The Liberals have introduced a law that will require some private sectors workers to speak French, says Blacklock’s Reporter..Airports, banks, grain mills, interprovincial trucking companies, radio stations, railways, marine shippers and other federally-regulated companies must now embrace bilingualism in provinces with a “strong francophone presence,” though the term was not defined..“Our two official languages, French and English, are at the heart of who we are as a people and as a country,” said Languages Minister Mélanie Joly..“They bring us together. Once it becomes law, more francophones will be able to work and live in French” across Canada..Bill C-32 would compel bilingualism in the private sector. Federally-regulated Canada Labour Code employers “in a region with a strong francophone presence” must provide service in French as a “language of work,” and answer to federal complaints..The bill defines “strong francophone presence” based on an undetermined population ratio to be fixed later by cabinet, or “the vitality and specificity of French linguistic minority communities.” The bill’s preamble states francophones “should have the right to communicate in French and obtain available services in French” outside Québec..Cabinet would “induce the business community including federally-regulated private businesses, labour organizations, non-profit organizations and other organizations or institutions to provide services in both English and French,” it said..The original 1969 Languages Act currently applies only to federal departments and agencies, Crown corporations and Air Canada as a former taxpayer-owned airline subsequently privatized in 1988..Nationwide fewer than a tenth of English-speaking Canadians are bilingual, by official estimate..“Yes, English is dominant in many spheres of activity,” Minister Joly said in April 13 testimony at the Commons languages committee..“That’s why we need real equality. That’s why we are recognizing the need to level the playing field.”.“We know there is a decline of French in Québec and in Canada. We must take action and we will continue to take action in our jurisdiction to protect French..“Digital technologies, it must be said, favour the use of English. In Canada there are eight million francophones in a vast North American ocean of millions of English speakers, and it is up to us to protect French..“This is a major shift in official languages policy.”.Bill C-32 would also designate the Supreme Court as officially bilingual..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
The Liberals have introduced a law that will require some private sectors workers to speak French, says Blacklock’s Reporter..Airports, banks, grain mills, interprovincial trucking companies, radio stations, railways, marine shippers and other federally-regulated companies must now embrace bilingualism in provinces with a “strong francophone presence,” though the term was not defined..“Our two official languages, French and English, are at the heart of who we are as a people and as a country,” said Languages Minister Mélanie Joly..“They bring us together. Once it becomes law, more francophones will be able to work and live in French” across Canada..Bill C-32 would compel bilingualism in the private sector. Federally-regulated Canada Labour Code employers “in a region with a strong francophone presence” must provide service in French as a “language of work,” and answer to federal complaints..The bill defines “strong francophone presence” based on an undetermined population ratio to be fixed later by cabinet, or “the vitality and specificity of French linguistic minority communities.” The bill’s preamble states francophones “should have the right to communicate in French and obtain available services in French” outside Québec..Cabinet would “induce the business community including federally-regulated private businesses, labour organizations, non-profit organizations and other organizations or institutions to provide services in both English and French,” it said..The original 1969 Languages Act currently applies only to federal departments and agencies, Crown corporations and Air Canada as a former taxpayer-owned airline subsequently privatized in 1988..Nationwide fewer than a tenth of English-speaking Canadians are bilingual, by official estimate..“Yes, English is dominant in many spheres of activity,” Minister Joly said in April 13 testimony at the Commons languages committee..“That’s why we need real equality. That’s why we are recognizing the need to level the playing field.”.“We know there is a decline of French in Québec and in Canada. We must take action and we will continue to take action in our jurisdiction to protect French..“Digital technologies, it must be said, favour the use of English. In Canada there are eight million francophones in a vast North American ocean of millions of English speakers, and it is up to us to protect French..“This is a major shift in official languages policy.”.Bill C-32 would also designate the Supreme Court as officially bilingual..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
