @ Dot. How are things in BC? I hope you aren’t completely over run by the French Fascists in the BC interior. Never let your guard down!
    I hope you don’t mind, but I have to correct you regarding the cost of Official Bilingualism, I was told by Stockwell Day’s nephew (so it has to be true) that the actual cost is well in excess of $8,000,000,000,000 each day. If you have more recent numbers, let us know.

  32. “Canadians that need services have always gotten services in one of the two official languages of the land for the past 146 years”, said Hungry for BS.

    If Canadians have always gotten services in French in the past 146 years, what is the problem now??

  33. Hungry for the truth ,

    With all due respect I work in the medical field and there has been many patients that were unable to speak either official languages or unable to grasp either upon attempt with communication.

    In one instance just recently a elderly Chinese gentleman who spoke mandarin was confused was unable to communicate in either official language .
    This gentleman was unable to communicate his wants and needs and was a great threat to himself through his actions .

    Every attempt was made to calm the individual with no resolution ,meanwhile attempts to get interpreters was a great challenge .
    That floor had plenty of French speaking individuals but yet no one who could provide Cantonese language service.

    You see daily we get requests on our printer for persons who can speak a different language then our official languages ,this is becoming a common occurrence as we are a country with a large influx immigrants.

    This and many such occurrences happen daily at my facility and poses as a great threat to the patients as well as the staff.

    Immigration services requests those new immigrants to learn either of the official languages ,but the reality is there are many that remain unable to communicate effectively in either or official language .

    These immigrants have every right to medical and social services ,they may not be able to grasp the official languages (yet) but remain entitled to those services as you or I receive .

    I remain an advocate for ALL languages and greatly appreciate the many languages we have in our country including French,Canada has a cultural mosaic as we all come from immigrant stock.

  34. Richard, stella and HFTT, can you tell us what service Francophones are not getting right now from any level of government?

    It is interesting Richard that you say others can not see something even if it is front of them….more than a hug is needed for an entire nation. If each of these changes that directly only help French were black dots on a page, it would almost be full.

    I don’t think it is the posters on here that are trying to eliminate French, the constant push by a few just creates a push back.

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2010/08/18/nb-moncton-bilingual-sign-report-1009.html

    You want some different views? http://www.city-data.com/forum/montreal/1881325-french-canadians-if-roc-made-officially.html

  35. Richard, can you show us the inside of those pamphlets? Good marketing calls for something shocking to turn the page so I bet the inside gives a different impression.

  36. Richard tremblay
    August 8, 2013 at 7:24 am

    OH Richard you keep posting the same thing ,please turn the page on that pamphlet and show what is really meant by it!

    Let me Quote the interior the inset of the pamphlet you conveniently do not show.

    Here’s how to wipe- out
    the Franco/Ontarian
    Language and culture

    Ban any stand alone use of the french language (make it illegal)
    Such as Russell township has .

    Mr.Ron Caza :
    Expert witness on Montfort had convinced the
    courts that bilingualism at the Montfort would be the fast track to Assimilation ,and the end of French hospital services and training in Ottawa.

    The argument by CAZA ;
    Any form of bilingualism will be the death to french hospitals services ,and training of French doctors and other French health care providers .

    Ron Caza represented the Russell township in its defense of mandatory bilingual signs .

    What that first page of that pamphlet stated and upon reading further into that pamphlet was:

    If as Ron Caza had argued that bilingualism will be the death of french services it could be argued that by mandating Bilingualism would wipe out the franco/Ontarian culture and to ban any stand alone use of French language and making it illegal in effect will potentially wipe out that culture .

    Richard you may have that cover page by I have the whole 11 page pamphlet that in effect has described how such language law could in effect wipe the culture and language.

    You really should read the whole pamphlet rather then having a scant of info and judging by this ………I could make it available for you and others to ;
    “NOT JUDGE THE PAMPHLET BY ITS COVER”

  37. Richard,

    Page 10 of the pamphlet has the quote from Caza’s start witness for the montfort :

    Dr.Roger Bernard PHD stated;

    That French is the Francophones’ language in their personal life ,while ENGLISH is the Francophones language in their public life.
    And if it isn’t stopped ,French will not survive .And that French Speakers always choose English in the business world when given the choice.

    So was Caza and his witness wrong where forced bilingual signs in Russell,where French speakers used to have their CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT to post signs in their own French language ,buy,courtesy of Lorraine Dicaire and Donald St Pierre (Russell)-NOT ANY MORE.

    GO AHEAD RICHARD ITS ON PAGE 10 FOR YOUR REFERENCE .

    IN FACT READ THE WHOLE PAMPHLET IT WELL DESCRIBES HOW INSTITUTING MANDATORY BILINGUAL IN THIS COMMUNITY WILL COULD VERY WELL HURT THE FRENCH LANGUAGE AND ITS CULTURE.

  38. delete, ignore ,bob and weave, like stella HFTT, trembly and others, but you know down deep you are wrong here, or are just afraid of some one being honest Right?????

  39. Author

    No Peter or whichever id you’re using today. Your final post on CFN and congrats on the first lifetime ban ever. You have been repeatedly warned to stop with the attacks and that we will not hyper-moderate.

    You have not listened or respected this forum and have shown the total inability to self-censor yourself and act like a mature adult.

    CFN is not a daycare. It is not home to frustrated cranks who have no control over their fingers.

    We can not have learned discussion and debate under a poison cloud, and just because someone doesn’t agree with you doesn’t make them racist or even wrong.

    Nor is repeating yourself over and over again debating. Frankly you destroy any credibility of the issue by the manner in which you squeal like a rabid pig.

    So stop even trying to post. Don’t try another id. I hope you get medical help and get a grip on your petty hatreds; but you’re quite done on CFN.

  40. Good marketing ploy ! Please…
    Does it really matte though ? So I could send out a pamphlet saying how to exterminate jews in the work place, and that would be ok, just as long as on page 1, you write just kidding. A pamphlet given by a self professed francohobe is not looking for anything but the extermination of our language and culture. It is just a question of sour grapes, he lived Québec (He left because Québecers even anglo quebecers wanted nothing to do with him) and moves to eastern ontario AND PROMOTES the exact opposite of what he promoted in QUébec. Les moutons suivent leur maître.

  41. RE: POST by Richard tremblay ON August 8, 2013 at 7:24 am

    OMG!!!! You guys NEVER give it up do you? You have used this same flyer example a thousand times already. Don’t you have anything else in your tickle trunk.

    It’s NOT even a VALID issue WHEN TAKEN in FULL CONTEXT

    How about we discuss how idiotic and insulting it is for the education minister (Marie Malavoy) in the province of Quebec (a province which resides inside the country of Canada btw) to refer to the English language as foreign language?

    https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0r0SMJ5C-70/UgKTvJ8tycI/AAAAAAAAAtc/FHgKG9sZcSA/w511-h542-no/Marie+Malavoy+%2526+Pauline+Marois+-+refers+to+English+as+a+foreign+language+02.jpg

    or perhaps we can discuss why the French and Quebec want NOTHING TO DO with the Canadian flag

    https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2DS6eiAiVLk/UL1dbaDjeoI/AAAAAAAAASg/_9fueJ7phlU/w720-h381-no/Labatts+Blue+-+No+Canadian+flag.bmp

    https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JJfrPZwPRIc/UHhcdybRqcI/AAAAAAAAASY/MaNK_G6e6RQ/w1145-h363-no/Tim+Hortons+mugs.jpg

    even though they live in (and accept large amounts of infrastructure and transfer payment money from) the very country that is represented by that flag.

    Or, here’s a good one. Why don’t we discuss why it is that the French want — French ONLY — signs in Quebec but demand bilingual signs outside of Quebec?
    What?
    Are they THAT MUCH better than everyone else? Are the English people inside Quebec not entitled to the same kind of “bilingualism” demands the French want everywhere else? These are the kinds of issues that Canadians feel are important.

    What level of arrogance and self importance does one have to posses in order to feel that it is fair for the French to outlaw the English language and step on the Canadian flag while demanding that the English accept French and continue to send money to a people who don’t even respect the very flag that represents the people who are actually sending the money?

    Not to mention the outlawing of the English language is taking place INSIDE THE COUNTRY OF CANADA and affecting Canadians tax paying citizens who, you must admit, are putting up with an awful lot of BS, all things considered.

    But alas, i don’t expect you to appreciate this as you folks have a very narrow view of things which is blinded by idealism, selfishness and self righteousness. (i could use other MORE POIGNANTLY abrasive adjectives but, you get the idea).

    Despite it all, i wish you a happy me myself and I kinda day eh 🙂

  42. Richard tremblay
    August 7, 2013 at 6:53 pm

    “… Come on…Francophones just want what they have fought for years to keep. We deserve service in our own language in our own government institutions…..”

    I just want to travel across Quebec on the TransCanada highway and know what the heck is going on. What makes a francophones rights in Ontario more important than an anglos rights in Quebec?

    I’ve reposted because you obviously missed it.

  43. Re: Post by Highlander ON August 8, 2013 at 9:30 am

    Well said Highlander.

    They have been using that one pamphlet for i don’t know how long now. I am glad you posted THE TRUTH about it and how it shows that it was NOT what they were trying to make it out to be when it is taken in COMPLETE context.

    So it can now be put to rest.

  44. Show us the rest of the pamphlet Richard to make up our own minds. Or are you just following (sheep) orders from your local ACFO (master)?

    There is nothing wrong with wanting Ontario to avoid miscues from Quebec and New Brunswick.

  45. Jamie……THANK-YOU!!!

    Chris wrote: Immigration services requests those new immigrants to learn either of the official languages ,but the reality is there are many that remain unable to communicate effectively in either or official language .

    Chris that is a situation that doesn’t only occur in Canada. Most immigrants do not speak the language of the land they move to. One can relate to their hardship…….but it is a choice they made. When moving to another country it is to be expected.

    That being said, as a country, we did not have the foresight nor have we taken the initiative to offer the proper courses until it was almost too late.

  46. Eric wrote: I don’t think it is the posters on here that are trying to eliminate French, the constant push by a few just creates a push back.

    OMG ERIC…..You are funny. galganov your shepherd and fearless leader lost an election because of his radical views. For years he has been fighting to eliminate the French…….what don’t you understand. UNBELIEVABLE how blind you are.

    Here’s how to wipe- out
    the Franco/Ontarian
    Language and culture

    THAT SAYS IT ALL………WHAT MORE IS THERE TO SAY? Thank-you highlander

    highlander wrote: Richard you may have that cover page by I have the whole 11 page pamphlet that in effect has described how such language law could in effect wipe the culture and language.

    THE COVER PAGE SAYS IT ALL……..See folks, the proof is right there for all to see. What we have been saying all along is the truth.

  47. RICHARD YOUR POST IS WORTH REPEATING

    Does it really matte though ? So I could send out a pamphlet saying how to exterminate jews in the work place, and that would be ok, just as long as on page 1, you write just kidding. A pamphlet given by a self professed francohobe is not looking for anything but the extermination of our language and culture. It is just a question of sour grapes, he lived Québec (He left because Québecers even anglo quebecers wanted nothing to do with him) and moves to eastern ontario AND PROMOTES the exact opposite of what he promoted in QUébec. Les moutons suivent leur maître.

  48. Quebec’s charter

    CHAPTER I.1
    RIGHT TO EQUAL RECOGNITION AND EXERCISE OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
    10. Every person has a right to full and equal recognition and exercise of his human rights and freedoms, without distinction, exclusion or preference based on race, colour, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, age except as provided by law, religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, a handicap or the use of any means to palliate a handicap.

    Bill 101 and 14 violates Quebec’s Charter 10 -So there really is an exception to equal rights !

    bella
    August 8, 2013 at 11:17 am

    I just want to travel across Quebec on the TransCanada highway and know what the heck is going on. What makes a francophones rights in Ontario more important than an anglos rights in Quebec?

    Bella right on the money -checkmate!

    edudyorlik
    August 8, 2013 at 11:06 am

    How about we discuss how idiotic and insulting it is for the education minister (Marie Malavoy) in the province of Quebec (a province which resides inside the country of Canada btw) to refer to the English language as foreign language?

    Are they THAT MUCH better than everyone else? Are the English people inside Quebec not entitled to the same kind of “bilingualism” demands the French want everywhere else? These are the kinds of issues that Canadians feel are important.

    Despite it all, i wish you a happy me myself and I kinda day eh 🙂

    Love the finishing but the body was good as well -by the way you can see Quebec’s charter
    and Chapter I.1 all are to be treated equal in standing.

  49. stellabystarlight
    August 8, 2013 at 12:41 pm

    “THE COVER PAGE SAYS IT ALL……..See folks, the proof is right there for all to see. What we have been saying all along is the truth.”

    Hey folks remember the old thoughtful saying :

    NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY THE COVER.

    stellabystarlight
    August 8, 2013 at 12:46 pm

    RICHARD YOUR POST IS WORTH REPEATING

    “Does it really matte though ? So I could send out a pamphlet saying how to exterminate jews in the work place, and that would be ok, just as long as on page 1, you write just kidding.”

    Saying how to exterminate Jews is a far cry then saying how to wipe out the franco/ontarian language and culture .
    Particularly the intent of the first page is to grab the readers attention and prove that through language laws this is happening.

    Stella keep spinning it, you would do Dr.Goebbles proud.

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