CFN – Heather Villeneuve is the face of the language wars leaking out of Quebec right across Canada. She’s the victim of a system of hypocrisy.
The Cornwall girl, born and bred has spent over $30,000 on her education graduating as a Medical Lab Assistant in 2011. While the two other Cornwallites got jobs instantly Heather has yet to find employment. Her crime and fault? She’s not bilingual.
Bilingual advocates like Jean Lecompte will tell you the importance of bilingualism; but essentially that’s a political correct way of saying French. The levels of testing for French proficiency are secretive and frankly most native Francophones could not pass these tests. And there are no equivalent English language tests for most employment in particular with government agencies.
Official bilingualism in Canada has been a failure. In the forty years or so of its existence less Canadians speak French than before. Frankly this isn’t an issue any longer about protecting the French language and culture. It’s about an industry that’s evolved to spread Bilingualism that has led to situations where advancement and the ability to gain employment if one isn’t French or able to pass these tests is the life and death knell for communities across Canada.
When you can’t go over the rank of Major in the Canadian Armed Forces without being bilingual that’s scary. When nurses get suspended or fired for speaking out costing hospitals thousands of dollars while appealing to the public for funds that’s an issue.
And when someone who doesn’t want to leave her home after investing in her education locally has to move to find work that’s an issue.
Being bilingual is a wonderful asset; but should it be the deciding factor in someone gaining employment to the degree that it has across our great country?
It’s more about the definition of Official Bilingualism and what society finds acceptable or not and that’s a whole other issue as most of these issues are dealt with behind closed doors. The new buzz is that government employees are now going to have to be bilingual as there is a push for the them to have the choice of what language to speak with to each other. That it’s not about serving the public anymore.
You can get a few hard core political types at a remote government office in the West and bam. The entire team will have to be able to communicate at high levels of French.
While this debate is a much broader subject here in Canada and Ontario Heather Villeneuve is dealing with its injustice in her life. She’s working a minimum wage job trying to pay back her student loans. She’s not even sure she could afford to move when a job opens up hundreds if not thousands of kilometers away from her home.
And sadly she felt that she had to try and turn to a local politician for help and not even in her own town where the Mayor and City Council have ducked the subject entirely.
She wrote a letter to the media and to South Stormont Mayor Bryan McGillis:
My name is Heather Villeneuve, I am a certified Medical Laboratory Technician and I pump gas part-time at minimum wage for a living. Why am I not using my diploma and working in my field? It’s not by choice; it’s because of the discrimination happening in Cornwall and the surrounding area. I am very skilled in my field, but I am not being given the chance to prove what I am capable of, due to one simple factor: I don’t speak French.
For years, I have been discriminated about my appearance; I don’t look the way society generally dictates as “normal”. But it upsets me that I am now being discriminated against, because of a skill that I lack and don’t necessarily need. I was not raised French, and I honestly do not believe that it is a skill I need to possess to do my job properly. I have applied time and time again to hospitals and clinics in the area, for the end result of them all telling me that I am not what they are looking for, because of one small aspect. As someone who has lived in Cornwall my whole life, I have never come across a person that can’t at least speak enough broken-English to get the point across. And as a MLA, patient contact is so minimal that extensive conversations are not needed to be carried out.
I have tried to stand my ground on countless occasions and explain that I can still complete every task assigned to me with the upmost attention to detail, but unfortunately it all comes down to a specific way of thinking, a bilingual way of looking at things. A Census from Statistics Canada shows us that only 3/10 individuals in our province have French listed as their primary language spoken. This proves that more than three quarters of Ontario’s residents are English speaking. ONLY 14% of the French population in Ontario lives in our South/East region.
.
So here I am, stuck in Cornwall, with a college education and nowhere to go. I can’t afford to move with my large sum of student loans, and it will be a very long time until they are paid off from pumping gas at minimum wage. So here’s my question, when is this discrimination going to stop, so the residents of Cornwall will have a chance to better our small community?.
I would like to take this time to thank the South Stormont Council, and Bryan McGillis for advocating for people like me trying to make a difference in the health care system. I appreciate all of their support and efforts in helping me in this process.
We had a chance to catch up with Heather and Mayor McGillis at the Township offices.
Mayor Bryan McGillis:
Mayor McGillis and I spoke about the challenge of retaining young people in Eastern Ontario and the ability to gain employment after finishing education was a hot point.
Were the Heather Villeneuve’s of Ontario told that they’d need such a level of French to attain employment? Did St. Lawrence College inform her before taking her $30,000 locally that she’d need that level of French to attain employment?
Are we ready in Ontario to demand that our schools turn out students with those language schools so that they can fill jobs at home? Does it make sense to try and import people from Quebec purely for linguistic reasons? And are there even people from Quebec ready to fill those positions?
It’s time to look at these issues and talk about them clearly instead of some labeling those that do talk about them as bigots or racists.
Canadians that earn their educations should have the right to work where work is available; French, English, or any language.
You can post your comments below.
@julesOctober 25, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Jules wrote: “There is no reason that this young girl cannot go and apply at the Civic Hospital”
AND
“I would encourage this girl to go elsewhere”
AND
“You have to have courage and leave and don’t look back.”
I KNOW you mean well Jules but if we keep running from one place to another after they start making it hard for us we WILL indeed eventually end up running out of places to run to. WE MUST STAND and oppose.
@James Wolfe RE: October 25, 2012 at 4:23 pm POST
Absolutely BRILLIANT POST James. Brilliant. Say’s everything I am working on right now. I read most of what you have posted. You MUST go to my Youtube page and leave me a message. We MUST unite and forge a plan.
https://www.youtube.com/user/edudyorlik?feature=mhee
Perhaps a full length movie?? a documentary ?? Something
@freethinker RE: October 25, 2012 at 4:28 pm POST
Freethinker wrote: “i don’t know about you folks or your parents but when i was a kid, in GRADE school we were always told that being bilingual would get us better chances at good paying jobs. its just common sense, bunch of whiners, seriously!”
THAT IS ONLY THE CASE BECAUSE “THEY” (the French) have set it up that way. HOLY FRIKEN GRrrrrrrrrr
And Rosie. Learning French only buys into their side of this Canada ends up as mostly french and i ask WHY? IT IS SIMPLY NOT necessary for a mere 4-8 %.
WAKE UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
ENGLISH Canadians … this country is being taken over. WE
MUST UNIT AND STOP THIS NOW !!!!
Stella said:
” No one is forced to learn any language PERIOD…”
-Only if you want those coveted jobs that you have Stella,those 1
In 5 goverment jobs.
Increasingly I have come to realize that the government does not hire the best and brightest but the bilingual -you are a fine example of this !
“Like I said before, language is not the only issue..the picture says it all. Enough said.”
The same could be said if she was colored or vailed right Stella?
What not the right religion ,color,ethnic background for Vichy French?
Dukers1 – who would you put in place Federally? While many blame Trudeau, Mulroney, Clark, and Harper have not said or done one iota to change the status quo.
Certainly the NDP will not change the status quo. I agree for change to happen people have to make it happen, but right now there is no Federal party that gives a flying XXXX about language rights in this country for the majority.
@Suan H.Booiman RE: October 25, 2012 at 4:28 pm POST
Suan wrote, “The corruption is in the selection of the word “bilingualism” within our governments and laws.”
Well said Suan, and the “selection of words” seems to be a common way to lull the majority English of this country into a sense that everything is just fine. Just look at the term “Nation” for the “province” of Quebec. Do you honestly think (and are we Canadians supposed to believe) that it means the same to THEM as what we are being told it means in as far as “this country” Canada is concerned? I highly doubt it.
admin
I hear you Jamie. I believe that we can succeed by starting with Ontario as you can see in my letter this evening to our PM as follows
PM@PM.gc.ca:
Fraud and Corruption evidenced in French Commissioner Departments:
Another issue here in Cornwall as well as being experienced accross Canada is that the executives of our
Health Unit and Cornwall Community Hospital are using their bully pulpit to insist on hiring advance French
staff without ‘advanced English 100% of all hires while our while English Nurses, technologists FROM OUR
OWN COMMUNITY are refused jobs……and the Census shows ONLY 1% OF OUR COMMUNITY IS FRENCH
ONLY WHILE LESS IS OTHER LANGUAGES.
THIS IS DEFINITLY BULLYING in THEIR OWN CITY.
WHERE ARE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMMISSIONERS ????????
THEREFORE:
THE ENTIRE ADMINISTATIVE STAFF OR AT THE VERY LEAST CEO’S, THEIR ASSISTENTS AND ALL PERSONNELL
STAFF SHOULD BE THE ONES TO BE FIRED WHILE ENGLISH ONLY REPLACEMENTS OF ‘QUALIFIED, PROVEN
FAIR STAFF WHO KNOW ABOUT FAIRNESS COME ON BOARD.
HIRING FAIRNESS IS A MUST.
THE METHODS BEING USED ARE DUE TO ‘DESIGNATED’ FRENCH REGIONS OF
ONTARIO…..REQUESTED FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF GAINING MORE GRANT MONEIES’….FOR WHAT, SO THEY
CAN ABUSE OUR OWN YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN. NO, EMPHATICALLY NO
GET RID OF ALL FRENCH COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HONEST/FAIR IN HOW THEY ARE
DESIGNATING SO MANY REGIONS OF ONTARIO TO ,PRETEND’ WHERE NUMBERS WARRENT AND TO MAKE
THEIR POWER TOWER CONVINCE THE PROV AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS THEY NEED EXTRA MONIES…IF Y
OU ARE LOOKING FOR SAVINGS, HERE YOU ARE …TYPICAL WHITE COLLAR THEFT RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSES….
IN EVERY PROVINCE AS WELL AS WITHIN YOUR OWN FEDERAL BEURACRACY. THE AUDITOR GENERAL MUST
GET ON TO THIS ISSUE NOW AND RESOLVE THIS FRAUD ON YOUR FELLOW ENGLISH COUNTRYMEN.
BELIEVE ME SIR, YOU OR IF YOU RESIGN, WHOEVER HAS THE COURAGE TO STAND TALL AGAINST THIS FRAUD
WILL WIN THE NEXT ELECTION…HANDS DOWN.
WE NEED SOMEONE IN POWER TO STAND UP AGAINST THIS INTERNAL FRAUD and CORRUPTION.
SunNews reported…..Oct. 26/2012 –My response follows””
FORCING OF FRENCH
•Quebec NDP MP scolds AG for speaking French
“”OTTAWA – A Quebec NDP MP lectured auditor general Michael Ferguson on Thursday not to use a
House of Commons committee to test his French.
The interruption by Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe came just as Ferguson began responding to her
French question in the same language.
“Merci…, bien sur (yes, of course) Ferguson said when he was shut down.
“Mr. Ferguson, I appreciate very much your effort to speak in French, but unfortunately I think
the committee is not the place to practice and I think I deserve a quick and efficient answer as
much as my colleagues,” she snapped.
“Is it possible to ask you to answer in English.” He did.
The NDP, Liberals and Bloc Quebecois ripped into Ferguson’s appointment last year because he
couldn’t speak French – something he promised to correct by taking language courses.
The former New Brunswick auditor general never got a chance to try his abilities at the public
accounts committee because Blanchette-Lamothe, who was flanked by two unilingual NDP MPs
who asked all their questions in English, cut him off.
Since the NDP won 59 seats in Quebec in 2011 with Jack Layton as leader, the party has had to
answer to charges it harbours former card-carrying separatists in its caucus and others who have
contributed cash to groups that advocate the breakup of Canada.””
I kinda blew my topwith this one, yet another assinine franco/Anglo issue. Canadians are getting
sick and tired of it.
My response to this Sunnews report as well as to our Prime Minister PM@PM.gc.ca
TRAITOROUS HYPOCRACY, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. EVER SINCE THE NDP LOADED UP WITH MPP SEPARATISTS
AND PAULINE MARIO STOLE THE QUEBEC LEGISLATURE, FORCED HERSELF ON THE WORLD STAGE WHERE
SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR IMPERSONATING A HEAD OF A STATE, QUEBEC LOYALISTS HAVE
BEEN RATCHETING UP THE STAKES WITH SEPARATISTS FRANCO.
ANTICS PERPETRATED AGAINST THEIR OWN ENGLISH CITIZENS AN SUEING WHERE EVER POSIBLE THE REST
OF CANADA LAYS IN WAIT WITH BAITED BREATH FOR LEADERSHIP WITH THE GUTD TO SAY HELL NO……..
WE ARE BREAKING DOWN AT THE SEAMS AND HALF THE COUNTRY IS TOO NAIVE TO SEE IT.
My previous letter to our PM as our own provincial legislature is as you well know, out to lunch….
All of this on behalf of our “YOUNG GIFTED AND WELL EDUCATED STUDENTS” They deserve better. In particular our own Heather McGillis.
@admin (Jamie) RE: October 25, 2012 at 9:51 pm POST
Jamie wrote, “Harper has not said or done one iota to change the status quo.”
My buddy say’s the same thing. Thus, I will say to you what I say to him.
The Frenchification of this country has been in the works for a long time. It was instituted through dozens of “small pieces” over many years that have ultimately come together to entrench things in a way that we see today.
No Prime Minster can just come straight out and do things to “change the status quo” in one foul swoop.
As a result of the many years of entrenchment, we are faced with the disadvantage of facing a tremendous institutionalized opposition in ways that we (and likely even Prime Ministers) can only imagine. IE: Try talking about this issue in a mixed group of coworkers in just about any office in Ottawa, Ontario. You will find yourself looking over your shoulder to see where the “friendly forces” are located. In many cases the English find themselves totally outnumbered. As a result any overt major changes will spell quick decisive opposition and or career annihilation.
Another area of tremendous opposition is the inner workings of the government. Most departments that do the hiring (actually, most departments, period :- ) are inundated with “French friendly” forces. You can bet your hat that as “those forces” look through the résumé pile to see who will “come on board,” so to speak, as the next compadre, and hese front line “French friendly” folk will be choosing last names like Villeneuve or Cadieux over those with names like Smith and Macmillon that will likely not make it to the interview at round two.
That being said, it is quite easy to deduce that any push back against these kind of opposing forces is certainly not only going to take a good long while but also can likely only be done in a series of those same “small opposing pieces” and hopefully ultimately that can reverse this entrenchment.
So, this makes it clear as to why Harper just doesn’t come right out and just “SAY IT” and or just do the BIG opposing things.
Now, I was raised more of a liberal minded person myself however after watching the Liberals sell this country out to the French for umpteen dozen years I had to do something. I DO NOT typically lean in a Conservative direction politically, but I must say, I have been quite pleased with some things Harper has done that allow the English majority of this country to feel proud of our heritage and the ties to our history.
Thus, it cannot fairly be said, “Harper has not said or done one iota to change the status quo” because he has. He indeed has put forth some of those “small ‘opposing’ pieces” to “push back” in small ways that if continued will hopefully ultimately accumulate into BIG things. It is up to us now, the English speaking majority tax paying citizens of this country to rise up and make it be known that we will no longer put up with this idea that our Prime Minister (and minister of the official opposition) not to mention government employee’s in general, should be chosen from such a small percentage of the Canadian population. This is not acceptable and as Elaine wrote, on October 25, 2012 at 6:16 pm “using translators for those who want to throw their names in the hat” SHOULD and could be fine.
PS. Some of the things Harper has done are outlined starting at 08:25 of this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOFj5A4yC2I
@franco-ontarienne RE: October 25, 2012 at 6:05 pm POST
francoontarrienne wrote, “I won’t forget is how some of the community miss treated me for my french accent.”
Firstly, being treated badly as either a French person with an accent OR an English person with an accent is WRONG. It is something that happens on both sides, WAY too much.
That aside, the real issue is the FACT that it is COMPLETELY incorrect to COMPARE the situation with the “province” of Quebec with the situation to the “country” of Canada as one is a “province” and the other is a “country.”
Also, it is inaccurate and incorrect to compare the rights of the people speaking the English language (which comprises of 80% plus of the population) to people speaking the French language (which comprises maybe 4-8 % of the population) Canada wide. These things are simply NOT comparable.
The French would not expect to travel to or move to Russia, and as a tiny minority there have the majority Russian people know French to “accommodate” them right? They actually would be more likely to find someone that knows English if you needed help.
By the same token why is it that the French who not only have the solid belief that they can declare the “province” of Quebec to be French ONLY (a “province” outlawing ENGLISH — the majority language of this country– ) but also, in turn, feel that when they leave Quebec and come to Canada as a tiny minority they SHOULD somehow expect that the majority English SHOULD know French to “accommodate” them here? I can’t quite wrap my mind around such a complete sense of entitlement. The “province” of Quebec shows such amazing disrespect and zero accommodation to the English language and the English people in that “province” but yet, at the VERY SAME moment in time, they feel they should get TOTAL respect and TOTAL accommodation when traveling or moving out into the ROC. Really???????
OH and PS: As for you stating that you were “obligated” to learn English… It only happens to be the main majority language of “your own country.” To me, and likely most other English Canadian citizens, insinuating that it was tedious and somehow below you in the sense that you were “obligated” to learn English is VERY insulting and is in the same league as the sense of disdain the French have shown towards the English people and English language (not to mention the Canadian flag) in the “province” of Quebec.
and with a french name like villeneuve, she is not bilingual. THis LFA should change its name to BEOB. BLame everything on bilingualism. Can’t get a job cause I don’t fulfill all the qualifications…bad bilingualism, we are in debt, bad bilingualism, we have a deficit, bilingualism, taxes are high, bilingualism, someone laughs at my accent, bilingualism.
– Editor of the CFN, how about other subjects then language. Try things more important, like trade, or maybe the fact that our supreme court judges GAVE the etobicoke seat to ted opitz.
Bilingual??? Since when, go to Quebec and there is one language. French. No government signs in English. Is this a form of ethnic cleansing? How many of the French do not speak English? Are they denied jobs also? Time for the UN and mass protests, remember voters have the ultimate power.
Admin:
Funny thing about socialism ,it only works till you run out of other peoples money!
But I agree that no Federal Party gives a *hit about language rights
Maybe its a time of an awakening of new party ,one that actually cares to bring Fairness to the language equation .
To tell you the truth ,I respect political correctness but we are seeing what happens when it takes precedence over logic.
Political correctness limits the willingness of politico’s to address the tougher issues as not to offend others,in doing so a majority has lost their voice as not to offend the minority .
So reality is most politico’s fence sit or walk around the subject .
If our Mp Guy Lauzon was advised that say a neutral cause as such as save the” local perch population” even if 5 people showed up -He would be there to show his support and his photo op.
But 300 people at South Stormont bylaw -a no show -because he “Feared ” it was too sensitive.
Did you vote him in to avoid issues that have meaning for the people ?
You can put up any frivolous cause as long as it not sensitive (other then abortion as he feels that this is not a sensitive subject).
He will be there with a big SMILE and ready for his photo op saying look I do get involved and I do care of your issues!
I think i am going to puke now.
At least I have his latest pamphlet to wipe my spittle off after,na save that to wipe the other end.
Spending $30,000 and more without researching the job market is never a good idea. Making a debtor’s prison for yourself by remaining in Cornwall to pump gas is even less of a good idea.
Pickup and move. Shake the dust of Cornwall off your feet and start somewhere else. There’s nobody at any loan institution in Canada that’s going to go hungry or even lose a night’s over a few late payments… move on.
Mr. Tremblay as editor I can assure you we have many many subjects on CFN besides language. Why you choose to read this is your own purpose and reason.
That’s the amazing thing about CFN – there’s room for all subjects and groups of people. Nobody is forced to view what they wish not to.
Supports Bilingulism, with so much bilingulism in the Cornwall area, why do so many jobs artificially require bilingulsim? If so many people can speak Eng/Fr, speaking either should be ok then.
Why do so many roles “require” bilingual when only 510 (1%)people are French only speakers, but 33,000 (58%) are English only speakers? http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/as-sa/fogs-spg/Facts-cma-eng.cfm?LANG=Eng&GK=CMA&GC=501
The focus should be on helping the customer, public or private, not the employee to work and be supervised in the language of THEIR choice.
Admin, very good insight, succesive governments don’t repeal laws put in before them.
So, people either need to gather together and force change, or start their own party.
Richard tremblay, the “qualifications” and job “requirements” are an issue. Jobs are made bilingual by people (not God) and not always with a motive to help the organization, but to fulfill a policy, mandate, a checklist or even a percieved need.
“stellabystarlight
October 25, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Why wasn’t she hired? Like I said before, language is not the only issue..the picture says it all. Enough said.”
You’re a total biotch… you should hang your head in shame for that comment..
OMG….so many are pucking this morning. I didn’t think fighting for supremacy would be that hard on you guys. **s**
So what about franco ontarian having to learn english? Do you hear him or her complain? That is being proactive…making good choice for a better future. Still to this day she/he is being ridiculed by the english when visiting her hometown……that is the type of mentality that gives Cornwall a good name.
Once again for my wonderful english friend in Timmins……a diploma is not a job guarantee. What is so hard to understand? Try to think outside the box, it may open your eyes and help you understand the real world..not the fantasy world you live in of having the english rule this country…..
To Stella from stella
It is your right to say what you think as it is mine. You calling me a bitch is worse then the comment I made about the picture. My comment was not a direct attack on her as a person nor did I use foul language. If calling me a bitch made you feel better, then I am happy for you.
Just remember everyone has a right to their opinion, and it is just that, an opinion whether it’s right or wrong.
Would like to add my thanks to the chorus, to Heather Villeneuve for her bravery and courage in speaking out against linguistic discrimination.
Thankfully, the English majority has awoken and has begun to fight back against the policies/agendas/discrimination of Official Bilingualism.
Dukers1, thank you for joining the discussions with your insightful comments and ideas. Perhaps, you should consider joining Language Fairness for All, Canadian Language Fairness and Howard Galganov. They are all fighting for Our collective: rights, language, culture, heritage and symbols. Could always use another, Brother in the Cause.
Heather, keep on “speaking up” for you are the face of Cause and am greatly encouraged to see one as young as yourself, standing up and being counted. You, are to be commended! Would encourage all our young to “speak out”, fight back, get involved, join the Cause, write the press/media, blog, write our MP’s and man the picket lines. It’s time to fight for our future and that of our children/grandchildren!!!
R. tremblay wrote, “Editor of the CFN, how about other subjects then language.”
Hey R. tremblay. Though I wait with such anticipation to see what kind of garbage is going to spew from you each time I log on, I must say, if you don’t like the topic then just move on. No one here really needs your posts anyways. They are generally just filled with propaganda and insane rhetoric anyways. So, why don’t you go steal some candy from a child or something like that which I am sure you’re probably much better at.
Simon
If the education system is made for everyone to excel, why would they take 30,000 dollars from an individual and not inform them of the additional qualifications they would require to work in the area.
Where is there due diligence? Why would a government entity allow an individual to become indebted knowing they will have issue paying it back?? Self preservation??? PLaning for thie own future all knowing a person will and must take further courses????
Since when did it become our responsibility to watch the “job market”? How can anyone trust a market based on the very industry which controls how we do what we do.
Anyone with the slightest bit of intelligence knows it holds no bearing on the markets needs but on how much money they can make.
The education system is yet another service propagated only to serve job market job market or those in control of it
Most people have no idea who truly controls education in Canada because little attention is given to that question be it either educators or the public. We just naively believe in it and assume it works efficiently, also because the question is not neatly nor easily answered.
The system and its methodology stem back to the Prussian order of obedience and efficiency. If you look closely to the system as well as our way of life it is based on, Obedience, subordination and collective life.
We are taught how to become citizens for the good of society and public schools promote civic rather than individual pursuits.
Why else when you make a career choice will you get the answer “You will never make a living doing that” from the system itself?
Woodrow Wilson stated “we want a class of to have liberal education and we want another class of persons, a very much larger class of necessity in every society, to forgo the privilege of liberal education and fit themselves to perform specific manual tasks” at the address to the federation of high school teachers.
Does that sound familiar or appear as our way of living? The system is broken
@Simon RE: October 26, 2012 at 5:40 am POST
We’ve been “picking up and moving away” for far too long now Simon. The ONLY thing that happens when we do that is the French take over the area we left behind. Just look at Quebec and many parts of the East end of Ottawa. If we continue, there will be no where else to “pick up and move away to.”
We’re done running now, we’ve had enough. No more, picking up and runnin”
We’re also done being empathetic, apologetic and complacent as well. It’s time. The tide is turning and it’s time. We are gonna push back NOW in all corners of this country. This CR@P has gone all for WAYyyyy too long and it HAS TO STOP.
@Dukers1 RE: October 25, 2012 at 10:57 pm POST
GREAT post Duckers1
And, particularly this line…
“SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR IMPERSONATING A HEAD OF A STATE”
Which is so damn true, and well said. Sure didn’t see any other of Canada’s premiers traveling with Harper, did we?
I am an english only girl. I see everyday people such as myself denied better employement due to not speaking french. It is not just in hospitals and government. It is in Municipalities as well. I would like to see some of the people who obtained jobs that are deemed billingual take an english test of the same calibre as the french oral and written test given. I would bet, that they would not obtain the 70% that is required with the french tests that are given.
Darn, hit “Post” before i finished.
Want to add. Not many Canadians know this but, Quebec (yes, Quebec the “province”) sends an official emissary to travel with the PM just about every time he travels anywhere.
@Only English Girl RE: October 26, 2012 at 9:19 am POST
(and anyone who is interested as well) click on my name and go to my YouTube page. Leave a message and i can put you on the growing list of people that get news about this topic. We are growing our numbers to push back against this some time soon 🙂
For anyone who is just as appalled as i am regarding this arrogance:
“”OTTAWA – A Quebec NDP MP lectured auditor general Michael Ferguson on Thursday not to use a House of Commons committee to test his French.
The interruption by Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe came just as Ferguson began responding to her French question in the same language.
“Merci…, bien sur (yes, of course) Ferguson said when he was shut down.
“Mr. Ferguson, I appreciate very much your effort to speak in French, but unfortunately I think the committee is not the place to practice and I think I deserve a quick and efficient answer as much as my colleagues,” she snapped.
“Is it possible to ask you to answer in English.” He did.
You can email your words of displeasure directly to:
Lysane.Blanchette-Lamothe@parl.gc.ca
Simon……it’s become a world of entitlement. It’s a dog eat dog world and only the strong will survive…those who bite the bullet and persevere will make it and even then, some don’t. Cornwall, even though I hate to say this, has not much to offer as far as good future jobs are concerned. So many had to move and language had nothing to do with it. It’s a hard choice to make, but a woman has to do what a woman has to do if they want be be self sufficient.
@ Bigfellow… the attendant who refused care for the young child in QC has said “Speaking English is not part of his job description” that is probably true but is that not the same thing as English people here are trying to say should be the case so if you read some French child here did not get services in French because the attendant claims his job description does not require French is that not exactly the same thing only vice versa.. an what would happen if that child died here???
This young lady with her proud diploma is just another one with no French.. It is a no brainier to think you can work in many hospital in Eastern Ontario with no knowledge even of French… A good photo op!
Hi Folks,
FYI, the post below was written by me,not Deb…
Debbie Cameron
October 25, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Hi Folks,
What a great article Jamie, thanks for bringing about the issue that has plagued our community and many others across the country.
Heather Villeneuve is an amazing person for speaking up, be proud that you are standing up for your principles.
Many should have spoke out before, as this would not have happened.
It is unfortunate that the many others who are negatively affected by the “Language laws”, will not speak up in fear of the retribution of their employers.
In particular, Cornwall Community Hospital, but as well many other government agencies.
In due time the many disadvantaged from these bias language laws will speak up,for we must not be oppressed by either a gun or through verbal slurs such as bigot /racist /french hater for standing up for ones rights.
I stood the line protesting against the hospital -receiving verbal onslaughts and as well as the french teachers association -unsure as to why the Francophone teachers disagreed with myself standing up for my rights!!
I have 2 Quotes that may inspire the people who fear of speaking up; as it did for me.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”
Marin Luther King
“If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it; he is obligated to do so”
Thomas Jefferson.
Heather Villeneuve, I admire that fact that you spoke up against a law that is clearly unjust. I am hoping you will inspire the many others this law has done an injustice to.
Remember folks when you feel you have no choice:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,committed citizens can change the world;
indeed its the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
Anyone concerned about FORCED bilingualism & unfair government hiring policies should join our team to fight for FAIRNESS!!!!
http://www.languagefairnessforall.org/
Everyone welcome!
CHOOSE LANGUAGE FAIRNESS, NOT SIDES!
edudyorlik October 26, 2012 at 1:41 am
Your whole comment at this time has to be one of ‘clearest thinking’ process of what is happening here in Ontario.
Further I note this segment”.
“OH and PS: As for you stating that you were “obligated” to learn English… It only happens to be the main majority language of “your own country.” To me, and likely most other English Canadian citizens, insinuating that it was tedious and somehow below you in the sense that you were “obligated” to learn English is VERY insulting and is in the same league as the sense of disdain the French have shown towards the English people and English language (not to mention the Canadian flag) in the “province” of Quebec.”
As I have noted my own English is not advanced to a ‘professional’ level. My other issue with my comments is that I get so incensed with my retorts that I unfortunately by-pass ‘spell check’ before pressing send.
Just the same, as much as I do believe strongly in hiring by the numbers you are quite right in suggesting that it is the french who need to assimilate.
The next biggest reason of course is the enormous cost savings if we are to continue government paid language training, with all its warts. Obviously Quebec made a major cost saving by not even offering English in their legislature as we do in our Ontario.
And for ‘Only English Girl’
You said:
I would like to see some of the people who obtained jobs that are deemed billingual take an english test of the same calibre as the french oral and written test given. I would bet, that they would not obtain the 70% that is required with the french tests that are given.
That arguement is so true and it permiates the comments in this story as well as many other. Believe me, we are all being sucker punched with this one and while doing it to us they are moking the English all the way to the Quebec border.
By the by, though it is local, Cornwalls municipality and all counties in the country are elected ‘governments too and locally unlike many others it is follow the leader(s) who are mostly bilingual here….and so it goes down stream.
The good news in Cornwall is that the overall working language is still English. Still, it does not excuse the ‘unspoken declaration’ that hiring any on line (public interaction) employee for counters or phones have to be of two minds..English and french.
Still I am surprised that we have not been sued for not addressing clients first in thier mother tongue even though 98% of Cornwall knows and/or speaks English. How dumb is that.
It’s coming to a theater near you.
@supports bilingualism RE: October 26, 2012 at 9:50 am POST
Yeah except for the VERY IMPORTANT — FACT— that Mr. “Speaking English is not part of his job description” happens to live in CANADA. Remember Canada? Yeah, that’s right; it’s the country within which that sad little money sucking, unappreciative “we outlaw the English language and legally make ourselves unilingual French ONLY “province” called Quebec happens to reside within. And ya know what? Canada (Yes, the country) is a country that has an English majority and thus when you folk wish to work here in this country CANADA, or visit here in this country CANADA you MUST do what you would do when visiting Russia … Either learn Russian or ENGLISH. Wha ha ha ha ha…
@supports bilingualism RE: October 26, 2012 at 9:50 am POST
Yeah except for the VERY IMPORTANT — FACT— that Mr. “Speaking English is not part of his job description” happens to live in CANADA. Remember Canada? Yeah, that’s right; it’s the country within which that sad little money sucking, unappreciative “we outlaw the English language and legally make ourselves unilingual French ONLY “province” called Quebec happens to reside within. And ya know what? Canada (Yes, the country) is a country that has an English majority and thus when you folk wish to work here in this country CANADA, or visit here in this country CANADA you MUST do what you would do when visiting Russia … Either learn Russian or ENGLISH. Wha ha ha ha ha…
Duckers1 wrote, “My other issue with my comments is that I get so incensed with my retorts that I unfortunately by-pass ‘spell check’ before pressing send.”
That’ is JUST TOO funny… Duckers1. Why? Because i have sort of the same problem. I sometimes cannot make my fingers go fast enough as I am typing because, just as you say, I am “so incensed” and SO angry about what the heck is going on, being done and being said in this country.
Little tip for you (and anyone interested). What I “usually” do (which sort of helps) is type my retorts in a Word doc and correct as I go. Then, when I am done, I cut n paste it into the post section.
That being said, I wouldn’t worry about your English if I were you. I really enjoy your posts and the way you put your thoughts together.
This is why i urge you once again to leave a message on my YouTube page.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2y7pCaU4ec
We MUST put together all the like minded people with great minds, strategies and ideas so that we can keep in touch outside this forum and hopefully formulate a plan to PUSH back.
Two thumbs up edudyorlik!!!!!!
@ tremblay
Editor of the CFN, how about other subjects then language. Try things more important, like trade……
I agree! Let’s use trade. I vote that we trade bigots like you for other fair minded “bilingual” human beings. Why don’t you go over to the Freeholder and spew your crap!
Now now Lolochuck. Be nice. You are aware, aren’t you, that we must “accommodate” don’t cha_know. R. tremblay is, after all, part of the minority that we have to coddle and “protect” in this country.
And, it’s all about ideas in this forum. This despite the fact that R. tremblay has very few REAL ones, that doesn’t matter. Just like the “province” of Quebec, even though he/they treat us badly and outlaw our languatge etc etc etc… We must keep sending money and pat them on the head every now and again to let them know we still care. 🙂
@edudyorlik, Heather, others that have been writing here and even those large number of you “lurkers” that don’t post, but are against forced bilingualism……
NOW IS THE TIME! We need to band together and work as a team. I urge you to please contact Language Fairness for ALL in writing or by phone. Someone will get back to you. You can help as much or as little as you would like. Heck you could even remain anonymous and work in the background! We need your help! Hope you will at least touch base to find out what we are all about.
Language Fairness for ALL
108 Second St. West
PO Box 194
Cornwall, ON
K6J 1G0
613-363-7555
Don’t miss this great timing and the opportunity to work as a team to make a difference!
@ed.. but QC is different they have Bill 101 and more… and The Federal Government gave QC this right..
I understand this but if Canada is supposed to be bilingual (other than QC) then that throws your post out the window as you people here in Eastern Ontario clearly do not want bilingualism and I support the hosp ital for wanting bilingual workers and ambulance people so that this would never happen in Ontario but you guys are against it…
You see when you turn the situation around you are just as bad as they are in QC only they have a certain status which is French first..
@SB – actually no – Bill 101 violates the charter. The government of Quebec willfully invoked the not withstanding clause to over ride it. If bilingualism means that a unilingual English speaker can’t get a job with the government (or other areas) or rise above the rank of major in the armed forces and that families get torn apart and communities with and die then no, I don’t think that definition of bilingualism is wanted.
It’s not about Francophones getting service or being disrespected. That’s the spin, and that has to stop if the dialog and our society is to move forward.
As long as a few zealots live in lies and deceit people will only get inflamed instead of talking to each other, in both official languages and really look at the issue.
Having been born in Cornwall but raised in the province of Quebec from an early age, I have seen both sides of the language war, being ridiculed in Cornwall for speaking french “too properly” and speaking english at all in french communities throughout QC.
This young lady should have been wise before spending all that “borrowed” money, just to end up like so many not using their qualifications. Either commute or make an effort before hand to find employers who will overlook your linguistic limitation. Europeans grow up knowing 3,4, 5 languages, I in some way envy that. I only wish we had the same mentality and social aptitudes.
I completely agree with previous comments saying that french people moving to Ontario or other provinces make the effort before hand knowing this will enhance their opportunities. A lot of young people do not research the market before going head first into debt and end up jobless for various reasons. Cornwall is a great example of over qualified individuals working minimum wage jobs, but not the only one neither.
Eventually knowing only one language will become a minority considering the cultural diversity we have in our country and the world in general.
Admin (Jamie)
When I worked for the public service here in Ottawa (a permanent position back then) I worked for Revenue Canada and one time a man called in (a professional man) and I won’t say what profession – I was in shock. I was a word processor in those days and the clerks were all gone to lunch. The supervisor of the clerks was English and her side kick – her boss who was French was gone to lunch. I was at my desk eating my lunch and the supervisor called me over to take the French call and the man was using terrible profanity and that is all the supervisor understood. LOL LOL. ROLF! Well I got stuck with taking that call and taking down all the information so as one of the French clerks can deal with the man. I had quite a job at calming the man down – how I did that I don’t know. Not long after that they hired me for a while before I went to have my son. There always has to have bilingual staff everywhere. Do you see the importance of what I am getting at. I was in shock of what kind of a profession that this man had and I couldn’t believe that this type of person would use such language.
And further to Lolochucks post on October 26, 2012 at 11:56 am
You can also leave a message on my Youtube page which will allow you to receive e-mails, if you choose, regarding various things that are going on with other like minded people and groups including the LFA.
@supports bilingualism
Canada is NOT “…SUPPOSED TO BE BILINGUAL!”
We have 2 official languages…we are NOT officially bilingual. Well New Brunswick was forced that way by politicians.
Nobody thinks that the grotesque facial modifications could have something to do with it! Sweet XXXX! I wouldn’t hire myself if I looked like that. Maybe her piercings can be blamed and the wasteful Human Rights Commission become involved for bias against people making themselves look stupid.
Lunatic angel, it is not like she earned a diploma or degree in MISCELLANEOUS FINE ARTS or TSE TSE FLY EVOLUTION HISTORY.
“eventually knowing only one language will become a minority”
Perhaps, but increasingly, English will still be very viable world wide.
Stella Think better not Stupid Heather has done very well for her self and she is doing what she can, she does well for what she does do, sorry that your an old fart that’s not into that so next time carefully read and watch the video before you run your mouth not happy with you at all!!!!! Even when people have to much experience they don’t always get the job in there fields either. I’m a truck driver and it took me 6 months to find a job with a company who would take me on with out any experience. Anyways you go Sis do what you need to do and step up and I’m proud of ya.
In reponse to the comment that, spending $30,000 on job training without establishing the likelihood of employment is unwise, another commenter remarked, “Since when did it become our responsibility to watch the “job market”?”
Well, sadly it may have been when people relinquished personal responsibility?
To point out “Government entities” that are useless (and it’s no secret that many are) does not excuse failure to conduct due diligence on our own.
Fortunately, in this case all is not lost. The young lady has a marketable skill and probably won’t have to go a great distance to find work. And that’s the priority here; getting a job and crawling out of debt — not making a point about a foolish language policy.
And there may be other factors that stand in the way of securing employment in a “service to the public” field. Fair or not, if a fashion statement trumps earning a living, then a reexamination of priorities might be in order.
And in reponse to the comment that, “We’ve been “picking up and moving away” for far too long… [and] we’re done running now, we’ve had enough… we are gonna push back NOW”.
Well, the use of “we” is a bit presumptuous… it’s this young lady that is out $30,000, she’s the one that has to pay it back, she’s the one that needs to put her hard earned skills and knowledge to work while she’s current. Making a point on someone else’s back my friend is no point at all.
And in closing…
I left a city behind some years ago, because even with 2 jobs (neither being well paying) I just couldn’t make it — hair and a manner of dress that wasn’t accepted by the establishment probably didn’t help.
But that city that was my home, and my personal grooming (in retrospect, a fashion tragedy), was not going to be a self inflicted handicap to my happiness. So I moved to what seemed a cultural and social morass — Cornwall.
And though I still see the dearth of critical thinking and commonsense in these forums that is so representative of that Cornwall, I managed to carve out a good life, be moderately successful and in the end quite content.
So, take a breather those of you that are a little hot under the collar over this language nonsense.
We are the top of the food chain. We’re the most intelligent beings to roam the earth thus far… and it’s because we change and/or adapt as the situation requires. Shouting into the wind or cutting our noses off to spite our face are not what set us apart from animals.
@Lunatic_Angel, I don’t think we can compare Canada’s situation or mindset to Europe’s. In Canada there are many, many people who are bi and trilingual. They’re just not necessarily Fr./Eng. In addition, French is, today, a very minor language in the global village. Practically speaking, just take a little drive from say… Cornwall to Cobourg. Do you think hospital employees or any employees for that matter have to be bilingual? Now expand that question east and west across the nation!! Most Canadians have no idea what’s sneaking up on them. This is/was the situation with Ms. Villeneuve and her peers. There was no active “warning” because this issue has crept in like a cat in the night.