CFN – Members and supporters of the local newly re-branded Language Fairness for All – LFA group were joined by members of the Ottawa based umbrella group Canadians for Language Fairness outside of the Chesterville Legion this Wednesday evening. . The delegation was there in anticipation of an opportunity to bring their cause before James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, who would deliver the keynote address to Conservative supporters at the $50 per plate fundraiser dinner about to take place inside and hosted by Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry Member of Parliament Guy Lauzon. Upon his arrival, North Dundas Mayor, Eric Duncan, was approached by CLF president Chris Cameron and continued to be engaged 
while our camera was rolling. He told Cameron that: “it’s a free country and you have every right to be here.” When asked by Cameron if he feels that the percentage of bilingual service should be in accord with language demographics, Duncan agreed that is the democratic way. In spite of Cameron’s assertion that 80% of the population is being discriminated against, Duncan was adamant that he saw no issue with Cornwall Community Hospital’s interpretation and application of the provincial French Language Services Act, saying: “I’m satisfied with what we have now and how it works out.” Cameron inquired if Duncan is comfortable with the Health Unit being 100% bilingual, to which Duncan responded: “I don’t know about the Health Unit in that regard.” Some members of the local Richelieu Club arrived for the official function in order to hear the minister speak. On the way in, Jean Lecompte, president of the La Société pour la Promotion du Bilinguisme (Society for the Promotion of Bilingualism), sporting his signature bilingualism pin, asked if he could join the LFA/CLF delegation and was greeted warmly. He then attempted to turn the event into his own personal press conference and opportunity to enlighten the group, until eventually bidded “Au revoir.” 
Lecompte’s rhetoric included asking the group if they’d taken any (mandatory or otherwise) French classes in grade school and insisted that this makes them and all Ontarians officially bilingual (whether or not they can communicate effectively in French). The group wasn’t buying it and pointed out that bilingualism has one meaning when funding is being sought by special interest groups and another meaning when people are being blocked from jobs for which they are otherwise well-qualified. At various times during the interaction, Lecompte said that he agreed with the protesters that the situation is not right and not fair, yet he continues to advocate for bilingualism. CCH nurse Darlene Walsh, who’s been passed over for promotions for not being sufficiently bilingual demanded of Lecompte:
“Tell me, sir, if you fall down right now with a heart attack, do I have to speak French to save your life?” His response: “you do.”
M.P. Guy Lauzon initially circumvented the delegation by slipping in a side door just ahead of Chris Cameron, declining to respond to Cameron’s request to talk. Just prior to the minister’s arrival, members of the delegation were given access to the building to use the Legion washrooms. On the way back to the parking lot, Cameron and CFN’s Don Smith crossed paths with Lauzon just inside the building. With the camera rolling Lauzon was very hospitable, greeting both men with a smile and handshake and agreeing to speak briefly on camera. The conversation was cut short with the announcement that Minister Moore had arrived and was in the parking lot. According to reports from those in attendance and consistent with a demonstration which began earlier, when Minister Moore arrived, he was greeted by protesters dressed in black, carrying a makeshift coffin declaring the death of democracy and some two dozen protesters carrying signs declaring that forced bilingualism is divisive, discriminatory, and demanding that hiring policies should be based on merit, not on language. . One of the protesters cried out: “Canada is in distress” while carrying an upside down Canada flag as a statement of how inverted language policy has become in this nation. Reportedly as Moore exited his car, he was confronted with a demand to know why he and the Commissioner of Official Languages, Graham Fraser, had not accepted requests to meet with CLF previously. No explanation was offered.
As we returned to the protest outside, Moore was already in dialogue with members of the delegation. Moore told the assembly that:
“Everybody should have the same rights and opportunities across the board.” He went on to add that: “The issue of language policy is not meant to be a barrier to the citizens themselves.” The crowd quickly enlightened him that it is indeed a huge barrier, citing numerous examples. Later the minister acknowledged: “I understand how divisive language policy is and how frustrating it can be on all sides and in all parts of the country and that’s not what language policy should be about.”
Some members of the group called for a Canada-wide referendum on language policy. Although not at all outwardly hostile towards the crowd, it was clear that the minister was unprepared to address a delegation. In the midst of heated dialogue, Lauzon calmly advised the crowd that moments earlier he’d suggested that he and Cameron meet privately at another time to address and resolve concerns. Lauzon extended the offer to Minister Moore, who agreed to meet with representatives of both the CLF and the local LFA group in Ottawa. Business cards were exchanged with a promise to meet in the coming weeks while the House is still sitting.
Excellent coverage Don!!! Thank you FreeNews……this shows the truth and the ignorance that is present in our society!!!! The people of Ontario are NOT ALL BILINGUAL and will never be!!!!! Thank you so much to Language Fairness for ALL for your continued fight against discrimination!
Well done Don,excellent reporting,now lets see if Mr Lauzon & Mr Moore keep their word about meeting with LFA & CLF before closing for the summer.
I’m happy to see that some members called for a referendum for language policy ! – that should clear up some confusion on this bilingualism issue especially when the majority are English and jobs are an issue for everyone . . . !
“The issue of language policy is not meant to be a barrier to the citizens themselves”
Interpretation of any policy over time will and can be misconstrewed. After 42 years of the OLA, lets disect it for the next generation.
There is something wrong when Francophones get jobs that are bilingual but can hardly speak English yet Anglophones have to know an pass a superoir French exam, basic French is not good enough,So when you call any government agency or custom most of the time you will get someone who can barely speak English
Great coverage Don. It’s a pity that there aren’t more like you to put these politicians on the spot.
Petition to :Stop the Official Languages policy in Canada
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-official-languages-policy-in-canada.html
I was born and raised in Montreal in the early 40′ forties, had many french friends and I came from an english family. Joined the service (RCAF) and my last base was Valcartier (army), the home of the Van Doos ( strickly french speaking).
I then retired and moved to Cornwall. I noticed there were french speaking, limited though and friendly. Moved to Ottawa found a job and retired later on. Returned to Cornwall.
I have notice an increase in the french language being utilized because of people moving here.
Previously when working in Cornwall there never was a problem with languages. Now the primary language is bilingual and mainly french speaking to get a job here(in cornwall) never mind how well proficent you are in english or trade sought.
I speak english,french(Quebecouis,parisien),german,italian.
I don’t force ANY language down anyone throat (pardon the pun)
But a simple try with a smile works every time and a far as employment is concerned, what is the amount of people living in Cornwall, why did bilingualism ever raise it ugly head for.
Is someone or a few people trying to have big ideas?
Look outside of the box, people, there are people losing thier jobs and MOVING OUT of cornwall and if those people who are pushing this stupid idea of enforcing bilingualism, you might find yourself sitting on the curb listening to the ghosts of Cornwall.
Have a nice day folks.
good comment bigfellow-that women was so passionate -just imagine for the ones that have not been discriminated against -how it would feel that you are the best choice -but because play of politics -you do not have a right to that job!!!
This all is becoming clear that there is legislative discrimination!!
Great comment Bigfellow! It is very evident that just by listening to the honks at the rally, reading the blogs here and talking to most of the citizens in Cornwall….the majority IS being discriminated against. Wouldn’t a referendum in Ontario be lovely! For now, there is a petition…please klick on Robert’s link above and sign up for fairness!!!!!!!
Choose language fairness,not sides!
Bravo to the small group of people who managed to get out to Chesterville to confront MP James Moore and MPP Guy Lauzon. Even at the risk of losing their jobs, these brave souls are no longer willing to keep quiet. It is mainly out of fear that those who have jobs are keeping silent for fear of retribution from their French bosses. Who would ever think that in Canada, one of the bastions of freedom and democracy, one would find it so easy to silence the citizens? That is why there is not a great outcry over this policy – those who have jobs are too afraid to speak up for fear of being punished and those who have no jobs are afraid to be black-listed so that they cannot get jobs. Those who are benefiting from this policy will never speak up because they know that they’ve got the advantage – so why rock the boat? In the final analysis – language cannot be allowed to supersede merit if you want a well-qualified work force. Language as an asset to be used as the deciding factor when ALL other factors are equal – that is acceptable. Points should be awarded according to each factor – Qualification, Certification, Experience, Language proficiency, in that order. Even representation by language spoken in a community should be considered. What cannot be accepted is when MERIT is sacrificed for language proficiency, especially when it is a minority language.
Good job to everyone who attended the demonstration. We need more such demonstrations to get the politicians on the robes when the cameras are rolling. They feel the heat so much more – just like English speaking citizens who are losing their jobs and promotion opportunities every day. I especially loved the nurse who put out the question “if you fall down with a heart attack, do I have to speak French to save you?” Good point – too bad the pinhead didn’t get it. Maybe it will take such an incident before he does.
I was very relieved to read on the ‘Frequently Asked Questions: French Language Services’ section of the Cornwall Hospital site,
http://www.cornwallhospital.ca/controls/newsroom/news.aspx?id=104
what I precieved to mean, that MERIT IS NOT sacrificed for language proficiency. This is certainly the understanding I take away from point 8, paragraph 2. I would urge everyone concerned about this issue to read the above link to better understand the hospital hiring policies and why. One thing is ‘for sure’ the way I see it, we need to find ways to work together, flourish together. Let’s find ways to serve the whole population and insure we have policy in place that is fair and equitable to everyone. French, English, Mohawk, East Indian, Gay, Straight, Jewish, Muslim, Blue-Eyed People Eater, Young, Old, Male, Female, whatever. We have an opportunity to lead the way for the rest of the country.
It’s a good article Don, I am glad you posted it
IT WAS A GREAT ARTICLE -Thanks Don -I am rather surprised many other media including the CBC did not take interest in this great article-its not often ministers get caught off guard !
Milner…..Don’t believe eveything you read. If you are not a nurse then you have no clue on what CCh does behind closed doors. Their site is supposed to try and draw people in. The fudge numbers all of the time. Just look at the people lying in beds in hallways on the surgical floors. They put them there so they are not included in the “count” for people in emerg waiting for beds! CCH has not even responded back to South Stormont to work with them on the discrimination issue. Lots of lip service tho. 2 + 2 does equal blue just as Jamie said. That’s the only way they know how to respond.
Lolochuck…I do not believe everything I read, which is one of the reasons that I visited the Hospital website to begin with. Trying to get a better understanding of this situation by listening to and reading information relating to all the parties involved. I understand and sympathize with those whose opportunities are limited or challenged by their ability in or understanding of a language and who have or are being challenged by policy that they view as unfair. Seems that the Hospital is being targeted for policy that is being dictated by the Ontario Government.
Jacqueline, the policy is not dictated by the Government. It is the hospitals decision to follow the FLSA and it is solely responsible for setting the hiring policy. Brian McGillis asked the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur directly about hiring policies and she told Mayor McGillis that it was solely the responsibility of the hospital.
Your viewers may be interested to know that the condescending fellow labelled in your video as “Mr. Official Bilingualism” (Jean Lecompte), has been observed at places of business around the region advising the owners that they need to “comply with the law” in regards to promoting French in the workplace and in places of commerce.
He’s even had the gall to go into various service and community clubs and lobby there. At the local Legion he told the executive that they should be singing the Canadian national anthem in “both official languages.” We loved how they turned the tables on him by inviting him to lead the French singing. It was then that he had to show his true colours by admitting that he didn’t know the words! This is supposed to unify Canada? I think we know too well that there is a very different agenda being executed here.
Yo get to the nitty gritty of the language issue, one must first understand that this really is NOT a language issue at all, but one based soleely on race, which has been going secretly by the Canadien Roman Catholic Church for close to 250-years since the surrender of New France on September 8, 1760 to Britain.
But all this comes mainly from the inbredinferiority comlex that is carried in the blood lines of the Canadien/Kebecois, and one that cannot be treated, except by a psychiatrist. So, they are attempting to drag down the people of other communities to their level of ignorance and odiocy, and get very angry when they cannot achieve this goal, by bad mouthing them at every turn and twist.
But what they first must be made to understand is that they are NOT French, but a Metis people abandoned here by FRANCE. Once they understand that, they will no longer have reason to cling to the past, but head into the futire like those that crossed the border into the U.S. and became part of the American NATION. Amen!
Milner the hospital is NOT being dictated by the government. They have chosen to be under the FLSA and have also chosen how far they are going to go with French hiring. They are way over the population ratio!!!! They are now in discrimination mode and have been for some time. Take your blinders off.
By the way it is not just a “policy that I/we view as unfair” …it is outright discrimination! A mere 4% of pushy French groups keep telling us that Ontario is bilingual….people are going to start believing it….like you. It is not going to work this time. The majority are not going to stand for it anymore. Takeover and discrimination!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Lecompte, president of the “bilingualism”(but French named) group who distracted us, allowing Guy Lauzon entrance unnoticed through a side door, was absolute proof of how arrogant the quebecois elites are.
Those same quebecois who are invading Ontario and taking away English speaking Canadian’s right to work in Ontario in THEIR language, thus creating an alarming brain drain heading out west where jobs are given based on merit and skill instead of what language one speaks. When someone is captured on film declaring that if he had a heart attack, then and there, one could not perform CPR UNLESS they spoke French.
UPDATE: CLF spokesperson Beth Trudeau reports having telephoned Minister Moore’s press secretary Sébastien Gariépy to schedule the promised meeting with Moore and was given tentative dates of June 13 or 14. The usual lengthy summer Parliamentary recess is anticipated to occur between June 23 and September 16; Moore promised a meeting prior to the recess.
Way to go Beth! Yes, now let’s see if Mr. Moore follows through on this.
It should be noted that as of this post Mr. Moore has not responded to our request for an interview.
The reasons why institutions like the CCH have adopted the French Language Services Act is because the government uses tax-payers’ dollars to BRIBE them. They are given grants to help them implement this policy that puts proficiency in French ahead of professional MERIT. Naturally this won’t be stated in their written guidelines – it just becomes apparent when the pro-French management interprets the policy and the result is very apparent as qualified, experienced nurses are denied full-time employment and English-only nurses are taken on as part-time or temporary workers. It is good to see the Cornwall nurses shed their fear of retribution by their French bosses and decide that “enough is enough”. Pity that English-speaking Canadians are so complacent and so afraid of authority that they prefer to keep quiet all these years while small unfunded English-language Rights organizations struggle to be heard. The Conservative government has to be held to task for continuing to throw billions at this policy, sacrificing the rights of English-speaking majority to the French-speaking minority.
How does a person indicate a thumbs up on this site??? Can’t register a vote or approval here.
Beth, thanks for the good news. At least now we know we do not have the right to “save them” if they should need help. Puts my mind at ease as it has been a quandry in my mind for a long, long, time. Felt I had to step up and help in an emergency but didn’t really want to. NOW I KNOW IT IS LEGAL TO AVOID THE GOOD SAMARITAN SCENARIO!!!! Hahaha!!!
Thanks, Beth, for everything you do to help all Canada’s english speaking overcome and abolish franco discrimination.
Enoughcrap, if you hold the pointer over the little hands at the bottom of a post until they turn white you can register a vote. You might have to wiggle it around a little to get the thing to turn white.
You can also click on the star rating just above the hands.
Don, please accept my thanks to you for following up on the Cornwall situation and the discriminating hiring practices going on in Canada. At present, there is a serious situation in NB. All government jobs, tourism staff must be franco AND now the anti-anglo hiring practices are mushrooming in our hospitals. On Monday, June 4th, 2012, we will be protesting at the Oromocto Public Hospital against their hiring practices which favor franco first language and franco names. We must keep up the bad press against these minority rights behaviours and get rid of the OLA and all of its corollaries making minority rights prevalent over majority rights. Thanks again, Don.
LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing anglophones start to fight back!!
@ enoughcrap
Will there be more protests at hospital???
Many in Cornwall area support our friends in NB & would like to join in!
@ Nancy I agree 110%-the time is now to fight back!
Language Fairness for ALL-LFA ; 1st Public Meeting
Tuesday June 5 7pm
City Limits Conference Room
North end Pitt St-Cornwall,ON
Everyone Welcome!
FYI – The conference facility mentioned by concerned citizen that is connected to City Limits Bar and Grill is called Spotlight Hall and Conference Centre. Their location is 17369 Cornwall Centre Road. They advertise with this media outlet; please check out their online menu at http://cornwallfreenews.com/2012/02/city-limits-bar-grill-menu-in-cornwall-ontario-spotlight-hall-conference-centre/
Yes, concerned citizen. Anyone blogging here in support of LFA -Language Fairness for ALL(Chris Cameron’s Group), please come and join us Tuesday(tomorrow) as posted above. Find out what this is all about!
……don’t forget to bring a friend!
Wish I was able to use time as well as Mr. Jean Lecompte. He is an advisor with the ACFO of SD&G while being a Director at the not for profit corporation Society for the Promotion of Bilingualism.
Claudette Wallace as well, Secretary at the ACFO of SD&G while having a Director role at the Society for the Promotion of Bilingualism.Are these volunteer positions or double dipping in some way?
What I find funny, is how the ACFO of SD&G website does not have a English button for translation. Shouldn’t the people involved with both and considering a scoiety named Society for the Promotion of Bilingualism, enforce what they want others to do?
Right on indeed Eric!!!!
@concerned citizen; yes, there will be more. It was suggested today that the next one should be at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton, The Anglo Society of NB will announce the date and location once the plans are in place. So grateful for your support – thanks. Love working with those who share our purpose and beliefs. Thanks again.
Don’t forget….
Open Public Meeting TONIGHT
City Limits 7pm
Language Fairness for ALL!
See you all there : )
Wednesday, June 6, 2012, if the next Canadians For Language Fairness meeting in Ottawa at the Ron Kolbus Centre, starting at 7:30 PM and out, absolutely, by 10 PM. Hope you can join us for discussion on what topics to discuss with James Moore when I meet with him. Speaking of which, still no confirmation of date. It will be a week tomorrow since the rally. AND thanks for the kudos. I hope that at the next rally, more people will stop saying they are behind us, and start walking beside us…we need the bodies. It REALLY makes a difference.
Bloodletting
Dear Cornwall anti-French racists:
Isn’t it odd that francophones, with lower literacy rates in their own language, whose grandparents were illiterate in French due to the unconstitutional ban of French education for 15 years, whose parents had to PAY for French high school because it was not subsidised by the government, who just received autonomy over their school boards in 97, who experienced colonialism, linguicide (and our Acadian cousins, deportation)… isn’t it odd that the historically oppressed minority which clings to an oral archaic variety of French and can barely write, manage to get jobs because of the history assimilation? If only 2% in the region are unilingual speakers of French today, it is because the historically racist and colonial assimilation policies of British North America, Canada, and Ontario were successful. Language fairness would require reparations to the victims of Règlement 17 and the descendents of those who went to school where provincial inspectors came to ensure that no French was taught. How long will the the ghost of Lord Durham, who qualified the Canadien français as uncivilised and proscribed assimilation to British values, haunt the province?
How much more bloodletting can their be? We have been asphyxiated of our Frenchness. The French Language Services Act came too late… Linguistic Alzheimers has settled in, and to our horror, even dementia, in the case of those carrying French names who have enlisted, or worse, are leading, a suicide campaign. Beth Trudeau, whose patronym enacted the Official Languages Act, has internalised the essence of Lord Durham’s project to annihilate our language. Her name gives away her francophone ancestry of which she is self-loathing. This other Trudeau “chooses” not to speak an ancestral language which she is killing.
As our elders grow old and die with our mother tongue, and our children speak a pidgin of Frengnlish or franglais, please let us die in peace and dignity. So many of you have French or Mohawk ancestors whose origins have died when their minds were overwhelmed with English to survive in English Canada and get work for a white English employer. Immersion graduates and educated anglophones are quickly catching up in French to our anglicised children. Blame the lack of adequate language education, not the hiring policies for a designated bilingual area. Demand free French language adult education, intensive if need be, for those who did not benefit from immersion French, to compete with anglicised Francos. The literacy rates of Ango-Canadians are higher than Franco minorities whose numbers are dwindling. You have the skills, but your illiteracy of the global village is prohibiting your from striving for excellence. There is only ONE hospital here, we have to share it, and refrain from reviving a history of English imperialism and domination.
We are dying. Let the last Franco-Ontarians die in French with the one or two bilinguals on staff that day. You will live, you own the world, English is the global language. Let our elders die in dignity at Cornwall Community Hospital/Hopital Communautaire de Cornwall. Let the hatred die. Endless bilinguals are also unemployed… Stand up and Unite! … for a different cause. Peace education, social justice, and conflict prevention.
A bleeding Franco-Ontarien,
Knowledge is Power.
Knowing two languages is powerful.
Ignorance is bliss.
Blissful are those who ignore the history of their neighbours, of their country, of the world.
The Ignorant try to compensate for their lack of Power by slighting their neighbours of that which makes them blissful.
The Ignorant cling to the Right to Ignorance and are infuriated by the Knowledge of their neighbours.
The Power of Knowledge can reap benefits, even when that Knowledge is imposed by force.
The Ignorant who revelled in past Power and depended on domination over their neighbours are infuriated by their lack of Knowledge and the Power of Knowledge, which they have not.
They claim the Right to Lack of Knowledge. They claim the right to Ignorance.
Suddenly, the Ignorant are not so blissful when their neighbours benefit from their Knowledge.
And so they make signs and posters and demand that the Right to Ignorance be respected and that the Powerful disavow that Knowledge is Power.
They are sick and need to be in hospital and be treated for their Malady which is Ignorance.
Response from an Anglophone in Southwestern Ontario: seems poor kenneth has abandoned facility with language in general, and by extension with civility and coherent communication. ignorance and bigotry can’t be fought head on but they can be outlasted. there is no rational sense for demanding to know less and to deny others their heritage. the author of this semi-literate screed will cling to the comfortable illusions and one day the dirt will rise up and take him and his kind back into the bosom of nature’s cycle. there is bigotry in every community but in most places it is drowned out by common decency, warmth and acceptance. that is a far more potent force that the harangue of a fool. the best defense is to pat the kenneth’s of the world on the head and treat them with the same kindness and patience one would offer a child having a tantrum.
A comment from a British person with dual citizenship who learned French in England before immigrating to Canada and who became a core French teacher in Ontario and trains teachers of French as a second language: Following Kenneth’s barely-literate ideas, I presume that his ancestors were abandoned by the British. This would account for his scant grasp of the English language.
The majority of comments here are written by people protesting bilingual health care services who are embittered by the injustice towards the majority English-speaking population.
What I don’t understand is… Your English sucks! Your comments are FULL of mistakes. It is really hard to take you seriously when you suck at your own language and it seems most of you only have ONE language.
Kaede and melanie b, we are far from French haters because we don’t accept 100% of jobs in Ontario being turned into advanced bilingual positions. Call it what you want, turn the tables with your rhymes and riddles. It is still DISCRIMINATION!
As fro Kaede’s comment on Anglo blogger’s English, take a look at your group before picking on others. Melanie b’s first senetence has 96 words in it WTH?!?!?!?!? That would probably qualify her for any job in Ontario…..perhaps she could be an English teacher?!?!?
We are not name calling, hating are trying to get rid of anyone. Just because Ontario is standing up for their basic human rights does not make us bigots. We are standing for fairness of all groups. If you have a problem with fairness, then I guess…..your group is the one with the problem.
Very few are protesting bilingual health care Kaede and embittered is too strong a word. Concerned, about how we have progressed to a society where bilingual trumps merit is. For your information, it is difficult to take your comments as constructive and therefore receive a failing grade in debate class.
melanie b, if knowledge is king, why would a Nurse who is fully qualified, not be hired when a recent grad without experience or certifications be hired? The short answer is that we are allowing language to be king in a province with 98% of business groups report English is the language of work.
No one is trying to remove French services, only provide some sanity and fairness to the over indulging language acts.
Hey, look, your friends: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=768h3Tz4Qik
….if being bilingual is part of the job description and your not bilingual …you don’t meet the job description…therefore, your fully qualified.
– That 96 word sentence was grammatically correct ??? Isn’t that what they call syntax in english ?? My english if far from perfect and in stressfull situations I stutter, god forbid if I have chest pains and the staff at the hospital thinks its indigestion..
with the logic of some, we should remove all the elevators because they don’t support public majority….why not get rid of all the handicap ramps…if barely 2 % of the population use them… RIDICULOUS ISN’T