Language Lunacy

Another absurd facet of the kind of politically correct action that constrains federal agencies and costs the taxpayer hugely for no good reason other than to appear to be in dutiful compliance with official Canadian bilingualism in an ongoing appeasement of the unappeasable high-decibel vocal French-language contingent of this country.

The 2006 census identifies 63,000 British Columbia residents who claim French as their mother tongue.

Compared to that demographic of Canadians who identify Punjabi (165,975) as their first language, and Cantonese (134,015), and German (89,885), and also Mandarin (73,325) as their mother tongues. But of course none of these languages is favoured with official 'founding nation' status in the country, despite their sizeable representation in the immigrant-Canadian population.

Sensibly and responsibly, the German-, the Indian-, the Chinese-Canadian demographic all recognize the utility of speaking a universal language representing the language of the majority in Canada. That it is also a universal international language adds to the appeal and the perceived need to master the language and speak it freely.

None of this impresses the mind-set of French-Canadians who have been accustomed to loudly insisting they have the right to be 'served' in their mother tongue.

The RCMP in British Columbia have been brought up short for posting information on their website in English, then following it up with the French translation. This is not good enough for the French residents, and the Commissioner of the RCMP has scolded his B.C. contingent, insisting they must comply with federal bilingualism requirements. In concern that the public receive vital data in a timely manner, English-first postings were utilized.

"We're trying to communicate with the public directly and what this means is that, for now, information that is posted to the website will be delayed until it's translated into French." This explanation from an understandably frustrated chief RCMP spokesman in the province. Who, reflecting the rashness of his statement, is no longer the chief spokesman for the RCMP in the province.

Inspector Tim Shields explained there were those rare occasions which may involve"an imminent threat of bodily harm or death", when it might still make eminently good sense to place information on line in English first, adding the French version at a later date. His replacement smoothly assures that the B.C. RCMP plans to fully comply with the Official Languages Act - there would be no exceptions countenanced.

Of course not.