We’ve all wanted to go postal (all pun intended) at some time or another. The type of day where you regret even leaving your front door to face the day. The sort of day where you know that whatever you do, you just cannot make any headway nor win your cause in the least bit. We’ve all had those kinds of days whereby, ’ The Shirelles’ invented the song, “Mama Said” to describe them.
And so it was a normal, cool, crisp and sunny Northern Ontario morning last April whenever I left the house to mail a letter at the Post Office. I had not much to do that day; and figured I would take complete advantage of the time I had to run a few errands. My first step was the Post Office.
There was no lineup when I arrived and felt blessed that my luck was so far, so good. I was wrong though. As I approached the mid-age woman working behind the desk I greeted her and wished her a good morning and requested to purchase a stamp in the language of my choice, which happens to be English. She obliged by producing the stamp and not returning the greeting in English nor French. The remainder of our exchange during the few minutes had me requesting my service in English whereby her portion of the exchange was conducted in French.
Now, normally this situation wouldn’t be a problem for me as everyone knows I’m bilingual. But on this particular day, I couldn’t get over the fact that I showed absolutely no inclination at all as to being bilingual. Why wasn’t I served in English when clearly I greeted the worker in English upon the beginning of our exchange? Further, why didn’t the Postal Worker switch to English whenever I was communicating in said language? I could have switched to French but I decided not to. My idea in this decision had to do with the fact that I felt that the worker was obligated to provide me with the service in English simply because I was the customer. This would have been different if at any time she had informed me that she couldn’t speak English and would try to accommodate me by other means. One such solution she could have sought out would be to perhaps seek out the services of another Postal Worker to serve me if she didn’t speak English herself.
In any case, I didn’t complain. That is, I didn’t file a complaint at the Post Office. As an aside, I have come across instances like this a few dozen times during the course of business transactions with civil service workers throughout the years and even some in the private industry. And, after all was said and done, I never complained. I had simply grown accustomed to situations like the one above and there is an argument to be made that I had become somewhat conditioned by these scenarios over the years.
Until now…
Perhaps it’s my newfound sense of fairness and pride that has awakened within me during these past two years. Perhaps now that I’m a little longer in the tooth, I have decided that I no longer will take things lying down as it were.
I’m tired…
It’s one thing to learn a minority language and to enjoy the privileges of being able to read, write and speak in French. But for what purpose and intent? And to who’s benefit is it that I am bilingual? Myself or to those whom I communicate with who have French as a first language? I can honestly state that being bilingual hasn’t furthered my career options nor has it had the desired effect of garnishing career advancement opportunities for me in the job that I do have. Moreover, I get the feeling that being bilingual for many of us Anglophones simply equates to making it easier for the Francophones to not have to learn English in order to communicate with us – such as in daily merchant transactions.
Enough…
It was with all of these thoughts swirling within my consciousness that April day that I made the conscientious decision to file a complaint with Canada’s, ‘Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages’. Before doing so, however, I ensured that I had a valid complaint to begin with and checked out the ‘Filing a Complaint’ section, sub-section, ‘In what situations can I file a complaint’. After reviewing the information, I determined that I did in fact have a valid complaint and filed an online complaint the day of my Post Office visit and an initial response was forthcoming from a representative within a week of filing the complaint.
The representative advised me that in order to solve the dilemma of what had occurred an investigation would take place as to the incident itself. Having said that, keep in mind that my complaint was well documented and filed only after a few hours of the incident taking place. Everything that happened was written succinctly on the initial report!
So, after e-mail and playing telephone tag to which more than a half dozen e-mails and a half dozen telephone calls were sent between myself and the representative detailing what had occurred; I emphasized and re-emphasized that I wanted only one question answered – and that was the following:
Why, was I spoken to in French whenever I clearly communicated in English?
All of this to say that as month 3 was coming around the corner subsequent to the initial incident; I was informed that the investigation was completed and that the results would soon be forthcoming. I have a few questions as to this entire affair after having gone through this experience. One being why haven’t I been provided with a response yet after 3 months? Certainly this is a cut and paste situation?
Why?
Exactly what justifies the creation of an, “Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages” to begin with. As of 2011, there were 518 complaints that the office dealt with having to do with language issues. On October 16, 2012 a Globe and Mail article reported that,
“Almost half of the 518 complaints came from the area around Ottawa and adjacent Gatineau, Que., …” (http://www.theglobeandmail.
Are Canadian taxpayers being led to believe that 518 language-related complaints warrant a full-time staff being paid civil service wages to investigate this? I cannot help but comment that more work is done during an 8 hour shift by a half dozen or less call centre employees who themselves individually handle on average a little more than 100 calls a day. It seems as though by comparing stats, we’re not exactly getting a great bang for our buck. So, I would argue that what we have here is but another example of government incompetence; a type and kind of federal government language police make-work project that our taxes are paying for.
And I’ll say this much. We already have a set of language police in this country. We don’t require the services of another; let alone the foundational Office quebecois de la langue francaise.
Ask yourselves this much: Will it take over 3 months to solve your next computer or cell phone issue by someone making minimum wage? Probably not. So why would something so trivial take so long to conclude by someone being paid so much?
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-again misinformation, thibodeau’s judgment was reduced on appeal.
-jurgen, french courses aren’t offered at a discount ? Books, texts and other course requirements are at times more expensive then the english ones.
– alot of businesses promote chinese and their culture. To my surprise alot of ATM on in Toronto ( ok, I have seen only three) are bilingual, english and chinese.
– I have chatted with beth on a facebook link. She kept saying that no our country is not bilingual and that she can speak french but she choses not to. Je lui ai répondu, continuez madame de jouer à l’autruche et de vous cachez la tête dans le sable. How can you reason with someone like that ?
Jurgen wrote:
“The U of O restricts the number of English speakers in their enrolment policy and French courses are offered at a discount.
This policy tells you all you need to know as they constantly refer to themselves as Canada’s university.”
I had no idea Jurgen this was the case. I am now ashamed to be a graduate of this university.
@David Oldham RE: POST on July 7, 2013 at 8:31 am
Yup, I agree…
@Furtz RE: POST on July 7, 2013 at 8:55 am
Because the “town” in Question is Timmins ONTARIO. Not Timmins Quebec where the English language is outlawed.
@Hungry for the Truth…. RE: POST on July 7, 2013 at 8:57 am
Q- When Mp’s and MPP’s (both provincial in Quebec and Bloic in federal office pledge allegiance in their oath of office. Uhmm who is it that they “are supposed to” pledge allegiance to again?
Yeah, that’s right — THE QUEEN — Of England no less…
End of story.
Jurgen July 7, 2013 at 10:17 am
Rating: 0 (from 4 votes)
Mr. Fraser has no power in Kebec. Bill 101 made sure of that so it begs the question of what is the real mandate of his office?
So once again one standard for THE WELFARE STATE (QUEBEC)
And another for the rest of Canada….a very common indeed.
Like The welfare state workers are allowed to work in Ontario yet Ontario workers are very,very,very limited to work in Quebec.
Quebec has its own immigration ,yet the rest of Canada has theirs.
ALL OF CANADA services are provided in French ,Quebec refuses to have bilingualism!
Hey Richard the thibodeau’s have had numerous frivolous court cases as Such to push for the “AGENDA” at the taxpayers expense and as well the added bonus of the easy money .
Richard tremblay July 7, 2013 at 12:01 pm
” alot of businesses promote chinese and their culture. To my surprise alot of ATM on in Toronto ( ok, I have seen only three) are bilingual, english and chinese. ”
It determined by Market forces Richard not social engineering
To which our government services provide.TRUE SOCIALISM …TILL YOU RUN OUT OF OTHERS MONEY!
DOESN’T THAT REMIND YOU OF QUEBEC.
ON July 7, 2013 at 1:27 pm highlander wrote, “It determined by Market forces Richard not social engineering.”
Well said Highlander, and unfortunately VERY true.
But somehow the Richards and others of this country completely wish to ignore THE FACTS.
Humm wonder how much a strawberry shake costs in “their world” 5 cents maybe… After all, it is fantasy… Wouldn’t mind one of those right now.
@ edudyorlik. Are you serious? Timmins and a lot of north Ontario was settled and is home to many thousands of French speaking Canadians going back to the seventeen and eighteen hundreds. Why would a Francophobe choose to move to that particular area when there are so many other places in Ontario and Canada where he could live without the constant irritation that seems to cause him so much distress? Actually, I think most people know the answer to that question. Some people are natural-born whiners and attention seekers, and will do anything they can to feed their ego driven desire to be in the spotlight. Good Lord!.. A french sign by the side of Highway 11? A rude postal worker?… We all have our problems I guess, but these ones seem pretty trivial compared to what most people on our planet are facing.
@Cory Cameron July 7, 2013 at 10:21 am
In response …..
“If English is at 59% and use of the Chinese language coming in at 14%, I do not understand how our government (if language needs to be legislated to begin with), doesn’t allow for bilingualism to take root in Toronto with English and Chinese? Rather than English and French government services being bilingual in the area.”
Unless I have completely missed the Point of this exchange, is it not Quebec’s Legislation of it’s Linguistic Right, that is the source of the criticism.
As to the question you ponder, “ I do not understand how our government , doesn’t allow for bilingualism to take root in Toronto with English and Chinese?”
If Toronto’s Immigration Laws and requirements mirrored some of Quebec’s Laws for “New Canadians” they would have ensured continuity of it’s Linguistic Rights.They would have fostered Respect and understanding of Canada’s Official Languages.
Thus, not having to find accommodating measures to a growing amount of Canadians that can not speak either one of Canada’s 2 Official Languages.
The government’s lack of exercising it’s Linguistic Rights for it’s citizens,and lack of foresight planning could be the obvious for the decline of English-speaking Toronto Citizens. (911 services are in 150 languages)
Quebec has chosen to Act and ensure continuity of their Constitutional Linguistic Right. The interpretation of this action has been under attack. Should the Government not have a responsibility of ensuring it’s Citizens Language continuity,
French or English? Quebec should be applauded for their long term vision and willingness to take the heat in the name of It’s Citizens Rights.
If a child is born today in Quebec or anywhere in Canada, to Francophone parents, should they not have the right to raise their child in their “Mother Tongue”?
“And Hungry for the Truth, I see evidence of an undertone of chastising these Pro-English posters on CFN throughout your entire posting but no mention of the entire Pro-French/Anti-English camp that permeates the entire Province of Quebec
and portions of Eastern Ontario that border the Province of Quebec. Moreover, does not legislating language not point to a form of social engineering in and of itself?”
If you see evidence of an undertone of chastising the Pro-English, you’re more perceptive than you let on.
“Pro-French/Anti-English camp that permeates the entire Province of Quebec and portions of Eastern Ontario that border the Province of Quebec.”
It is inaccurate statements like the above that fuels an unfair and narrow view of the Real issues. It is not only the above mentioned areas that are occupied by French-speaking Canadians.
Allow me to enlarge the scope “2006 Census Mother tongue”
Cornwall, Ont 45,000 population 24% French-speaking.
Ottawa, Ont 1,451,415 population 14% French-speaking.
These cities are not included in your Problematic areas.
Sudbury, Ont 62,000 Population 20% French-speaking.
Timmons, Ont 42,455 population 41% French-speaking.
Kapuskasing , Ont 8,509 population 68% French-speaking.
St Boniface, Winnipeg 54,000 population 99% French-speaking.
Now on a national level
Further factual Inormation that are not included in your problematic areas.
Statistical Facts from Census 2006.
Province of Ontario 12,160,282 11% French-speaking
Province of Quebec 8,546,131 80% French-speaking
Province of New Brunswick 729,997 33% French -speaking
Province of PEI 135,462 04% French-speaking
Province of Nova Scotia 913,462 04% French-speaking
Province of Newfoundland 514,536 .04% French-speaking
Province of Saskatchewan 985,386 02% French-speaking
Province of Alberta 3,290,350 02% French-speaking
Province of Manitoba 1,148,401 9.1% Speak Both
Province of British Colombia 4,113,847 1.4%French-speaking
8.5% Chinese-speaking
This is a more reflective and accurate picture of all French-speaking Canadians.They don’t all live in the “entire Province of Quebec and portions of Eastern Ontario that border the Province of Quebec.”
So, if you feel that I have somehow abused my right to clarify and widen the Realistic lens, and consider it to be “Chastising” it was not my intent. Many seems to share your view of it’s affected regions being the ones stated by yourself above.
What strikes me as puzzling, is your ability to stand on the principle of Democracy to elaborate your mistreatment and the deprivation of your Rights. At the same time never showing an incline of desire to respectfully grant to although a minority of approximately 13,000,000 French-speaking Canadians the same Constitutional Right that you afford yourself as a victim of discrimination.
As I posted in my previous post,
“Democracy is a blunt tool in itself.
It waivers, it strays and can damage, when expressed as a simple Right. The fine tuning, fairness and precision are in the hands of it’s ambassadors”
Timmins and other Northern Ontario towns are comprised of a very large Francophone population and that is the truth. Kapuskasing and so many other towns have plenty of Francophones. If you have never been out of Fossoli then you do not know what is going on around you and your mind is very narrow thinking that Anglophones is the only thing around you which is not so at all.
Most of the talk on Anglophone vs Francophone and what is going on is all BS. Everyone has an equal opportunity or just about nowadays to make something of themselves if they work hard enough. It is very important to know the two main languages in order to get any job and if you are stuck on one only then forget it. Wherever you go in the world and especially in Europe French is a must and Europeans demand both languages besides their own.
@Furtz
July 7, 2013 at 4:03 pm
You obviously have no problem with the province of Quebec basically outlawing the English language and stepping on or removing the Canadian flag from it’s legislature. It’s bleu blanc est rouge for you right?
Tell me. Why is it that the French can outlaw the English language (in a province no less), and yet demand that french be first and predominant outside in another province (Ontario) which is predominantly English province?
Also, tell me. If you went to Russia (the country) you would expect that everyone born and raised there would speak Russian, right? The common language of the country, right?
Also, tell me. If French should be dominant in French dominant “province” of Quebec why can’t English be dominant in the “English dominant ROC?
Could any of this be due to arrogance and a sense of self importance?
Me thinks it does have something to do with it.
bill 186 says you can have french and english signs just as long as french is predominant. Like i have said before, you can achieve great success in Québec and only speak english, just ask the former CEO of la caisse de dépot du québec, or the mayor of baie durfé. Every time someone points out how the french deserve rights in ROC, someone says, well look at Québec. Lets look at it, the province is more bilingual then the ROC.
@ Jules. You nailed it.
Actually edudyorlik, I don’t give a rat’s hat about how p!ssed off at the world you are. I do know that Quebec government services are offered in both French and English. Been through it. No problems. And I’m totally unilingual Anglo.
@Edudyorlik
July 7, 2013 at 6:05 pm
“Tell me. Why is it that the French can outlaw the English language (in a province no less), and yet demand that french be first and predominant outside in another province (Ontario) which is predominantly English province?”
It’s comments like this one that confirms my belief that
this is a vary bias, one sided, unfair and prejudicial views
which creates distortion of the FACTS. It’s just not QUEBEC…!!
The French-speaking outside of Quebec have their fair share of discriminatory Laws.
As any one taken time to read the Manitoba Language Act?
It refuses to acknowledge the existence of it’s 9.1% French-speaking population. French-speaking Canadians have no access to any Basic Constitutional Right to services.The definition Government employs “Speak Both” so to bad, speak English.
Imagine having to defend yourself in a Court of Law in English if you are French-speaking or falling sick and can’t be understood.
These complaints would have a different level of legitimacy before “ The Language Commissionaire.” I presume, a bit more than the inconvenience of purchasing a stamp in French when you had your heart set on an English one? (Only in Canada)
Some of these language Right Issues are being challenged in Supreme Courts and some have been overturned. A basic Constitutional Right was defended and won.
How many times do you think a French-speaking Canadian have attempted to be served in French and could not? They sucked it up and moved on.
HUNGRY FOR THE TRUTH, you deserve a standing ovation. Thank-you for sharing the true facts.
Time and time again they have been proven wrong but it doesn’t seem to register.
Jules absolutely!!! TWO THUMBS UP!!!!
@Jules Re POST on July 7, 2013 at 5:50 pm.
Jules wrote, “It is very important to know the two main languages in order to get any job.”
WRONG… IT is ONLY important because the French minority WANT IT TO be important and the English majority have not awakened to what this truly means. But, they’re coming along.
And Furtz. Firstly i am NOT pissed off at the world at all. Don’t know where you got that insane idea. Must be the same place you got the idea that Canada is a bilingual country WHICH IT IS NOT.
And secondly, i don’t give a rats ass about your baseless and simple arguments that only take one side of this into account.
And HFTT the French are a defeated minority in a British / English dominated land. They just refuse to accept that FACT. And it is only through trying to be as accommodating as possible that the English are now learning that trying to be accommodating to a a defeated minority people who have not accepted a historical fact of that magnitude is, well … obviously defeatist in nature.
The lesson would be akin to … Once you have your enemy down with your sword to their throat, no matter how much they plead and whine. DO NOT let them (especially those with the values of the French in the face of defeat) regain power and strength in numbers as they will not be humble in defeat like most others would be.
They will relish in a tormented sense of “i will get back at your one of these days.” Otherwise known as “Je me souviens.”
Granted. A mistake on the part of the English but, it’s time to stop the so called “come back.”
The French ACT as if (and you talk as if) Canada is equally theirs when in fact IT IS NOT. They are ONLY where they are because the British and the English have been VERY accommodating over the years. Only to be slapped in the face with Anti English laws and French domination wherever they gain a foothold.
They claims it’s all about bilingualism on the surface so that the ROC will drink that cool aid (which they have) but, it is VERY obvious that this is code for French dominance and Canadians are waking up to that reality now.
Oh and, have a nice day eh 🙂
Your numbers are slightly exaggerated as you have indicated they represent ONE group when in fact they represent something COMPLETELY different.
And BTW, the 2011 census numbers are available. Why not use them?
Province of Ontario 12,160,282 11% French-speaking
11%
This is actually the “English and French” combo.
The “French ONLY” is 0.3% (a tiny number btw)
Province of Quebec 8,546,131 80% French-speaking (in fairness. This should NOT be counted as it was socially engineered in a despicable manner.)
Province of New Brunswick 729,997 33% French -speaking
IT is actually ONLY 9.0 % French ONLY your number is French and English.
Province of PEI 135,462 04% French-speaking
0.1% French ONLY
And it goes on and on. With the exclusion of that province that cheated to bring it’s numbers to what they are and New Brunswick which is pulling the same cr@p we are seeing in Ontario, most provinces have a tiny number less than of 0.3% FRENCH ONLY tax payers. The rest seem to be able to function just fine in English (the common language of Canada)
From what i can see from your posts. It is clear. Quebec MUST separate and Canada must return to it’s BNA roots. That way everyone can be happy. The French can live in French only in their “country” while realizing they NEED English to communicate with the trading partners around the world which includes the ROC/
Problem solved.
Oh and, here’s the stats link for you..
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_FYWN22JNrk/UXw5jflPBrI/AAAAAAAAAfg/o7xTbuvA5x8/w702-h365-no/Population+-+Language+stats+2011.png
The {MODERATED} wrote…… I could have switched to French but I decided not to. My idea in this decision had to do with the fact that I felt that the worker was obligated to provide me with the service in English simply because I was the customer.
The key word in that statement is “obligated”
The {MODERATED} continues……..I can honestly state that being bilingual hasn’t furthered my career options nor has it had the desired effect of garnishing career advancement opportunities for me in the job that I do have.
That statement in itself speaks volumes…….perhaps it may have nothing to do with language.
After reading the above posts by HUNGRY FOR THE TRUTH and FURTZ, it certainly paints a different picture to this scenario.
Amen, Edudyorlik:
“Only to be slapped in the face with Anti English laws and French domination wherever they gain a foothold.”
French only school buses in Alexandria whereby French parents didn’t want English kids on the same bus.
French only Health Clinics
French business where they refuse to sell English greeting cards
French only schools
Law enforced bilingual sign laws (where French business owners refuse to abide by it in Enbrun)
All of this in Ontario………
Seems to me that French domination is getting a foothold. It also seems to me that the French ethnocentrists don’t want bilingual anything unless it is in a region were they haven’t gained a majority foothold yet. Then ironically, anything and everything English then begins to disappear after that foothold is gained….
Have you ordered a coffee recently at Tim Hortons in Casselman?
Now I pray, could any of the bilingual/French supporters who post on here please provide a suitable, nay, reasonable answer as to why the above is happening all over regions in Ontario bordering Quebec….
It’s also high time that these very same people take their blinders off and stop accusing those of us who are standing up for our rights or perhaps a better expression would be lost rights. Which lost rights? Well, the ones starting with the ability to post signs in one language – any one language!
I think its crazy that the comments registered under Edudyorlik’s, “Have you noticed or did you know” video accuse him of all sorts of things including being a racist, anglo-supremist, imperialist and just about everything under the sun. In fact, he’s accused of being everything but the one thing he should be accused of and that’s well, telling the truth!
Nothing in those videos are untrue and don’t blame us if it’s embarassing for you or yours. How about questionning the value systems in your own community leaderships that cause things like the stuff I posted above. You know, starting with the, “French only school buses in Alexandria…”
Why are people getting upset when we’re telling the truth and consistently backing up statements with facts?
But alas here we go again. Those of us highlight what is occuring in our very own communities as non-Francophones are increasingly being pushed out of their own places of residence for various reasons including the inability to obtain gainful employment.
Newsflash ethnocentrists out there. Don’t get upset when we call out bad government policies. You have to stop shooting the messengers here.
Hungry for the Truth:
“What strikes me as puzzling, is your ability to stand on the principle of Democracy to elaborate your mistreatment and the deprivation of your Rights. At the same time never showing an incline of desire to respectfully grant to although a minority of approximately 13,000,000 French-speaking Canadians the same Constitutional Right that you afford yourself as a victim of discrimination.”
But what Constituional Right would you be refering to that I never show an incline to respect?
I do not mind if a French owner posts signs in French only. (But do we have a two-tier system whereby in Embrun French businesses/associations can post in French only and English need to do so in both English and French?
I wouldn’t mind if a French child or children rode on the same bus as an English child.
I also don’t mind to speak French 55% of the time at home.
I also don’t mind the French culture as my wife is a Francophone. (This should answer Furtz concerns about why I moved to Timmins.)
My mom is Metis. (French/Iroquois ancestry).
I am immersed in French culture all the time.
What I do have a problem with is for the most part hiring policies and principles that favour the hiring of people who speak French as opposed to hiring based solely on individual meritocracy.
Is it really wise to say hire someone who worked as a waitress in the past and just because they speak French their next job is as a legal secretary?
Would it not be a wiser decision to hire that person who was educated as a unilingual paralegal?
Just want to add a little Factual information to further inform some posters claims that we can do away with Quebec.
Quebec is known, Nationally and Internationally.
Tourism is the fifth-largest industry in Quebec. In total, 29,000 companies are involved in the industry, generating 130,000 direct and 48,000 indirect jobs. In 2006, Quebec welcomed 3.2 million foreign tourists, most of them from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico and Japan.
Quebec is unique among North American tourist destinations. Its French heritage sets the province apart from the most of Canada and the United States, as well as all of Mexico. The province is one of the only areas in North America to have preserved its Francophone culture. Its European feel and its history, culture and warmth have made Quebec a favourite tourist destination both nationally and internationally.
Despite the aggressive attacks on it’s Constitutional Linguistic Rights this did not deterred Quebec from maintaining the 2nd largest Province in Canada.
Being French-speaking does not seem to debilitate their ability to contribute 19.87% of Canada’s GDP.
The combined GDP’s of Sakatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland do not equal Quebec’s GDP contribution.
Quebec is also a major player in several leading-edge industries including aerospace, information technologies and software and multimedia. Approximately 60% of the production of the Canadian aerospace industry are from Quebec, where sales totalled C$ 12.4 billion in 2009. Quebec is one of North America’s
leading high-tech player. This vast sector encompassing approximately 7,300 businesses and employ more than 245,000 people.
So, before we “Erradicate Them” maybe someone can shed some light as to how much more will it cost me in Taxes in order to replace this loss.
In my view, it is apparant that some posters, see Quebec as a,
“Language Deficient Province” . They refuse to concede it’s Constitutional Linguistic Right in fear of assimilation. But, if you’ve taken time to read and made an effort at keeping an open mind you have to conclude that NO ALL SEE QUEBEC as BAD.
Despite any effort to offer factual, verifiable information some posters prefer twisting and distorting the FACTS. They would have us believe that all Quebekers make their existence difficult.
They refuse to share in the FACTUAL truth that Quebec despite their little tantrums, is a much needed viable asset to the continued Growth of CANADA.
Hi everyone. Please address posters by their user id or abbreviations.
Thanks
I encourage a few who have not been following this back and forth to get caught up on some issues. The over riding concerns are
Acts /regulations/policy/politics/reducing employment chances for unilinguals/add more here.
http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/06/eric-little-letter-to-the-editor-bi-bi-commission-social-engineering-in-canada-june-6-2013/
http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/05/ruth-barrie-lte-on-peter-worthington-formula-to-wreck-canada-editorial-may-29-2013/
http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/05/lte-eric-little-on-the-costs-of-duality-and-bilingualism-in-canada-may-22-2013/
http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/04/letter-to-the-editor-eric-little-language-concerns-raised-by-bill-c-419/
http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/03/lte-eric-little-of-ottawa-asks-can-english-speaking-and-french-speaking-canadians-live-together-and-do-they-want-to-do-so/
http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/02/lte-chris-cameron-of-cornwall-ontairo-bill-14-is-a-canadian-human-rights-tragedy/
http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/02/lte-eric-little-of-ottawa-ontario-asks-is-no-person-or-group-is-above-the-law-february-11-2013/
http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/01/lte-a-response-to-when-the-money-runs-out-a-wake-up-call-about-the-state-of-ontarios-economy/
Before you tout Quebec’s GDP, there are some factors that need to be looked at.
http://www.ipolitics.ca/2012/07/13/zach-paikin-an-independent-quebec-would-be-economically-nonviable/
“Yet negotiated sovereignty, although not as catastrophic, would still turn Quebec into an economic basket case. In the negotiations over secession, Quebec would naturally be forced to accept a portion of the federal government’s debt, likely an amount commensurate with the relative size of the province’s economy or population. Nearly all issues in these negotiations would be zero-sum, so it is safe to assume that if Quebec were able to negotiate less debt for itself it would have to give ground on another issue of importance.” “Quebec’s GDP represents slightly less than 20% of Canada’s. This scenario gives Quebec little more solace – the province would have to assume $121 billion in debt from Canada if independence happened today, giving it a debt-to-GDP level of roughly 95%. This is still above crisis level.”
http://news.nationalpost.com/photo_gallery/graphic-the-inequality-of-equualization-payments/
The inequality of equalization payments
Hungry for the Truth….
July 7, 2013 at 5:36 pm
“If a child is born today in Quebec or anywhere in Canada, to Francophone parents, should they not have the right to raise their child in their “Mother Tongue”?”
Should that child be English in Quebec should they not have those same rights?
“At the same time never showing an incline of desire to respectfully grant to although a minority of approximately 13,000,000 French-speaking Canadians the same Constitutional Right that you afford yourself as a victim of discrimination.”
13 million french speakers ? outside of quebec There are max 800,000 Francophones 20% of Quebec’s 8 million is ango/allophones -therefore approx 7 million now you say 13 million? that’s realistic NOT!
Check out those REAL STATS Hungry for the Truth… if you really are that hungry!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_FYWN22JNrk/UXw5jflPBrI/AAAAAAAAAfg/o7xTbuvA5x8/w702-h365-no/Population+-+Language+stats+2011.png
Furtz
July 7, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Your tone is purely antagonistic -How about that pizza story where you had your vehicle trashed and were threatened and had to hide out in the shed overnight?
You were called on that and well….. you went into hiding!
Hungry for the Truth….(swiss miss isn’t it -a different moniker but same writing style )
You claimed yourself coming from Switzerland but we all knew better.
July 7, 2013 at 6:56 pm
“Imagine having to defend yourself in a Court of Law in English if you are French-speaking or falling sick and can’t be understood.”
Imagine for the same for English in Quebec and the Quebec government stated it DOES NOT WANT INSTITUTIONALIZED BILINGUALISM.Yet 1.5 million users of the language.
“How many times do you think a French-speaking Canadian have attempted to be served in French and could not? They sucked it up and moved on.”
How many times I and others called federal government services and its french first -yet had to wait for English services!
The country remains 78% English .
stellabystarlight
July 7, 2013 at 9:18 pm
“The {MODERATED} wrote…… I could have switched to French but I decided not to. ”
“The {MODERATED} continues……..I can honestly state that being bilingual hasn’t furthered my career options nor has it had the desired effect of garnishing career advancement opportunities for me in the job that I do have.”
No need to be belligerent Stella -but once again you attack the messenger not the message ….what next are you about to threaten him and his family as well?
Hungry for the Truth….
July 7, 2013 at 9:59 pm
Being French-speaking does not seem to debilitate their ability to contribute 19.87% of Canada’s GDP.
So why then do they get the lions share over 50% of the transfer payments if they contribute sooooo much.
The welfare state remains on the dole since 1957 since the inception of transfer payments(many billions )(10 billion this year) ….perhaps they can put their big boy pants on and support themselves,rather then relying on the rest of Canada to support them.
If they think they can go on their own, how about attempting on proving this by refusing transfer payment they have relied on so much!
“In my view, it is apparant that some posters, see Quebec as a,
“Language Deficient Province” . They refuse to concede it’s Constitutional Linguistic Right in fear of assimilation. ”
Ya by this statement It surely secures you are not an anglophone -Concede constitutional linguistic right to oppress others in fear of assimilation!
But its exceptable to assimilate others to french in Quebec and the rest of Canada .
Now folks you do realize that Hungry for the Truth… is advocating against assimilation ,yet agree’s to its as well for the English and allophones -one who speaks out of both sides of their mouth.
Its admirable to maintain ones culture and language but not so if it comes at the loss of others rights and freedoms.
A Separatist in English clothes.
@ Highlander. That was my cousin Iris. And she still has the scars to prove it. Amazing how even a bit of humour can get your panties in a knot.
At Highlander:
I think most level-headed Canadians would approach the issue of bilingualism in a fair and equitable way. I think Canada’s biilngual policies should be revoked and instead a measurable system put into place that accounts for representation by population.
Because the current system allows and encourages Francophones to get the best, most highly paid civil service positions but for the fact that they’re knowledgeable in French. This is entirely discounting the majority of Canadians who don’t have knowledge of French.
What’s wrong with providing services in French instead of having everyone needing to be bilingual? Automatically you abstain from hiring the best possible candidate by discriminating based solely on one hiring criteria; that of language.
Only in Canada!
Many of these policies are the direct result of politicians placating to special interest groups at the same time neglecting the majority of their citizen’s wishes. And most of these politicians are federal politicians at the whims of Quebec’s interests. The problem is that most of Canada’s public doesn’t make the effort to speak up for things that truly impact and bother them. The sorry and sad truth is that most Canadians are more troubled by losing their facvourite hockey players from their favourite teams.
Furtz
July 8, 2013 at 8:31 am
So you would make fun of any form of abuse ?
There are many that do not take lightly the abuse of” French nationalist” this is very telling of your type of personality and your enjoyment of those that suffer under this type of blatant abuse…..enough said.
Cory Cameron
July 8, 2013 at 9:05 am
Very well said Cory -A fair ,equitable and measurable approach to bilingualism in a just society would be representation by population.
I do not believe in” language laws ” as a government should not be telling FREE citizens what language those Free citizens are to speak /write or be “hired” within government .
I am sick and tired of the minority running this country .
Why does Quebec just not separate ? They hate Anglophones
and their language so why bother staying around .
How can Quebec stand to take transfer payments from the bad
Anglophones in Alberta and other Western Provinces.
What are they waiting for ? Justin Trudeau to be PM,now that is
going to be one hell of a nightmare for Anglophone Canadians.
He will play the language card better than all the others have as
he had great training from his father.
Anglophones it is time to stop taking the shit from Quebec and
vote out any Francophone lovers in the next Federal election.
We need a Prime Minister who cares about Quebec as much as they care for the rest of Canada .
Everyone speak up ,it is time to act like the majority .
in french first ? Is that really a problem ? You get services in english, but someone says bonjour instead of hello, and that is a big thing for you ? Bilingualism is not to blame The state of our economy in Ontario. At 1 % of the budget for 5 % of the population why not ?
ok Cory, you wrote:
French only school buses in Alexandria whereby French parents didn’t want English kids on the same bus.
– I am all for it. Statistics prove it. Francophones have the right to have their own buses. PLus if they did share it, they would converse in english there by furthering assimilation.
French only Health Clinics
– those clinics are at full capacity. Even new francophone customers can’t get service.
French business where they refuse to sell English greeting cards
-that I have never heard of. but still they are plenty of english businesses that don’t sell french cards. And if they sell french cards why is that a problem for you ?
French only schools
– JE savais que tu avais un problème avec les francophones mais pas à ce point. TU devrais avoir honte de faire cette propagande anti francophone. Depuis le règlement 17 les francophones se sont battus pour avoir des écoles dans leur langue. Faire tout ça et avoir un homme comme toi qui veut les éliminer car tu n’as pas eu ce que tu voulais comme emploi. bébé gâté
Law enforced bilingual sign laws (where French business owners refuse to abide by it in Embrun) If that is true then french only signs deserve fines because they go against the law. although from reading some of your previous posts I doubt it. Je vais jouer le Saint-Thomas, je vais attendre de voir avant de croire.
Oh come on Highlander. I spent the first 24 years of my life as a uni-lingual Anglo living in Quebec. I loved it. I still have Anglo friends and relatives living there. They seem quite content and in no hurry to leave. Imagine that! There really are people who enjoy their lives so much that they don’t have time to waste constantly b!tching and whining.
Richard tremblay
July 8, 2013 at 10:27 am
“French only school buses in Alexandria whereby French parents didn’t want English kids on the same bus.
– I am all for it. Statistics prove it. Francophones have the right to have their own buses. PLus if they did share it, they would converse in english there by furthering assimilation.”
So you do in fact agree to segregation what happened to inclusiveness of Francophones ?
But my how ETHNOCENTRIC of you to believe in segregation,now should we separate the Chinese,Italians , Koreans,Natives,and the 200 other cultures as they might taint the Francophones pure laine.
“French only Health Clinics
– those clinics are at full capacity. Even new francophone customers can’t get service.”
Really a number of complaints against them for refusal -Health Canada states any public funded agency cannot refuse those in need .
Unless its segregation right Richard.
So its alright for the majority public taxpayer to pay for segregated french services ….what next french only water stations ,french only bathrooms …..so they want their own services at the exclusion of others …….seems rather racist to me.
Furtz there were still about 1500 jews living in Berlin at the end of WWII fully knowing for the most part of what was going on. There are many reasons why people stay instead of leaving and many of those that leave still miss what was once.
Jaime, come on ! Are you comparing the treatment that the jews got in world war 2 to the treatment anglos get in Québec. Just because you believe you had bad experiences there doesn’t mean the whole province is bad. And to even compare jews to anglo quebecers is not only unfair but ludicrous. 9 million people died. (or so not a history buff) I recommend you watch the documentary nuit et brouillard. YOu can achieve great success in Québec without speaking a word of french. Does it help you if your bilingual, YES. À cause de quelques expériences négatives, on ne devrait pas étiqueté la province comme étant anglophobe. Le faire serait non seulement ridicule mais montrerait qu’on ne connait pas la province dans son ensemble.
French only signs in Embrun:
http://cornwallfreenews.com/2013/01/all-eyes-on-south-glengarry-over-freedom-of-expression-by-don-smith/
There you go.
Richard tremblay, take a drive through Embrun along St Jean Baptiste to see those French only signs. Brisson Gifts and the child care place comes to mind.
No Richard. I am not comparing them. I was clearly responding to the point Furtz made. Essentially many humans will remain in unhappy circumstances rather than face their fear or reluctance of change.
See what I mean, Jamie?
Assumptions?
Accusations?
It goes on and on to the point whereby one cannot even whisper a word of truth before being drowned out by a tidal wave of lies and deceptions!
@Eric RE: post on July 8, 2013 at 6:41 am
Great info Eric. Thank you so much for bringing these — FACTS — to the folks reading and trying to weed their way through some of the cr@p that some posters are decimating on here.
ON July 8, 2013 at 10:27 am Richard tremblay wrote, “in french first ? Is that really a problem ? You get services in English, but someone says bonjour instead of hello, and that is a big thing for you?”
Ah hem… S’cuse me Richard but, why the double standard? If the French believe it SHOULD BE French first in “the province” of Quebec why should it not be just simply a matter of common decency and shall we say, “courtesy” to have English first outside the province of Quebec?
Even your ridiculous excuses revolving around majority / minority figures don’t stand up in this example.
Besides, it was, after all, the French that taught us Canadians the concept that which ever language was dominant and ON TOP was indeed something to pass laws about and should be IMPORTANT.
Oh and HFTT, i notice you didn’t acknowledge the idea that several posters pointed out that you so called “STATS & FACTS” were completely skewed.
If you feed the animals cr@p, you’ll end up with cr@ppy animals 🙂
Oh and have a nice stats filled day eh 🙂
Ontario 0.3 % French only.
You Richard agree with segregation ,not inclusiveness …you would have done well in the deep south .
Segregation does not promote equality but promotes cultural isolation and puts limits on rights …..then again not much different then your brethren in La welfare province .
My Canada is all inclusive with no limitations ,you are advocating for a state much similar to South Africa 20 years ago.
So folks out there…. should your taxes pay for segregation of services -one for French and the other Bilingual ?
Should the state provide different services to one culture as apposed to all others(200+cultures) ?
Should the state put limits on employment solely on language ?
Do you think its acceptable to have French only in Quebec (legislated) and bilingual the rest of the country ?
Do you think that our Charter of Rights is worth the paper its written on when its violated continuously by the one province yet the same province uses it to protect its interest?
Do you think our Charter should include in its discriminatory measures “LANGUAGE ” as the United Nations has?
By law you are allowed to discriminate by language because its not recognized as a form of discrimination……oops that was omitted …no oops about it this was well thought out.
Admin, my friends and relatives in Quebec are quite content living there. Are you saying that they are too stupid to realize that they should be miserable? They enjoy living in Quebec. Is that wrong? Should they be taught to hate the French culture and the place where they have lived for many generations?
ON July 8, 2013 at 1:55 pm Furtz wrote, “Should they be taught to hate the French culture and the place where they have lived for many generations?`
No Furtz, unlike how many generation of French `were taught`to hate `les moudit Anglais,` the English DO NOT have to be taught.
It will simply be the ongoing `state sanctioned`actions like
* punching the English people, throwing eggs at the English people, and yelling `WE DON`T SPEAK ENGLISH HERE`in perfect English AT the English people … Not to mention all the anti English laws and attitudes also which will produce the sheer natural inborn involuntary reaction you speak of.
But hey, at least we can say we are quite well versed as Canadians in how they demonstrate their gratitude towards those who had their fate in hand some years ago and decided NOT to follow `the typical script du jour` but instead showed them mercy followed by years of accommodating federal mandates
IE:
—- 1867
Section 133 of the British North America Act (now the Constitution Act) permits the use of either English or French in the debates of Parliament as well as in the proceedings before the federal courts. This section also provides that both languages must be used in the records and journals of Parliament, and that its laws must be enacted and published in both languages.
—- 1927
Postage stamps become bilingual.
—- 1934
The federal Translation Bureau is established by an Act of Parliament.
—- 1936
Bank notes become bilingual.
—- 1959
Simultaneous interpretation of the debates in both languages begins in the House of Commons.
—- 1963 -1970
The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism is established and produces its reports.
—- 1969
Following the work of the Commission, the first Official Languages Act is adopted by Parliament. This Act recognized English and French as the official languages of all federal institutions in Canada. It grants equality of status of French and English not only in the Parliament or before courts, but also throughout the federal administration. The Act states that the public has the right to receive services from federal institutions in certain locations and to appear before federal courts and tribunals in the official language of their choice.
New Brunswick enacts its first Official Languages Act , making it Canada ‘s first, and only, officially bilingual province.
—- 1970
Creation of the official languages in education programs.
The Commissioner of Official Languages whose mission is “to take all measures to achieve the three main objectives of the Official Languages Act” is established.
—- 1973
A parliamentary resolution is adopted, dealing with the language of work and the participation of members of the English- and French-speaking communities in the federal public service.
—– 1974
The Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act comes into force, along with regulations respecting bilingual labelling of consumer products.
—– 1978
First Court Challenges Program – Official Languages.
—– 1982
The Constitution Act, 1982, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, is proclaimed, containing further constitutional guarantees respecting the status and use of the official languages of Canada in federal institutions. In addition, under Section 23 of the Charter, the provinces and territories must offer primary and secondary schooling to their official-language minorities in their mother tongue, where the numbers justify (English in Quebec, French elsewhere). In 1990, the Supreme Court of Canada also established that this same Section would give official-language minorities the right to manage their own schools.
—- 1988
The new Official Languages Act is adopted by Parliament. It repeats and qualifies the obligations under the 1982 Charter regarding the use of the two official languages in the provision of government services and throughout government institutions. Its three main objectives are:
ensure respect for English and French as the official languages of Canada and ensure equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all federal institutions;
enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and supporting and assisting their development; and
fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.
TO be CONT`D
Thank you Furtz and Stella.
It is the upmost importance to be bilingual and I see it everytime that we go out and shop. Not many people are just uniligual English anymore and I have seen many who are not only bilingual but even trilingual. I came back a while ago from shopping for a few groceries with my daughter and I have heard other languages spoken and in the store where we usually go there are at least 5 different languages besides English and French spoken and they speak to the customers in those languages. The more you know the better you are.
I wanted to say something here. I have worked with Anglophones from Québec here in Ottawa who are bilingual and honest to God not one of them have ever ran down the French or any other group except from people of Cornwall. I have never in my entire life heard others say “no French, no French” nor to put others down. I hear more languages spoken here in Ottawa and other cities and never had a problem of others putting them down. I only hear it in Cornwall. I have been to Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls and beyond and never heard of such a thing until I read things from Cornwall. You are going to have to change or nobody will ever go to Cornwall.
People who work at MacDonald’s, Tim Hortons, etc. etc. etc. here in Ottawa are bilingual and beyond. The hospitals here in Ottawa are bilingual and beyond. The government, insurance companies and you name are all bilingual. If you keep a strange mentality the way you have now you will never succeed. The young people in Cornwall will be leaving and will not go back when they see civilization beyond Cornwall. I know I have been through that experience when I was young and I am not a racist and my children like and respect all cultures and races and I have never heard a negative word out of their mouths.
CONT`D
—- 1990
Mahé Case: the Supreme Court rules that official-language minorities have the constitutional right to participate actively, in all provinces, in the governance and control of their children’s education and the educational institutions their children attend.
—- 1992
The first phase begins of the coming into force of the Official Languages Regulations.
1994
Congrès mondial acadien: Prime Minister Chrétien announced the adoption of “an overall policy on the participation of federal institutions in community development” that requires federal institutions to produce action plans under Part VII of the Official Languages Act. Set up of the Court Challenges Program of Canada.
—- 1997
Memorandum of Understanding between Canadian Heritage and the Treasury Board Secretariat on making departments accountable with regard to official-language minority communities.
—- 1998
National Symposium on Canada’s Official Languages.
—- 1999
The Interdepartmental Partnership for Official-Language Communities is established to stimulate and consolidate links between minority official-language communities and federal departments and agencies.
—- 2002
The New Brunswick government introduces a bill to update and modernize their Official Languages Act. The bill aims to fulfill obligations set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and to make improvements to the original bill of 1969. Provisions in the bill include fair and reasonable thresholds for municipalities to comply with requirements to translate municipal bylaws; the appointment of a Commissioner of Official Languages; access to health services within the New Brunswick Health Network in the language of choice, and a further review of the Official Languages Act every 10 years.
—- 2003
The Federal Government announces its Action Plan for Official Languages (2003/04 – 2007/08) which aims to provide a “new momentum for Canada’s linguistic duality,” through increased inter-departmental co-ordination, and new investments in education, community development and the public service.
More things the English get in return ?
A skewed hiring policy based on an invented form of bilingualism
AND
Removal of the Canadian flag in the assembly,
AND
an attempt to rename the Radio Canada without using the term Canada 🙂
AND
and
and
and… It goes on and on.
What is that old saying?
One good turn deserves
.
.
.
.
a good French slap in the face?
Furtz, why can’t you use your powers for greatness instead of this, what ever this is.
When the freeholder had a limit of responses allowed, you would fill it up like this so people could not post on an article. Just like what I am doing right now.
And welcome back!
I have been to “la belle province” so many times and love it very much and I have never had a hard time getting by with the people. Many Francophones even speak English and they knew that I was of English background and I told them that I speak French and that my mother was French and even born in “la belle province” and that I was mighty proud of my heritage.
I have been to la ville de Québec, to la Momorencie and other towns and I loved every minute of it and more so than Ontario. Sure we have encountered people honking and showing the finger but that is also done right here in Ottawa. You meet the good and the bad everywhere. I am mighty thankful to my mother having put me in a French school and the language was one of my biggest assets when it came time for employment in both private industry as well as the government.