Another Denied Employment Because of Forced Bilingualism
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Views expressed by individuals in these letters are not necessarily the views of the Anglo Society of New Brunswick
Dear Editor,
This letter was inspired by the article written by Don Martin: It’s up to Tory Senate to save Canada from bilingual court, National Post, May 10, 2010.
Don Martin: It’s up to Tory Senate to save Canada from bilingual court
I have been searching for a full-time administration job in our municipal, provincial and federal governments since receiving a six month lay-off notice from the American based company that I work for. Only to discover that unless I am fluently bilingual, I need not apply.
The job postings that I have reviewed all state “We are an Equal Opportunity Employer”, but all of the job postings state, “Written and spoken competence in English and French is required”. How is this equal opportunity? It is only equal for those who speak both languages and they are, according to the last census, 17% of the population in Canada. The majority of the population which is approximately 83% English and other languages, are being blatantly discriminated against by their own municipal, provincial and federal governments.
Once realizing, unless I become bilingual I will never be able to work for my government, I began concentrating on larger corporations within my province, but unfortunately I am finding bilingualism is also required in this sector as well.
I do believe French Canadians should be serviced in their language by our government, but the hiring practice for minority language should be done on a “as numbers warrant” basis to make government employment equal to all Canadian citizens, instead of the very select few 17% who are self-proclaimed bilingual.
Based on the Laws of Probability, the hiring practice of our governments, hiring out of a small group of Canadians only, are not hiring based on the most qualified to perform the job, therefore, the Canadian tax payers are paying for lower quality of service than they would without the language biased hiring practice in place today. Why are we allowing our governments to spend our hard earned tax dollars to pay for lower quality services and to discriminate against the majority of Canadians?
What amazes me is that the English speakers in this country have not and are not standing up for their rights. Perhaps this is a matter for the Commissioner of Official Languages, Mr. Graham Fraser. After all, English is supposed to be one of the official languages, is it not?
As for hiring bilingual Supreme Court candidates only, this would be the proverbial, cutting off our nose off to spite our face. Especially, when the Supreme Court presently provides full translation service. These positions require the most qualified of all Canadian citizens, not the most qualified of only 17% of the population.
I encourage everyone who agrees that the hiring policies of our municipal, provincial and federal governments has gone far enough, to write, email, or fax your local MLA, MP, Premier, and Prime Minister, Steven Harper to voice your concerns and opinions. If we don’t speak up, we will not be heard.
Sincerely,
Heather Wilkins
161 Route 104
Keswick, NB
E6L2A3
506-363-5983
Views expressed by individuals in these letters are not necessarily the views of the Anglo Society of New Brunswick
Dear Editor,
This letter was inspired by the article written by Don Martin: It’s up to Tory Senate to save Canada from bilingual court, National Post, May 10, 2010.
Don Martin: It’s up to Tory Senate to save Canada from bilingual court
I have been searching for a full-time administration job in our municipal, provincial and federal governments since receiving a six month lay-off notice from the American based company that I work for. Only to discover that unless I am fluently bilingual, I need not apply.
The job postings that I have reviewed all state “We are an Equal Opportunity Employer”, but all of the job postings state, “Written and spoken competence in English and French is required”. How is this equal opportunity? It is only equal for those who speak both languages and they are, according to the last census, 17% of the population in Canada. The majority of the population which is approximately 83% English and other languages, are being blatantly discriminated against by their own municipal, provincial and federal governments.
Once realizing, unless I become bilingual I will never be able to work for my government, I began concentrating on larger corporations within my province, but unfortunately I am finding bilingualism is also required in this sector as well.
I do believe French Canadians should be serviced in their language by our government, but the hiring practice for minority language should be done on a “as numbers warrant” basis to make government employment equal to all Canadian citizens, instead of the very select few 17% who are self-proclaimed bilingual.
Based on the Laws of Probability, the hiring practice of our governments, hiring out of a small group of Canadians only, are not hiring based on the most qualified to perform the job, therefore, the Canadian tax payers are paying for lower quality of service than they would without the language biased hiring practice in place today. Why are we allowing our governments to spend our hard earned tax dollars to pay for lower quality services and to discriminate against the majority of Canadians?
What amazes me is that the English speakers in this country have not and are not standing up for their rights. Perhaps this is a matter for the Commissioner of Official Languages, Mr. Graham Fraser. After all, English is supposed to be one of the official languages, is it not?
As for hiring bilingual Supreme Court candidates only, this would be the proverbial, cutting off our nose off to spite our face. Especially, when the Supreme Court presently provides full translation service. These positions require the most qualified of all Canadian citizens, not the most qualified of only 17% of the population.
I encourage everyone who agrees that the hiring policies of our municipal, provincial and federal governments has gone far enough, to write, email, or fax your local MLA, MP, Premier, and Prime Minister, Steven Harper to voice your concerns and opinions. If we don’t speak up, we will not be heard.
Sincerely,
Heather Wilkins
161 Route 104
Keswick, NB
E6L2A3
506-363-5983