Re: Vancouver Sun ed. against off. bilingualism

"Dr.Dusseldorf" wrote:

>
> The battle over bilingualism is back with a vengeance. Quite possibly,
> this is the least popular topic in Canada, a country that has spent an
> enormous amount of time and money on the matter, and thought it was
> fully dealt with.
>
> Bilingualism -- how much of it there should be, and where -- in the
> past has divided the country up, down and sideways. It now threatens
> to do so again.
>
> The story of bilingualism in Canada is one of reluctant compromise and
> acceptance, a recognition that 22 per cent of Canadians described
> themselves as francophone in the 2001 Census (59 per cent said they're
> anglos; 17 per cent are neither.)

All the meaningful jobs in the federal government (Canada's largest employer) have been annotated as bilingual and currently the French occupy 68% of these positions. Not bad for 23.5 % of the population. http://www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/centres/annual-annuel/2003/tables/table7/artable7_16-o_e.htm

There need be no debate over Official bilingualism in the federal government.

The last time there was such an imbalance in the Franco / Anglo proportions Trudeau ordered that 27% of all military positions at all levels would be filled

with Francos, regardless of qualifications.

The Chief of the Defence Staff , General Jacques Dextraze, was appalled at having to promote Franco officers over much superior Anglo officers. NOTE: THE NORMAL LINK TO THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN BLOCKED.  http://www.sfu.ca/~dann/Backissues/nn4-2_2.htm THAT SHOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING IN ITSELF. It's sure is funny that when we have these NOT SO minor imbalances in Franco / Anglo proportions that it's the prime ministers personal responsibility to make it right if the French don't have their full share. Otherwise no one cares if the Anglos are underrepresented.

And that is an historical fact, with one exception: It's always been OK for the French to be under represented in the military when the country's engaged in a shooting war.

THIS CONFIRMS THAT Trudeau did order 27% of all military positions at all levels to be filled
with Francos

Nov 1977 AN ADDRESS BY The Honourable Barnett Danson, M.P., MND (Barny Danson) http://www.empireclubfoundation.com/details.asp?SpeechID=1821&FT=yes We haven't accomplished these changes in the armed forces without some misunderstanding, a feeling that maybe the change has gone a little too far too fast. Well, nobody in the service gets promoted who isn't qualified, but everything else being reasonably equal, yes, some francophones get the nod in categories where they're under-represented. The francophone level in the service has now reached 23%--somewhat less in the middle and senior officer ranks. I wouldn't call that a takeover, but I do think it ensures that by 1987 servicemen of both languages will be represented with fairness for the first time. Received on Sat Nov 06 2004 - 02:16:26 PST