'A slap in the face' to Quebecers

[Leafless]

"The appointment of former Citizen publisher Russell Mills as chairman of the National Capital Commission was described Friday as uncamouflet au visage des Qubcois a slap in the face of Quebecers."

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I am elated this has happened and wish Russell Mills the best of luck as chairman of the NCC.

There is no law stating one must be bilingual for this position and only hope that common sense will return to parliament, to officially discard 'official bilingualism' as policy, that is destroying the quality of candidates applying for federal employment.

Official bilingualism also places emphasis on minority Francophone cultural control of federal public service jobs and is a dangerous precedent to allow this to happen which is not in the better interest of majority English speaking Canada.

Canada should wake up before it is to late and permanently get rid of 'Official Bilingualism' in the federal public service.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...9189bde&k=10692

[Shakeyhands]

I'm curious as to why you think its (bilingualism) an issue?

good for him for at least saying he'll learn french.

[Wilber]

Who cares, the BQ is commited to dismantling the country, everthing is a slap in the face to them.

[Leafless]

I'm curious as to why you think its (bilingualism) an issue?

good for him for at least saying he'll learn french.

It is not I that is making federal bilingualism an issue, it is:

"Bloc Qubcois MP Richard Nadeau of Gatineau said yesterday Mr. Mills lack of fluency in French is like a slap with a glove from a nobleperson before a duel."

And, Marcel Proulx who said:

"Liberal MP Marcel Proulx said the choice of Mr. Mills as NCC chairman is unacceptable because he is not bilingual."

But personally I think there are millions of Canadians who fear the English majority are loosing political control to a French minority with different culture and ideologies.

Our system of politics, 'Parliamentary Democracy" is simply not working and the English speaking majority are not receiving proper MP representation to prevent this from happening (loosing political control to a foreign French) minority.

I say FOREIGN, because Quebec adheres to the language of a foreign country, a country that was defeated and gave up ALL rights to the British.

This means the French language in Canada can be described no other way, other than foreign, even though French was made an 'official language' by what I would describe as an undemocratic process.

Individual majority English constitutional rights have been trampled on by the very same government we pay taxes to, to run the country, not social engineer it.

[Pat Coghlan]

I'm curious as to why you think its (bilingualism) an issue?

good for him for at least saying he'll learn french.

It is an issue for anyone outside of Quebec hoping to land a job in the public service. While it's reasonable to expect HR or payroll employees to be bilingual, no one is willing to address the issue of "language of work". No manager should be able to classify a job as bilingual unless he/she is willing to certify that a second language will be used at least 10% of the time. Otherwise, we end up with the current situation in which something like 80% of people who go on language training return to their jobs (after up to 2 years) without ever needing to speak the newly-learned second language.

It's also an issue for taxpayers who have to fork out billions of dollars to be wasted as described above.

[scribblet]

More politicking and trying to advance their long term mission of convincing the rest of Canada that Canada really hates Quebeckers . Don't know about anyone else but it really getting tiresome.

[kimmy]

I'm curious as to why you think its (bilingualism) an issue?

Why indeed is bilingualism an issue?

Mr. Mills could be oneof the smartest people in Canada to handle that job, but for me he has to be bilingual.

This MP feels that bilingualism is such a big deal that it trumps any and all other qualifications for the job. Does that seem like the best way to run a big operation?

-k

[normanchateau]

"It is simply difficult – extremely difficult – for someone to become bilingual in a country that is not. And make no mistake. Canada is not a bilingual country. In fact it less bilingual today than it has ever been... So there you have it. As a religion, bilingualism is the god that failed. It has led to no fairness, produced no unity and cost Canadian taxpayers untold millions."

- Stephen Harper on bilingualism, Calgary Sun, May 6th 2001.

[Canuck E Stan]

"If the whole country was showing support for the French language everywhere, I think a lot of French-speaking Quebecers would encourage their own government to be even more open to the language minority in Quebec than is the case today.

Bilingualism is not only right, it's smart. In today's global economy, the better a country can communicate with the world, the better it can attract new business."

-Stephane Dion on bilingualism, CBC News August 5, 2002

[jdobbin]

"Does this menu have pictures?"

Peter MacKay, May 6, 2007, overheard from the next table

[Michael Bluth]

"Does this menu have pictures?"

Peter MacKay, May 6, 2007, overheard from the next table

Wow? What a reliable source you have found.

"Overheard from the next table."

If you want to have an actual debate on policy instead of the personality, weight, what a minister was supposedly over heard to have said or perceived agenda of the PM feel free.

[scribblet]

Don't bother me with facts, my mind is made up !

[Alexandra]

"It is simply difficult – extremely difficult – for someone to become bilingual in a country that is not. And make no mistake. Canada is not a bilingual country. In fact it less bilingual today than it has ever been... So there you have it. As a religion, bilingualism is the god that failed. It has led to no fairness, produced no unity and cost Canadian taxpayers untold millions."

- Stephen Harper on bilingualism, Calgary Sun, May 6th 2001.

On May 6th 2001 Stephen Harper was wrong when he stated "It has led to no fairness, produced no unity and cost Canadian taxpayers untold millions ....."

What he should have stated is: that it has led to no fairness, produced no unity and cost Canadian taxpayers untold Billions ...

And, that was in 2001.

[normanchateau]

"Scott Reid has resigned as the Conservative Party's official languages critic after saying bilingual services would be reduced if the Conservatives form the next government.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper immediately distanced himself from the comments, saying they did not reflect the party stance.

Harper reprimanded Reid over the statements, adding the party would maintain the Official Languages Act.

On Tuesday Harper told a Montreal audience that French would be a national priority in Quebec and across Canada."

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2004/05/27/...gual040527.html

Sounds remarkably like Harper opposed bilingualism in 2001 but became it's champion in 2004. Wonder where the hypocrite stands on the issue today...

[Alexandra]

Just as Trudeau 'introduced' the O.F.A. in 1969, a Prime Minister in the future may introduce an Act to cancel the O.F.L., should Quebec decide to separate or, more than likely, the West will have become the economic engine with the likelihood of an increase of population greater than Quebec and the Maritimes combined ensuring that any future Prime Minister/Government will be forced to pander to --- the West.

Speculation, however, it speaks to the question of whether Quebec's seeming problems with the OFL will be in future and is today, moot.

Whether it is S. Harper's government or a Liberal government appointing a non-Quebecer to a government sinecure or not it would be a slap in the face to all of the Bloc MPs' and most Quebecers.

`

[normanchateau]

The fact remain that Stephen Harper opposed bilingualism in 2001 but became it's champion in 2004.

[August1991]

This MP feels that bilingualism is such a big deal that it trumps any and all other qualifications for the job. Does that seem like the best way to run a big operation?

The Liberals and BQ are making the noise. (Surprise!)

Harper didn't do this unadvised. I'll bet that Mills appoints a francophone deputy, or so on. End of story.

The fact remain that Stephen Harper opposed bilingualism in 2001 but became it's champion in 2004.

You now blame Stephen Harper for bilingualism? And being anti-French?

If Ottawa goes up in flames because the NCC adopts bad building codes, will that be Harper's fault too? And what if Ottawa suffers an earthquake? Harper, that nasty guy!

[normanchateau]

The fact remains that Stephen Harper opposed bilingualism in 2001 but became it's champion in 2004.

You now blame Stephen Harper for bilingualism? And being anti-French?

Neither. I blame him for hypocrisy.

[Argus]

"It is simply difficult – extremely difficult – for someone to become bilingual in a country that is not. And make no mistake. Canada is not a bilingual country. In fact it less bilingual today than it has ever been... So there you have it. As a religion, bilingualism is the god that failed. It has led to no fairness, produced no unity and cost Canadian taxpayers untold millions."

- Stephen Harper on bilingualism, Calgary Sun, May 6th 2001.

All true. Completely unacceptable to say it to the mainstream, of course, but all true.

[Argus]

The fact remains that Stephen Harper opposed bilingualism in 2001 but became it's champion in 2004.

You now blame Stephen Harper for bilingualism? And being anti-French?

Neither. I blame him for hypocrisy.

It's not hypocrisy. You once again have your terms confused. Hypocrisy is when, behind the closed doors of a cabinet meeting, you oppose any measures to meet the Kyoto agreement your government has signed, then you go out into the lights and name your dog Kyoto and tell everyone how important it is for the country."

Harper's abrupt switch is not hypocrisy, it's simple, political expediency. Does he really believe in the Official Languages Act as presently constituted? I rather doubt it. Is he being dishonest about it? Yup. So what? Voters have never punished a politician, much less a government for lying yet.

[normanchateau]

The fact remains that Stephen Harper opposed bilingualism in 2001 but became it's champion in 2004.

You now blame Stephen Harper for bilingualism? And being anti-French?

Neither. I blame him for hypocrisy.

It's not hypocrisy. You once again have your terms confused. Hypocrisy is when, behind the closed doors of a cabinet meeting, you oppose any measures to meet the Kyoto agreement your government has signed, then you go out into the lights and name your dog Kyoto and tell everyone how important it is for the country."

Harper's abrupt switch is not hypocrisy, it's simple, political expediency. Does he really believe in the Official Languages Act as presently constituted? I rather doubt it. Is he being dishonest about it? Yup. So what? Voters have never punished a politician, much less a government for lying yet.

[normanchateau]

The fact remains that Stephen Harper opposed bilingualism in 2001 but became it's champion in 2004.

You now blame Stephen Harper for bilingualism? And being anti-French?

Neither. I blame him for hypocrisy.

It's not hypocrisy. You once again have your terms confused.

Harper's abrupt switch is not hypocrisy, it's simple, political expediency. Does he really believe in the Official Languages Act as presently constituted? I rather doubt it. Is he being dishonest about it?

It is indeed political expediency, notwithstanding the hypocrisy. The two terms, of course, are not mutually exclusive. Or in your obvious confusion, do you think they are?

[Hydraboss]

The fact remain that Stephen Harper opposed bilingualism in 2001 but became it's champion in 2004.

...and John Creten promised to get rid of the GST. Guess what? He lied. Or is that changed his mind?

Nothing new here, so what's the problem Norman?

[normanchateau]

The fact remain that Stephen Harper opposed bilingualism in 2001 but became it's champion in 2004.

...and John Creten promised to get rid of the GST. Guess what? He lied.

Your point being that it's OK for Harper to lie because Chretien did?

[kimmy]

The fact remain that Stephen Harper opposed bilingualism in 2001 but became it's champion in 2004.

...and John Creten promised to get rid of the GST. Guess what? He lied.

Your point being that it's OK for Harper to lie because Chretien did?

Is changing positions the same as lying?

Was fighting official bilingualism part of Harper's platform? Do you feel that voters who voted for Harper may have thought he was going to disband official bilingualism because he said the policy was a failure 5 years earlier?

Was Paul Martin lying when he opposed gay marriage in 1997? Was he lying when he supported gay marriage in 2004? Was he lying either time?

Is it a lie any time a politician changes his position? Or is does that depend on what the politician's political affiliation is?

-k