Letter to the Editor – Cory Cameron on Human Rights in Canada – September 21, 2012

It’s been a few weeks since I last sent a letter to the editor. I decided this week to send something I think may shed some light on the current state of our democracy here in our beloved Canada.

Canada has chastised other countries in the past about human rights issues. China immediately comes to mind amongst the list of those nations that Canada has accused of human rights violations and perhaps rightly so. But, as the saying goes, one needs to look into the mirror before accusing another of something. Hypocrisy is never a comfortable nor is it a desirable term in which to be accused of. Today, though with much misgivings, I feel that I need to accuse Canada of hypocrisy.

What is currently occurring in the province of Quebec with Bill 101 and the restrictive wearing of religious symbols in that province; the undesirable FLSA in Ontario; the OLA in all of Canada and the unbelievable court ruling in Russell Township is proof that Canada is moving away from the fundamental truths of Freedom, Equality and Human Rights. I am still perplexed how a recent Ontario Court of Appeal ruling in Russell Township can supersede the so-called guaranteed freedoms for ALL Canadians as listed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms found in Section 2b. I need to ask the question then: I wonder if the removing of the Canadian flag from the National Assembly in Quebec constituted an infringement of the right of Freedom of Expression?

The examples listed above are not the only times the Canadian Government has violated human rights. It wasn’t too long ago that Residential Schools were operating, with the last one closing only in 1996! Forget not as well the Oka Crisis and Sixties scoop. Regulation 17 at one time restricted the use of the French language as a language of instruction in Ontario and most recently, we see in Quebec, the restricted use of English as a language of instruction and use in that province on a day-to-day basis.

Looking back a hundred years ago and comparing to the way things are today; can we say that we have progressed or made any headway in issues of equality, freedom or Human Rights in Canada? How is it that someone in Russell Township cannot advertise their private business in the sole language of their choice? Moreover, how can it be offensive to advertise in any given language? In a hundred years from now, how will history judge us for what we have or haven’t done in regards to the issue of Human Rights in Canada?

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15 Comments

  1. In a 100 years from now people won’t care about Human Rights in Canada. What they will remember is that a of group radical activist abolished the french culture which is shameful.

  2. Stella once again propaganda,you can’t help but put your foot in your mouth.
    Abolish what the English language in Quebec instead?
    Respect other cultures if you want to be respected.
    It is up to you and your culture that will decide if French is lost stop blaming other cultures.
    You maintain your culture like most others do ,do not expect others to pay for it as well enforce it on the majority.

    Have a good day …..eh!

  3. In one hundred years, people will wear glasses that make everyone look the same colour. Idenity by sex will be reduced to one from the present 6. (GLBT & originally man / woman) All Canadians will be married to each other. A chip will be inserted shortly after birth to the larynx to speak all languages and another chip planted in each middle ear to understand them. Each province will be run by committee, in Ontario it will be called L’Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario, they will recieve all tax and provide special compensation for the 3 human couples living in the Toronto zoo to reproduce English children……

  4. Thanks Eric. I could not have said it better myself.
    Highlander you as well say it so right on.
    Stella, you are to bitter, accusatory and intolerant of the English. You must have been hurt by them when you and you family and friends were ‘forced’ to learn this foreign language so well in order to work in the worlds business language. I am so sorry for the difficulty you obviously had accepting all those jobs and certainly the pay cheque had to have caused you such stress as all of you cashed them. It would have been so much easier for all of you had you simply enjoy your former voices. On behalf of all those English bastards who did this to each of you, may I sincrely apologise.
    Kind regards.

  5. In one hundred years, with current immigration trends (80% immigrants are from Middle East and Asia), we would still be speaking two languages – Chinese and Arabic.

  6. Should I even bother this time? I have already said that Cory Cameron is very pessimistic before, have I not?

    Well, as I basically told the infamous Kim Lian Khoo last month, there are a number of things that might unfortunately pose a threat to democracy in Canada, but the laws and the bylaw that Mr. Cameron mentions here are not amongst them. Then, for instance, why not talk about all the secrecy with which Stephen Harper surrounds himself and many of his decisions at the Prime Minister’s Office, huh?

  7. Blue ,

    Your right why bother ?
    Because language is a religion to you ,to defend no matter how unjust those language laws are .

  8. Yeah right Blue Bird, just like back in the day when we were told to “take a Valium.” We unfortunately took our collective eye(s) off the ball back then. What? We’re supposed to allow you to use “the boogie man” – Stephen Harper and his “shroud of secrecy” – to draw our attention away from the insanity of what the French zealots are up to now. Things like this unfortunate Vanier “ONTARIO” police officer – Did I mention — “ONTARIO” police officer — who may end up stuck policing in some small town where the “language police” have not sunk their teeth in “yet?” (notice I said “yet”). In case you haven’t heard, “The appointment of this English speaking officer is now under review in Vanier “Ontario” after a community association complained he wasn’t bilingual.” http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Anglophone+appointment+Vanier+community+police+centre+under/7261805/story.html

    Sure, there are a few things that Stephen Harper is doing that get under my skin too but, as long as he is also doing things that “stick it to the Francophones” as well. Things like appointing unilingual judges and auditor generals, not to mention reintroducing the term “Royal” back into the official names for the Canadian armed forces etc etc… I/we can live with a bit of secrecy for a little while. We’ll keep an eye on you and your ilk while we also keep an eye on Harper as well. No more, “hey, what’s that over there” — OR — “taking Valium” for us. The resting majority has woken up now and, as I have said before, it’s time. No province in this country should be allowed to disrespect this countries main “majority” official language and its flag while at the same time taking advantage by accepting the hard earned money of the majority Anglophone tax paying citizens. There HAS to be a limit. And ya know what? Quebec and the Francophones have reached it…

    Oh, and remember.. Have a nice day eh 🙂

  9. Times they are a changing!

    When considering that the french Zealots continue to push for rights that have a negative impact on others cultures rights ,do the Francophones realize that they have become their own worst enemy.

    Policies that Quebec will and have implemented will only further divide the cultures .

    The English population continue to “wake up” to see the tyranny of the minority with every ETHNOCENTRIC policy Quebec puts out ,so yes Francophones you should be fighting Quebec’s Policies and not blame the English for any perceived mistreatment.

  10. Cory,
    How is it that our government continues to allow human right abuses and feel they have the entitlementto chastise other governments?
    Does are government not recognize its own abuses,or is it too sensitive of an issue to bring up?
    Why was it acceptable to violate the charters “freedom of expression” in Russell to accommodate one culture ?
    So basically from what you’ve said that its Ok for the government to violate your rights in the interest of bilingualism?
    So in Ontario its acceptable to violate ones right for bilingualismand in Quebec its acceptable violate ones right for
    Langauge preservation (bill 101)?

  11. @highlander RE: September 23, 2012 at 6:44 pm POST.

    That’s absolutely right highlander AND, ya know what’s worse? We (the majority English of this country) ARE the ones PAYING FOR the luxury of having our rights abused and stepped all over within our own majority ruled country. Sadness…

    It’s time. That’s what i say… It’s time.
    Where else do you know (apart from the middle east — which is a separate story –) that would allow segregation based on language? Forget that, segregation based on ANYTHING AT ALL? Separate buses for the French and the English, separate health clinics for the French and the English. All you have to do is change the words to separate health clinics for the whites and the blacks, and were back in the 50’s. WRONG WRONG WRONG. unconstitutional, unjust, morally reprehensible and just downright WRONG. How on earth can this be allowed in CANADA? What the H*^&%LL is going on?

    http://youtu.be/q9Z-5CzrKQg

  12. It’s allowed because in Canada rather than appeal to democratic values of fairness and equality – this country would rather settle into a policy of appealing to special interest groups. And why shouldn’t it? Obviously, the squeakiest wheel gets greased the most and this is exactly what takes place here in Canada.

    Our politicians up to now have only listened to those who make the most noise. English apathy across the country is what has transpired in facing this mess and allowed it to grow to what it has become. The French interest groups are just that, French interest groups who hide behind the guile of so-called bilingual policies and push a French language agenda. What are our politicians supposed to think? If French language interest groups are pushing and coercing for their agenda – and the English majority haven’t responsed until now; I guess politicians would read this as an all-okay response from the English-language majority. It’s only because we’re now reacting negatively to this whole policy and voicing our opinions that the politicians ears have perked up! Perhaps our politicians really are concerned; it’s just that without us to guide them, how the hell were they able to tell what our concerns were without us contacting them; without us protesting, without us speaking out, etc?

    Hymm, maybe democracy does work?

    I really can sleep a little better tonight knowing this.

    All the best highlander and Edudyorlik,

    Goodnight,

    Cory

  13. Chris Cameron President Language Fairness for ALL Interview with McLean in the morning New Brunswick.

    Chris is one of many who’s human rights have been violated thru language discrimination!!!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8xo6FlT01k&feature=youtu.be

    If you are concerned about forced bilingualism,please join us tomorrow evening for LFA Info Night;

    Information Session

    Are you concerned about?
    – Forced bilingualism
    – Language Laws
    – Loss of rights

    If you answered “YES” to any of the above, please join us:
    Wednesday October 17, 2012 7pm
    South Stormont Township Hall
    2 Mille Roches Rd.
    Long Sault, On

    Special guest speakers:

    Howard Galganov
    &
    Jurgen Vollrath

    Language Fairness for ALL
    108 Second St. W
    PO Box #194
    Cornwall, ON K6J 1G0
    613-363-7555
    http://www.languagefairnessforall.org

  14. Good morning Timmins followers,

    For those of you who I have spoken to over these last few weeks about the ongoing language right’s battles unfolding before our very eyes, I would like to make you aware of some articles here on CFN and abroad.

    A simple search of the following here on CFN of Cory Cameron, Eric Little, Language Fairness for All, Howard Galganov, South Stormont and South Glengarry will give you a plethora of material in which to understand what we are dealing with.

    Cory Cameron
    Board Member Language Fairness for All (LFA)

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