Official Relevancy
There was a time, admittedly, when it seemed the reasonable thing to do, to acknowledge the bilingual heritage of Canada (overlooking the presence of the original founding nations in our usual imperial European-centric conceit, which, had it been considered, might have directed us toward one singular common official language) to assuage the ever-aggrieved feelings of the French toward the English, ostensibly removing an issue of aggravated contention from the menu of disaffection.
But times change, and so do world populations, as people tend to migrate from their countries of origin to other, less-populated, more obviously opportune countries of the world with sustaining economies and social growth potential, attracting people who have aspirations to improve their lot in life. Canada now has huge populations derived from China, from India and from Africa and from various countries of Europe.
There are over 800,000 Canadians who claim to speak Punjabi. In British Columbia, 55,000 people claim French as their mother tongue. Yet, 1,100,000 claim a non-official first language, like Punjabi and Mandarin. There are large numbers of Greek, Polish, Italian, German-speaking Canadians.
If these Canadians wish their children to learn the language of their countries of origin they turn to parochial private language schools. Although in some jurisdictions, in recognition of the multitude of origins and language-derivations in Canada and their communities, local education boards have brought in special language classes.
Like a new Early Bilingual Mandarin program in Vancouver to be split equally between Mandarin and English. Yet everywhere in Canada, official bilingualism dictates that two languages be front and centre; French and English.
In Vancouver 38% of people claim Chinese as their mother tongue. In Toronto 9% of the population claims Italian as their mother tongue. A mere 1.7% of the Toronto population is francophone. The official bilingual expectation that the public is exposed to benefits a small proportion of people, at an immense public cost.
The federal and provincial governments together spend $2.4-billion yearly on official bilingualism. French-language education outside Quebec costs $1,275 for each minority member in Ontario alone. In contrast to Quebec spending $85 for each student it educates in English.
Does it really make any kind of good social or economic sense in straitened times in particular to continue to support official bilingualism?
But times change, and so do world populations, as people tend to migrate from their countries of origin to other, less-populated, more obviously opportune countries of the world with sustaining economies and social growth potential, attracting people who have aspirations to improve their lot in life. Canada now has huge populations derived from China, from India and from Africa and from various countries of Europe.
There are over 800,000 Canadians who claim to speak Punjabi. In British Columbia, 55,000 people claim French as their mother tongue. Yet, 1,100,000 claim a non-official first language, like Punjabi and Mandarin. There are large numbers of Greek, Polish, Italian, German-speaking Canadians.
If these Canadians wish their children to learn the language of their countries of origin they turn to parochial private language schools. Although in some jurisdictions, in recognition of the multitude of origins and language-derivations in Canada and their communities, local education boards have brought in special language classes.
Like a new Early Bilingual Mandarin program in Vancouver to be split equally between Mandarin and English. Yet everywhere in Canada, official bilingualism dictates that two languages be front and centre; French and English.
In Vancouver 38% of people claim Chinese as their mother tongue. In Toronto 9% of the population claims Italian as their mother tongue. A mere 1.7% of the Toronto population is francophone. The official bilingual expectation that the public is exposed to benefits a small proportion of people, at an immense public cost.
The federal and provincial governments together spend $2.4-billion yearly on official bilingualism. French-language education outside Quebec costs $1,275 for each minority member in Ontario alone. In contrast to Quebec spending $85 for each student it educates in English.
Does it really make any kind of good social or economic sense in straitened times in particular to continue to support official bilingualism?
Labels: Canada, Culture, Government of Canada, Politics of Convenience
posted by Pieface | 7:51 PM
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