The Commissioner for Official Languages has received a spate of complaints over the past year.
A record of 5409.
A record owned by Justin Trudeau’s Liberals. Whatever one thinks of this government, which poses as a friend of the Francophones, its track record is far from rosy.
myths and symbols
The historic and controversial appointment of a monolingual Aboriginal governor-general and the Air Canada chief’s speech in English have provoked a spate of complaints.
In the case of Michael Rousseau, his impertinence when he boasts he lived in Montreal for 14 years without learning a telltale word of French added another insult to the injury.
The outcry raised by these two cases shows that symbols matter when it comes to languages.
The appointment of a first Aboriginal Governor-General was a powerful symbol. But many rightly felt it was accepted on the backs of the French.
This feeds the pernicious myth that diversity does not come together in Molière’s language.
A very persistent myth in English Canada, relegating French to the narrow universe of folklore.
“The concepts of linguistic duality and inclusion should never be approached as if they were opposites,” said Commissioner Raymond Théberge in his annual report presented this week.
Public service
Unfortunately, this type of dating is getting closer to the norm in Ottawa.
Mary Simon, Michael Rousseau and the case of the monolingual Anglophone Lieutenant Governor in New Brunswick are just the tip of the iceberg.
Every day, French-speaking federal officials at all levels hesitate to use their language at work so as not to damage their careers.
In the meantime, the departments at the top often only work in one official language.
For example, last March the federal government sent a handful of high-ranking monolingual officials to the parliamentary press to tell us the details of a $9 billion environmental plan.
These examples don’t make headlines, but they abound in federal ministries.
“The appointment of non-speakers of Canada’s two official languages to key senior positions sends a message that is as strong as it is negative,” Commissioner Théberge continued.
To ensure that the example comes from above, Mr Théberge suggests reviewing the language obligations of senior civil service and political appointments.
The liberal reform of the official language law does not go that far. She’s still waiting too.
Let’s not pretend to be surprised.
