Codiac Transpo seeks removal of ad from anglophone rights group
Ad asks if implementation of bilingualism has 'gone too far'
Jordan Gill· CBC News· Posted: Nov 17, 2019 10:58 AM AT
The Anglophone Rights Association of New Brunswick advertisement is shown on a Codiac Transpo bus. (Facebook/Nicole Doiron)
Codiac Transpo has requested that an ad from the controversial Anglophone Rights Association of New Brunswick that appeared on buses in the greater Moncton area be removed.
The ad asked the question: "Do you feel the implementation of Bilingualism has gone too far?" and directed readers to the group's email and website.
In a Facebook post, Codiac Transpo said it has asked the firm in charge of advertising on city buses to remove the ad.
"Although Codiac Transpo, the City of Moncton, the City of Dieppe and the Town of Riverview are not part of the content approval process, we do require advertising to be respectful toward everyone in our community," said Codiac Transpo.
"It has come to our attention that an advertisement appearing on one of our buses does not follow the City's position on bilingualism."
The city of Moncton declared itself officially bilingual in 2002.
'Disrespectful' and 'divisive'
In an email, the Acadian Society of New Brunswick commended Codiac Transpo for quickly seeking the removal of the ad, but that it should never have been approved from the outset.
"The publication of this ad was disrespectful to both official language communities and should have been rejected by Codiac Transpo and their third-party advertising partners," said the society.
The society said that groups like the Anglophone Rights Association "must be called out for their divisive rhetoric" and asks why the ad had not been flagged as offensive before it was posted.
It has come to our attention that an advertisement appearing on one of our buses does not follow the City’s position on bilingualism. The advertising contract for buses and shelters is managed by a private sector company. Although Codiac Transpo, the City of Moncton, the City of Dieppe and the Town of Riverview are not part of the content approval process, we do require advertising to be respectful toward everyone in our community. Codiac Transpo has already reached out to the company to have these advertisements removed. ... Nous avons appris l’existence d'une publicité sur l'un de nos autobus qui ne suit pas la position de la Ville en matière de bilinguisme. Le contrat de publicité pour les autobus et les abribus est géré par une entreprise du secteur privé. Bien que Codiac Transpo, la Ville de Moncton, la Ville de Dieppe et la Ville de Riverview ne participent pas au processus d'approbation du contenu des publicités, nous exigeons qu’elle respecte tous les résidents de notre communauté. Codiac Transpo a déjà communiqué avec l'entreprise pour que cette publicité soit retirée.
"Are there advertising policies in place meant to prevent such situations from arising?" said the society.
"If so, why did the system fail? If not, the time come for all levels of government to look at service delivery models that prevent advertisers from promoting divisive and untruthful messages or otherwise publicize the euphemistic propaganda of organizations like the ARA."
Moncton city councillor Charles Léger said he also questions why the ad was allowed on the bus. "What are the checks and balances that are in writing that can help so that we don't have to have this conversation again," said Léger.
Michel Doucet, a lawyer and former University of Moncton law professor said he doesn't think the ad reflects the values of the greater Moncton area, but having it on a city bus lends legitimacy to the message.
He thinks the city was right to ask to have the ads removed.
Lawyer Michel Doucet said while people have a right to oppose bilingualism, the city of Moncton shouldn't offer a platform to legitimize the opposition. (Marielle Guimond/Radio-Canada)
"These people have the right to oppose official bilingualism, it's part of the free speech," said Doucet.
"But I believe that the municipalities should be more careful of the types of messages that are found in the [ads] inside the institutions which are part of the municipality or on businesses which form part of the municipality."
No comment from association
In an email sent from the address included on the Anglophone Rights Association advertisement, a member of the group's executive team said they do not "have any comment at this time."
This isn't the first time the group has come under fire for its advertising in the Moncton area. In 2016, the group rented a billboard advertising an upcoming meeting in the city. The ad included the text "English have rights too!"
With files from Radio-Canada, Marielle Guimond & Nicolas Steinbach\
281 Comments After much editing for the benefit of the SANB Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos Methinks I should give the SANB and Robert Gauvin another call N'esy Pas?
David Amos Methinks I just proved my point again N'esy Pas?
David Amos Content disabled Methinks for the benefit of the SANB "Content disabled" is the order of the day first thing this morning N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks everybody in the SANB knows how much I love their circus particularly when the lawyer Michel Doucet becomes their featured entertainer N'esy Pas?
Al Clark
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: Guest of her majesty this weekend?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Al Clark: Oh My My
David Amos Methinks lawyers truly concerned about the status of bilingualism in New Brunswick should have read Federal Court File No T-1557-15 by now N'esy Pas?
Al Clark
Reply to @David Amos: Face facts Davy. NO-ONE has read it but you.
David Amos
Reply to @Al Clark: Methinks everybody but you knows that the Crown has argued it through 14 decisions N'esy Pas?
Al Clark
Reply to @David Amos: Suuuuure ;-)
Marc Martin
Reply to @Al Clark: Davis tends to imagine alot of stuff.
David Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: Who is your buddy Davis?
Mack Leigh All, All minority languages should receive equal treatment including all funding should they not ? Why are some labeled " distinct " receiving the lion's share of everything then ??
Marc Martin
Reply to @Mack Leigh: You dont have access to schools, hospitals and gov services?
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Marc Martin: Let us discuss the issue of money ... On a per person basis Francophones receive the lion's share of all taxpayers money both federally and provincially.. Heritage Canada alone gives millions more every year to Francophones than it does to all other minorities combined... Check the facts for yourself Marc . Francophone schools receive millions more per year than the Anglophone or Everyone Else school system does. Francohone Health authority receives millions more per year........ Look at the facts and then tell me how downtrodden the francophones are... No one minority , of which francophones are one, deserves any more or any less .
Samual Johnston
Reply to @Mack Leigh: you really think support of the Italian language should have equal footing with French ? really?
Sanual Johnston
Reply to @Mack Leigh: on the issue of money --- yes it is expensive and yes I believe some changes should be made but "lions share of taxpayers money". that is false. - Best if you can provide some figures and sources for you statements. lions share and millions more does not cut it.
David Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: Cry me a river
Marc Martin
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Numbers? Or you imagine stuff like Davis? Fact is the English population of NB has 73 % of the schools for 68% of the population... Who receives more money again?
Marc Martin
Reply to @David Amos: Are you sure your talking to the right Marc ?
David Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: YUP
Michel Pelletier I am french and I learn my English by having a few English class during all my 12 years of schooling. The part the practical part of learning English was to listen and watch English television, and the part is I was not shy to speak English to people you cannot or do not want to learn french. Being bilingual is a blessing and if I could learn a third language I would to do it now. Being able to speak both in French and English is choice, that has to be made. If somebody tell me that he or she have difficulty being bilingual either french to English or English to french is simply to lazy.
Toby Tolly Reply to @Michel Pelletier: i wouldnt call your 6 line message understandable english\
Samual Johnston
Reply to @Toby Tolly: you take a crack at your message in French --- I cannot speak or write in French but envy those who can.
Marc Martin
Reply to @Toby Tolly: Thank you for proving that 32% arent fluent enough and do require French service.
Toby Tolly
Reply to @Samual Johnston: well i can but that wasnt my point
David Amos
Reply to @Toby Tolly: Oh my my
Marilyn Carr People should be hired on education and experience not language.
Marc Martin
Reply to @Marilyn Carr: Only people who have never worked for the gov think that.
David Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: Yea Right
Marc Martin
Reply to @David Amos: Cry me a river....
McKenzie King It seems ridiculous to me that one organization like the Acadian Society can push French and be lauded as a wonderful organization, while another like the ARA pushes English and is branded as "divisive." They are actually both very divisive organizations because they insist on promoting the things that make us different, not the things that we have in common. This is the very definition of "divisive" and should have no place in decent society. And to brand one and support the other is tantamount to racism.
Mack Leigh
Reply to @McKenzie King: Would that be called double standards ? Or silencing the masses in favor of one minority ?
Marc Martin
Reply to @McKenzie King: ARNB is a hatred .group thats the difference
David Amos
Reply to @McKenzie King: Methinks you can thank the ghosts of Trudeau The Elder and his buddy Premier Hatfield for this nonsense N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Marc Martin: Yea right
Patrick Buick I am not anti-French, I work with many people whose primary language is French. However, speaking of divisive, not long ago in NB there was a fuss by the Francophone school district because to save costs, a single school bus was used to transport both Anglophone and Francophone students. They forced the issue to where there were two separate buses. That is by definition divisive and not *bilingual*, but forced, separated unilingual. The driver spoke both official languages, the definition of Bilingual and therefore could provide bilingual services. What about the *bilingual* couple suing Air Canada because they weren't served in French? How about the *bilingual* person who raised the issue that they couldn't be served in French at closing time at a NB Liquor outlet in a rural area? That is divisive action. I remember when I got ridiculed because I tried to buy ice cream in rural Quebec and didn't speak good enough French to understand the rapid-fire French the clerk was speaking, and she couldn't speak English. I at least *tried*. She eventually stormed off and an older man came to help and we completed the transaction. That left a lasting mark on me. I haven't heard of any cases (not to say there aren't any) where an Anglophone raised a language issue where they couldn't be served in English.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Patrick Buick: At least you got to make a statement without being blocked
Marc Martin
Reply to @Patrick Buick: First the request to have seperate buses started up north in Edmundston by the English population. Second working myself for the Federal gov. over 80% of the bilingual positions are filled out with English people who speak French, there is also 0 French only position while there is a ton of unilingual position educate yourself.
Mack Leigh
Reply to @David Amos: Blocking or being disabled seems to be rampant on this post...Once again only wishing to promote one point of view.
Norman Albert
Reply to @Patrick Buick: We are unable to hire EMTs now because they do not meet language requirements. Those that do meet the rigid qualification will of course need to be properly compensated for a service they may never require. We are becoming by design a Tower of Babel with the influx of immigrants. Language translation technology will be a great asset. Are all first responders now required to speak 10 languages? $$$$$$$$?
Norman Albert
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Welcome to "freedom of expression" Canada style. Say what you like as long as it does not offend anyone. So many comments directed at comments already fl agged.
John Valcourt A complaint from the SANB and the city of Moncton jumps. This only legitimizes the claim of the ARNB. A big miss by the mayor of Moncton and her followers.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @John Valcourt: Exactly
A sign on a bus got the Anglophones national coverage because the Francophone clown who usually does all the whining and crying did so again.
Methinks less is more Furthermore I bet the Anglos are too busy laughing to bother commenting before the Speech From The Throne this week and the PANB having to make a big decision N'esy Pas?
"In an email sent from the address included on the Anglophone Rights Association advertisement, a member of the group's executive team said they do not "have any comment at this time."
Mack Leigh
Reply to @John Valcourt: Mayor Arnold and her city Counselors need to come to the realization that they were elected to represent all of the people of Moncton and not just the Francophone Elite....
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: BINGO
Natalie Pugh Keep up the good work ARNB! It's great when we know we struck a nerve! Francophone groups like the sanb along with the acadian liberal party have been stepping all over us for far too long!
David Amos
Reply to @Natalie Pugh: YUP
J A Content disabled God forbid you have an opinion that may offend others. Nothing wrong with a counter view to a topic. The add does not incite violence and is not hate speech. I may not agree with it's message, but should it be removed? No. The censorious leftists will find anything to have a meltdown over though so the emotional outcry from them is all too predictable and will garner clicks for CBC.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @J A: Good luck getting all your words published here
Al Clark Joe Cittadino: You have, and always have had, your rights. You are free to speak your language and celebrate your culture as much as you like, the same as any other linguistic community in Canada. What you are NOT free to do, is to force your language on everyone else in a perverted sense of "equality" to the detriment of Canadians using a different language. It is very obvious that what you are really trying to accomplish, is what the british army could not accomplish 300 years ago.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Al Clark: Methinks everybody knows who you really are N'esy Pas?
Al Clark Reply to @David Amos: cry me a river?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: BINGO
Chris Paul I've traveled every part of NB. I also lived in Quebec for 12 years. My wife is from an Acadian family. NB has been my family's home for several hundred years. I respect and love both French and English culture.
The issue from my perspective is this...
Acadians are proud people who want to see their language and culture continue to be strong in NB. They want their French language rights to be respected. The vast majority of NB's understand this.
Special interest groups vs politicians vs legal system. This is where it gets complicated. Politicians passed bilingualism laws to help ensure that french language rights were respected. Special interest groups now cry foul every time they see any perceived violation. They pressure politicians and the threaten legal action.
Employment. This is one of the primary issue with English speaking people. Any federal, provincial or municipal employee who might have contact with ANYONE who is French must be bilingual. Most Francophones in NB are bilingual due to North America being most English. Most Anglophones are are English only and many struggle with bilingualism as they can only speak it or practice in a classroom setting.
When it comes to work and employment, Anglophones are at a distinct disadvantage due to no fault of their own. NB is 65% English vs 35% French. It makes for frustration among Anglophones that their children may need to leave NB to pursue the best employment opportunities.
David Peters
Reply to @Chris Paul: I think it creates more problems than it solves when you give rights to one group of ppl over another. Basic, individual rights for everyone would be better, imo.
Chris Paul
Reply to @David Peters: Up until recently, most politicians in NB were reluctant to talk about language laws or official bilingualism for fear of the backlash from special interest groups. NB is on the right track but adjustments need to be made. I feel like this is starting to happen.
Roland Godin
Reply to @Chris Paul: « Anglophones are at a distinct disadvantage due to no fault of their own ».
Interesting, I respect NB anglophones as self reliant and not self pity fiddlers however, do you include Northern NB, Québec, Vancouver anglophones in your dissertation...EH!
Roland Godin
Reply to @David Peters: Not easy to historically share that right...eh!
John Valcourt
Reply to @Chris Paul: The bilingualism laws passed were not done so to protect the french language rights and the culture. That is the responsibility of french speaking families, not english speaking families.
David Amos
Reply to @John Valcourt: Methinks it all began with Hatfield seeking enough votes from the north in order to get elected again Then McKenna made things a lot worse N'esy Pas?
Marc Martin
Reply to @Chris Paul: working myself for the Federal gov. over 80% of the bilingual positions are filled out with English people who speak French, there is also 0 French only position while there is a ton of unilingual position educate yourself.
David Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: Higgs gave ya the boot EH?
Roland Godin
Reply to @David Amos: Try La Confédération 1867 sur la question des langues officielles...eh
Roland Godin
Reply to @John Valcourt: And vis versa...et voilà.
David Amos
Reply to @Roland Godin: Methinks you should consider the failures of Meech Lake and the Charlottetown Accord then consider whether or not the Charter of 1982 is to be upheld N'esy Pas?
Roland Godin
Reply to @David Amos: Ontario and Québec have 50/50 common shares voting rights in the Company, other provinces are non voting franchisees...eh!
David Amos
Reply to @Roland Godin: Methinks many a true word is said in jest but in the case of the Charter the Quebec vote cancelled the Ontario vote and left the rest of us holding the bag N'esy Pas?
Roland Godin Reply to @David Amos: It is business as usual, sell your 50% shares it remains 50%, and yes franchisees hold the bag...et voilà.
Marc Martin Content disabled Reply to @David Amos: Never worked provincial .. Are you still harrassing that poor guy?
Faye King Mr. Doucet's comment to CBC where he states "These people have the right to oppose official bilingualism, its part of the free speech". Then he contradicts himself when he says the ad doesn't reflect the Moncton area. How does he know that ? Have the citizens of Moncton been asked how they feel about bilingualism ? I challenge Mr. Doucet on his wording "these people". I think his choice of words " these people" discriminates and tries to discredit Anglophone Rights Association of New Brunswick. They are a group of concerned citizens who are looking for fairness and justice when it comes to jobs that are requiring bilingualism. Most French/Francophones can speak French and English which means they get most of the jobs. The English/Anglophones are struggling on the side lines looking for a few crumbs. The government has made this problem pitting francophones against anglophones. The ARA would like to see cooperation between both linguistic groups. You will not see the same offer of cooperation from the SANB. When the government is not listening to the cries of its people and there is a group that hears and understands their burdens they will need to do what is necessary to educate the people that don't know what's going on. I beg to differ with Mr. Doucet about free speech. There is an attack on free speech if there wasn't citizens would already know about how bad a position this province and its people are in and would be inflamed !
David Amos
Reply to @Faye king: Methinks Orwell called that Doublespeak which should be no surprised when its practiced by a lawyer playing politics N'esy Pas?
Cleve Gallant About time the Anglo community fights back,Besides it’s not even real french spoken here in N,B,
Omer Samson
Reply to @Cleve Gallant: LOL Fight what? Who is there to fight? Yeah, you go look for that enemy you have in mind and fight him. Everyone who bothers to learn anything remotely related to linguistics, fight them all.
Cleve Gallant
Reply to @Josef Blow: Paris,
Cleve Gallant
Reply to @Omer Samson: You must be looking into the mirror,
Josef Blow
Reply to @Cleve Gallant: Paris is real French? Paris is a city. Parisians who speak French, speak French, as do Montrealers, Monctonians, Londoners (the Queen of England speaks wonderful French). How about you? How would you rate your French?
Cleve Gallant
Reply to @Josef Blow: My french is nil,But your not going to convince me that Acadien french is the same in Quebec,
Chris Paul
Reply to @Omer Samson: I think there is a genuine frustration among English people in NB that official bilingualism is only helping one group at the expense of the other. If you take the time to listen to the other side you might be able to add something credible to the conversation.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Cleve Gallant: Methinks the dude with the unbelievable name has never been to Paris If so then he would know how and why they spell certain traffic signs in a certain lingo N'esy Pas?
Marc Martin Reply to @Cleve Gallant: Its not real English also so whats your point?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: BINGO
David Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: So what if your head is more pointed that anyone else's Methinks its no big deal when it comes to overpaid under worked bureaucrats N'esy Pas?
Omer Samson So. Is NB a safe place for francophone families? Like, for respect, warmth, food and not being insulted? I’d like to know.
Dan Lee
Reply to @Omer Samson: most areas are french friendly....keep away from Fredericton and south west
David White
Reply to @Omer Samson: No more or less than it is for anyone else in the province.
Omer Samson
Reply to @Dan Lee: LOL, so the French have no Capital!
Omer Samson
Reply to @David White: All I saw when I visited were anglophone advertisements and people who became disoriented when I spoke French, so I've been wondering. What are francophones being asked to do now? I hear learning English isn't enough anymore.
John Seritoga
Reply to @Omer Samson: I live in this city...In Moncton there is very little that is not displayed in both languages..But Dieppe seems to be okay with only French ...So I would like to know what are English people in, not only this city but in the whole province being asked to do now. I for one think it is high time we step up to the plate and start speaking out.
Josef Blow
Reply to @John Seritoga: Only French in Dieppe? Dieppe, New Brunswick? I have never had difficulty getting served in English anywhere in Dieppe - or Moncton for that matter. You?
Omer Samson
Reply to @John Seritoga: As an English person, I don't think I'm being asked to do anything. But I sure as heck won't be taking away any rights from my francophone friends. And I sure as heck will be watching those who try to do so.
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Dan Lee: You have got to be kidding, Fredericton ?? There has been a focused effort to completely frenchify Fredericton for the past several years.. Police force under attack, all government jobs now required to be bilingual, francophones including from Quebec moving in , in droves . Yup, Frederiction has been frenchified really, really well.
David White
Reply to @Omer Samson: "All I saw when I visited were anglophone advertisements and people who became disoriented when I spoke French,:...... Maybe the reason was that you were in an English part of NB? Go figure.
Marc Martin
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Yes Fredericton i live here and experiencing the hatred. by the way working myself for the Federal gov. over 80% of the bilingual positions are filled out with English people who speak French, there is also 0 French only position while there is a ton of unilingual position educate yourself.
Samual Johnston
Reply to @Dan Lee: lol oh like the English gangs in Fredericton are gonna run them out of town. lol
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Marc Martin: Cry me a river
David Amos
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Oh So True
@ The answer to that ad is “YES”, it’s a 50yr old failed experiment. Time to stop throwing money at something that doesn’t work.
Marc Martin
Reply to @: Your right lets make everything French you want to save money right?
David White
Reply to @Marc Martin: That's not even a clever comeback, it's as tiring as the 100 plus times you wrote it.
Marc Martin
Reply to @David White: Made you look..
.
David Amos
Reply to @: Who are you???
David Amos
Reply to @David White: I concur
David White
Reply to @Marc Martin: If you like to think so, and it makes you feel clever, which we already talked about.
Maggie Leard free speech is a freedom we must protect. everyone has an opinion that must be said for and against...….
Cleve Gallant
Reply to @Maggie Leard: Tell that to Sportsnet,
Theo Lavigne
Content disabled Reply to @Cleve Gallant . Having freedom of speech is one thing but being racist in ones opinion are two totally different things.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Maggie Leard: Methinks everyday all day long within this forum "Free Speech" is a myth that CBC pretends to support if it fits the liberal agenda N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: BINGO
Mac Isaac Reply to @Maggie Leard: Once and for all Ms Leard, Canada does NOT have any right known as "freedom of speech"...THAT is an Amercanism. What we DO have in Canada, as described in our Rights and Freedoms is something called 'freedom of expression" which might be akin to the American "freedom of speech" but I think is much more nuanced. Look it up...you'll find I'm correct and maybe you might educate others on this misnomer which seems to be more prevalent among those arguing about something less than freedom of expression; especially if you're French.
David Amos
Reply to @Mac Isaac: Who cares what you call something that does not exist?
Michel Pelletier "Do you feel the implementation of Bilingualism has gone too far?" No it hasn't gone far enough, I am french ans I still want to learn English no matter what. Both langages have given more opportunity, than being unilingual. More french speaking people talk English than English speak french.
Andrew Lordon Reply to @Michel Pelletier:of course it's easier for the French to lean English is because they are immersed in it TV, radio, pulp culture, movies, music, population of NB, Canada, even North America 24/7 365. That's why it's easier put an English kid in the same environment same results. I dont believe it governments intent to make everyone bilingual and what bilingualism has become today for pure political gains is disgusting and needs to stop.
Marc Martin Reply to @Andrew Lordon: I didnt know only the French have internet, TV, Radio? You must live in a secluded region buddy.
David Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: Methinks he may be fortunate in that regard At least we won't bump into the likes of you in Fat Fred City N'esy Pas?
David White Leave it to NB to take things to the extreme in whatever they do, be it Cannabis sales, Healthcare, (insert whatever here).
For decades NBers have been subjected to the rhetoric that whatever agenda the provincial Gov. is trying to sell that it will benefit all and make things better, and it never does.
For some bizarre NB reasons, the Offical Languages act in NB is being misinterpreted as full 'Bilingualism' when it's not. (This is also happening in places like eastern Ontario)
It is supposed to mean that when a French or English person goes for a government service they can be served in English or French.
Big deal if you have to get passed to another person to take your call or have someone else come to serve you at a front desk. ( Before people get bent out of shape, I would expect this to happen to an English person up in north NB also)
Why do certain people find that 'offensive' and scream anti-whatever?.
Hire for competency in a job, stop giving jobs based on if someone can barely muddle through in two languages. (This works both ways whether you are french or english btw)
No reason regionally Gov. employees could not be unilingual with some people on staff that can speak both if needed as was the original intention before the Government's big vision of a bilingual province.
How did this failure get so far out of hand?
Marc Martin
Reply to @Joe Cittadino: Italian is not an official language...
David Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: Yea right
Jake Devries Content disabled Oh look, SANB are triggered...pity
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @Jake Devries: LOL
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Jake Devries: "These people have the right to oppose official bilingualism, it's part of the free speech," said Doucet." Then a a big "But"
Methinks the lawyer means to say that the SANB rules Moncton and the CBC N'esy Pas?
David Amos Content disabled Reply to @David Amos: BINGO
Lou Bell Tha SANB / Liberal closed door Official Languages agenda , just like the closed door 110 million dollar Phonie Games agenda !! Mr. Doucet , the SANB , U de M , and the SANB Liberals speak again !
Mack Leigh
Content disabled Reply to @Lou Bell: Free speech and true democracy is dependent on the language you speak here in NB..
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @Mack Leigh: Methinks they are myths no matter where one may be or what lingo you partake of N'esy Pas?
JJ Carrier Content disabled I smell Ontario Proud
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @JJ Carrier: Methinks everybody else smells your buddies in the SANB N'esy Pas?
Joe Rootliek I heard many times from Anglophone friends, my daughter, son, cannot get a government job, they are not bilingual.
Then the Ambulance debacle- Well, I want to be saved, even if the man speaks only Chinese. I think at the hospital they can find a translator with all the technology we have today, eventually, I will be given the news in Chinese. Vital signs and symptoms usually have no language barrier, nor do blood tests or x rays.
Same as the bus routes. Give us a break. Save money, where the distance is long, one bus driver for french and english students where there are only a few students on that long, long road. I am sure they can all get along to get to their respective schools.
Things like that, yes, Bilingualism has gone too far.
James Risdon
Reply to @Joe Rootliek: If a person's kid can't get a job because they aren't bilingual, the solution is simple. Get the kid to learn the other language.
Bingo. Presto. Problem solved.
Bottom line is this: If you want a job you have to have the qualifications for the job. You don't apply to be a surgeon without going to medical school. You don't try to fly a plane without a pilot's license. You don't start messing with a company's computer network without the qualifications in computer science and technology.
And you don't properly serve a bilingual population in New Brunswick without bilingual language skills. There are jobs where government workers deal only with anglophones and don't need French. Those unilingual jobs are posted. Many jobs require both languages.
So learn them and stop whining like a baby.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @James Risdon: Wow. You really think it is that simple? I put my daughter through years of total french immersion. Was her french good enough to get a bilingual job? Nope. The standards are way too high and even if she met the standard, in most cases she would quickly lose her ability as french is seldom spoken. The only folks who can manage to sustain their french are those that were born and raised in french and still speak it at home. Anyone else will quickly lose it and lose their job once they no longer meet the strict french language proficiency tests. It's just not as simple as "learn to speak another language"
Mack Leigh
Reply to @James Risdon: Wow !!! Surely you are not that naive to believe that it is as simple as "learn French " ?? This is a takeover of our province by the Elite with " language " being the convenient weapon of choice......
Clifton Tremblay
Reply to @Joe Rootliek: Your concern for unilingual Francophones not getting jobs is duly noted.
James Risdon
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Then disarm them by learning the language.
Mack Leigh
Reply to @James Risdon: I have absolutely no need or desire to learn french.. My mother tongue is German along with Gaelic and I do not insist that every other Canadian learn those languages... I would not use french. I could not retain or sustain the language as is the case with the majority of Canadians... Only approx. 3 % of Francophones in NB do not understand English so why is the tail still wagging the dog here in NB. No one....one minority deserves any more or any less than everyone else so why all of the pandering including the lion's share of all government funding to one minority only ?
JJ Carrier
Content disabled Reply to @Mack Leigh: Again, you are boring everyone to tears today so re-start CoR to keep yourself occupied...Everything you have said is Cliche City...
Mack Leigh
Content disabled Reply to @JJ Carrier: Fully understand that actual facts, figures and the truth are foreign to you as they do not fit your agenda.....
Michel Forgeron
Reply to @Fred Brewer: You are one example. Others have not had the same experience. My two kids went to French immersion, one then to U de M, she teaches French now, the second is a medical professional who treats both English ad French patients in their own language.
BruceJack Speculator
Reply to @James Risdon: I bet a little "app" on a smart phone makes a better bilingual effort than many of the so-called bilingual govt members even elected ones when they try to operate in English.
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @Michel Forgeron: Methinks your family all have a Medicare cards as well and get their health care for free while I have to pay Trust that I will sue the British Queen you adore in only one official language in order to secure my rights that you don't care about N'esy Pas?
David Amos Content disabled Reply to @JJ Carrier: Speak for yourself
James Risdon Reply to @Fred Brewer: It is that simple. My father, a francophone, learnt English to work for a big American company in Canada. When he rose through the ranks and was sent to Spanish-speaking countries, he learnt Spanish.
He then switched companies and went to work for a company based in Germany and learnt German. In school he had learnt Latin. In retirement, he decided to learn to speak the Greek language for fun as he wanted to travel there.
In college, I had a girlfriend who spoke five languages. All of my friends, just about, spoke at least three languages.
My wife, who is Chinese, speaks Cantonese and writes Chinese. When she came to Canada, she first lived in Ontario and learnt English. Then, she met me and since I am francophone and I wanted to raise our children to speak both French and Chinese as well as English, my wife took it upon herself to learn French. Today, years after graduating from university, she works for the federal government and speaks to people in both French and English and has retained all her Chinese language skills.
Learning another language is just like learning to fix a lawnmower, ride a bike or skate. It just takes practice and a willingness to learn.
It can't be all that difficult to learn a language. Little kids do it without even thinking about it. I picked up English in kindergarten without even realizing I was learning a new language. I just sort of soaked it up.
James Risdon
Reply to @Mack Leigh: So your argument - as I understand it - is that francophones should have less in the way of official language rights because the vast majority of them are intelligent enough to learn English.
What does that say about anglophones who do not speak French?
I, for one, believe anglophones are as intelligent as francophones and just as capable of learning French as francophones are capable of learning English.
But, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe, as you suggest, anglophones in New Brunswick are just a bunch of idiots. I highly doubt it - but you seem very sure of what you're saying.
David Amos
Reply to @James Risdon: Oh my my aren't you somebody special?
June Arnott Wow. Like we don’t have enough hate going around...
Harold Fitzgerald
Content disabled Reply to @June Arnott: You're referring of course to the fact that NB Anglos hate having their concerns ignored for 50 years. Lets hope they're concerns finally get addressed.
Samual Johnston
Reply to @June Arnott: is it about hate or is it about government policies and finances? It is a question and not a rude one. Do you think religious organizations should pay property tax? We should not be afraid of words even if we disagree with them.
James Risdon
Reply to @Samual Johnston: No. Religious organizations should not have to pay taxes because of the services they provide to the population.
Samual Johnston
Reply to @James Risdon: perhaps but we do have the right to ask the question right?
James Risdon
Reply to @Samual Johnston: Of course. As a religious person, I would welcome a discussion on that subject. It would allow churches to demonstrate everything they do and help grow awareness of the faith.
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @James Risdon: Howcome you never asked your party leader why I sued Cardinal Bernard Francis Law in 2002?
The yellow warbler is a type of migratory bird that can often be seen in New Brunswick but hasn't been spotted much this year. (Submitted by Laura Tranquilla)
33 Comments
John Haigh cLIMAtE ChAnGE GuYs
David Amos
Reply to @John Haigh: Or simply mowing down the forests then spraying the hell out the remains
Al Clark
Reply to @David Amos: I thought you'd be familiar with the term "two thousandths" from playing with Briggs & Str 'er hardly Ablesons but maybe get an eight year old to splain and illustrate 2/1000 or 0.2%
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Al Clark: Why is it that I feel so honoured by the fact that you hate me?
Shawn McShane
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: He hates me too Merlin
David Amos
Reply to @Shawn McShane: Interesting insult
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Shawn McShane: I am not the one who made all the comments I made in my original ID since 2015 Go "Poof"
Bernie Heather McIntyre Well here in Martion we have plenty of different species of birds and our feeders are well used.
David Amos
Reply to @Bernie Heather McIntyre: Count your lucky stars
John Holmes
Yes, this could be correct. But also equally probable is that all of the clear cutting and glyphosate spraying has killed off a vast number of them.
David Amos
Reply to @John Holmes: It ain't rocket science
John Holmes
Reply to @David Amos: It might as well be to the industry paid shills that write articles pointing at other possible causes. I'd be willing to wager that the decline in numbers is the direct inverse of the amount of spraying and clear cutting increases.
Shawn McShane
Reply to @John Holmes: It is climate change and the carbon tax will fix it.
Terry Tibbs
Possibly, though this is NB, no shortage of turkeys I hear................
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks Minister Holland rejoices about that fact N'esy Pas?
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Yes, they are found in abundance in the halls of our legislative assembly building.
Reply to @Fred Brewer: I feel that the people are turkeys and there is something else from animal farm in the halls.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos: Wrong turkeys.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: The folks voted for them while laughing at me So now its my turn to chuckle at the nonsense of it all because I gave up on politicking and have become accustomed to the fact that people get the governments they deserve.
