edudyorlik's blogspot
Saturday, 28 February 2015
Blog Post #8 - New Brunswick -- THE CANARY IN -- CANADA'S -- COAL MINE?
HEADLINES
FROM A STORY OUT OF NEW BRUNSWICK:
(If you wish to read the story it can be found {in light blue} at the end of this post)
The mayor of New Brunswick’s capital city (Brad Woodside) stirred up a hornet’s nest Friday for comments he Tweeted, suggesting duality in government departments should be reviewed.
(If you wish to read the story it can be found {in light blue} at the end of this post)
The mayor of New Brunswick’s capital city (Brad Woodside) stirred up a hornet’s nest Friday for comments he Tweeted, suggesting duality in government departments should be reviewed.
------------------------------------
QUOTES SURROUNDING THE STORY:
---
"Woodside set Twitter on fire Thursday night after tweeting:
“Bilingualism I understand, duality makes no sense. This should be on the table Mr Premier as we look to save money. You asked.”
“Bilingualism I understand, duality makes no sense. This should be on the table Mr Premier as we look to save money. You asked.”
---
"Woodside said he only raised the duality issue because of Premier Brian
Gallant’s public call for citizen engagement in advising the province on how to
reduce the deficit and bring down the cost of public spending."
--- “There’s a lot of things that have been in place for a
long, long time and we are in over our heads in debt, and we have a provincial
government that has asked the public for ideas and suggestions,” Woodside said.
---
“Why can’t the province address the issue and explain to the people of New Brunswick why it’s
necessary and why the cost is necessary. I think the vast number of New
Brunswickers don’t understand it and don’t support it and it does require
dialogue. There’s nothing wrong with dialogue.”
--- “This has to do with government departments and the duality of those. Nobody wants to talk about it because it’s contentious. Dialogue is probably the best way to solve the problem.”
--- “This has to do with government departments and the duality of those. Nobody wants to talk about it because it’s contentious. Dialogue is probably the best way to solve the problem.”
And these last two final quotes which contain the obligatory -- please don't strip the skin from my living body, I am NOT AGAINST bilingualism, I AM FOR FAIRNESS -- style additions.
--- “My
idea is take a look at it. Justify if it’s necessary or possibly could save
money. I’ve made it abundantly clear I don’t have a problem with
bilingualism."
---
"This isn’t meant to offend or cause problems with the bilingual nature of
our province."
--------------------------------------------
As you can see, the story deals with Mayor, Brad Woodside (you can find Brad Woodside's tweets on twitter) and his mere suggestion that the cost of "duality" in that province should be reviewed as it could save millions.
He was simply trying to identify areas (as requested) where budget money could be saved and have a conversation about those suggestions.
As you can see, the story deals with Mayor, Brad Woodside (you can find Brad Woodside's tweets on twitter) and his mere suggestion that the cost of "duality" in that province should be reviewed as it could save millions.
He was simply trying to identify areas (as requested) where budget money could be saved and have a conversation about those suggestions.
Once again, the "other side" has turned a mere legitimate suggestion of dialogue into an effective way to quell any modicum of talk about how duality and bilingualism has gone completely out of whack in this country.
A conversation that has gone from a completely understandable ideal way that Canadian's could find ways to accommodate one another, without going further into debt and without services being affected, into a device of power and control with one side {the FPTB} continuing to gain more and more power every single minute of every single day as they desperately cling to those gains by completely stomping out ANY legitimate voices of concern from ALL other sides.
What's worse is they are stomping out these legitimate voices of concern using peer pressure and bullying style tactics which lumps all voices, even those of the legitimate nature, into the the same unsettling incorrect cauldron.
These tactics are familiar because they were the same tactics that were previously -- well used and abused -- {ie: the term "bigot"} back in the mid 70's and 80's by the FPTB in order to quell any opposing views from ANYONE.
CASE & POINT:
The mere "suggestion" that "duality" could be an area that is trimmed to save millions was meet with suggestions that Mr. Woodside was against the French and against bilingualism etc etc etc... Which of course, IS NOT TRUE AT ALL. Like most of us, he is obviously FOR FAIRNESS and NOT against a healthy form of bilingualism.
Oddly enough, when one takes the opportunity to check, it would seem that, judging from rhetoric like this,
AND THIS...
it seems more like they, {the FPTB} are the ONLY ONES who are against bilingualism
===========
===========
Maybe, just like how Canadians took back
the use of the phrase "Merry Christmas" with exuberant fervor this past
holiday season {I imagine everyone noticed how over the top that was}
the "bees nest" does have to be shaken
and the "Twitter-verse" does need to be set on fire
and the "Twitter-verse" does need to be set on fire
with a renewed push for a healthy
debate about human rights which SHOULD INCLUDE
--- LANGUAGE RIGHTS in this country.
--- LANGUAGE RIGHTS in this country.
After all, it's pretty evident how much of a sacred cow bilingualism and language issues are.
When one sees Canadian news
personalities {this was on the news last night} getting very heated and worked up {rightfully so}
about how the woman in Montreal
was discriminated
against as she was told she could not proceed and have her court case heard unless she
took off her head scarf (Hijab).
But not getting getting "heated and worked up" or giving a damn when well documented cases like the following ---
But not getting getting "heated and worked up" or giving a damn when well documented cases like the following ---
1) - A dying man is ordered to speak French to a hospital intern
2) - A woman arrives at a hospital
in an ambulance with chest pain but is turned away from receiving treatment
because she asks for that treatment in English
AND...
3) A Montreal, Quebec paramedic tells
a worried mother and father that they
--- occur which involve flagrant discrimination based on language in --- A PROVINCE (Quebec) which is INSIDE THE COUNTRY OF CANADA ---
Not one Canadian news personality would even touch the issue of these kinds of "language based" human rights atrocities that were committed against these Canadian citizens in the province of Quebec.
Very few -- IF ANY -- ever mentions these blatant language discrimination cases as "a comparison" in their talking points.
As a matter of fact, these human rights violations based on language rarely receive ANY MENTION AT ALL
once the initial news story is done and over with.
It's as if they cover the story because well, NOT covering the story could cause a worse problem.
Then,
they hold their breath and move on to the next story in the hopes that no one
really notices and gets mad enough to be politically and socially active.
Not one of these language discrimination situations received even one tenth (I'm being generous) of the attention coverage from our Canadian media that is now being focused on the story with the woman in Montreal.
----------------------------------
It would seem that Joy Dykeman put it best when she replied with the following.
Joy Dykeman:
"Listen to the frantic spewing of the francos when it is suggested that the anglos and others no longer accept the status quo and want dualism revisited because it serves only one purpose - to give to the french and take from the English speaking majority. Hope to hell they all cancel their tickets for the meeting in Edmonton - the country would be happy to have a peaceful, quality meeting, open for truth and respect....WAY TO GO BRAD....you have exposed the racist, bigotted radicals among us.....we stand firmly behind you."
Not one of these language discrimination situations received even one tenth (I'm being generous) of the attention coverage from our Canadian media that is now being focused on the story with the woman in Montreal.
----------------------------------
It would seem that Joy Dykeman put it best when she replied with the following.
Joy Dykeman:
"Listen to the frantic spewing of the francos when it is suggested that the anglos and others no longer accept the status quo and want dualism revisited because it serves only one purpose - to give to the french and take from the English speaking majority. Hope to hell they all cancel their tickets for the meeting in Edmonton - the country would be happy to have a peaceful, quality meeting, open for truth and respect....WAY TO GO BRAD....you have exposed the racist, bigotted radicals among us.....we stand firmly behind you."
----------------------
Yes Joy,
Canadians do stand firmly behind putting an end to the idiocy of spending
billions of scarce tax dollars on programs that are over the top
and OVER serving to a tiny portion of the community.
Programs that push well beyond the equal rights and needs of the whole community.
We all need to shake the proverbial bees nest and set the twitter verse on fire.
and OVER serving to a tiny portion of the community.
Programs that push well beyond the equal rights and needs of the whole community.
We all need to shake the proverbial bees nest and set the twitter verse on fire.
--- Perhaps it IS TIME that we all ACTUALLY DO literally and physically --- STAND BEHIND --- these people.
The time for saying -- AND NOT DOING -- has passed.
Support MUST BE --- IN THE FLESH --
-----------------------
PS: For the record.
I admit that I would have much less of a problem with this judges decision if the woman had been wearing the full face covering (Burka)
That may seem hypocritical to some but, I believe there is a level of distinct difference in the two garments AND THUS, I don't believe society (especially in the times we live in right now) should allow full face covering in "public" areas {banks, school yards, courts, etc etc etc)
{unless it's a specific type of parade or festival or whatever which takes place in one area and as one specific type event}.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/24118241
PS: For the record.
I admit that I would have much less of a problem with this judges decision if the woman had been wearing the full face covering (Burka)
That may seem hypocritical to some but, I believe there is a level of distinct difference in the two garments AND THUS, I don't believe society (especially in the times we live in right now) should allow full face covering in "public" areas {banks, school yards, courts, etc etc etc)
{unless it's a specific type of parade or festival or whatever which takes place in one area and as one specific type event}.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/24118241
-------------------------------------
The original story:
(
from Moncton Times and Transcript by reporter Brent Mazerolle). Posted on https://www.facebook.com/groups/englishrightsassociation/permalink/10155448320215179/
The mayor of New Brunswick’s capital city stirred up a hornet’s nest Friday for comments he Tweeted, suggesting duality in government departments should be reviewed.
The mayor of New Brunswick’s capital city stirred up a hornet’s nest Friday for comments he Tweeted, suggesting duality in government departments should be reviewed.
The
New Brunswick Association of Francophone Municipalities vigorously denounced
Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside’s comments.
Woodside set Twitter on fire Thursday night after tweeting:
“Bilingualism I understand, duality makes no sense. This should be on the table
Mr Premier as we look to save money. You asked.”
The
tweet was shared more than 120 times, sparking a lengthy chain of replies.
The
association issued a statement Friday, calling upon Woodside to retract his
comments.
Richibucto
Mayor and association president Roger Doiron said it’s hardly conceivable that
Woodside wants to reopen a language rights debate.
“I
was at the time surprised and shocked when I learned about the content of the
Mayor Woodside (Tweet). This is both unacceptable and irresponsible on his
part,” said Doiron in a news release from the association.
“As
(Woodside is) president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which is
an organization representative of bilingual French and English municipalities
across the country, it has the moral duty to defend the language rights of both
official language communities,” Doiron said.
“We
ask him to make amends and to retract,” he said in the news release.
He
also called upon the federal municipalities group to disavow Woodside if he
fails to reaffirm support for language rights.
“It
is irresponsible for Mayor Woodside to throw oil on the fire and make comments
only serve to identify a scapegoat. Such amalgams, serve to feed the speech of
a tiny minority of the population of this province who does not want recognize
our rights as Acadian and francophone communities,” said the association
president.
Doiron
said his association represents 53 francophone and bilingual municipalities in New Brunswick with a
population base of 280,000.
Dieppe
Mayor Yvon Lapierre suggested a boycott of the national conference of the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities, scheduled for June 5 and 6 in Edmonton, because of
Woodside’s comments.
“I’m
certainly cancelling my ticket,” he said, adding he would encourage other
mayors to do the same.
“I
know it does not reflect the views of the FCM, but when you have the president
making those statements — he’s been travelling the world, literally, as a
representative of the FCM and he’s the mayor of the capital of the only
officially bilingual province.”
Of
Woodside, Lapierre said, “I think he forgets how many hats he’s wearing.”
“I’m
sorry my friend Brad is going to be upset with me, but I’m very upset with him
right now,” Lapierre said.
But
Woodside said he didn’t issue the tweet to spark a debate about bilingualism in
New Brunswick.
Instead,
he said, he wants a calm discussion about the cost and need for duality in
government departments and in public services.
Among
the first to reply was Edmundston Mayor Cyrille Simard.
“Dear
colleague. You really want to put duality in education on the table?” he
tweeted, prompting Woodside to reply with: “Education and health Mr Mayor.”
Simard
replied: “Canadian Constitution Act Art. 16.1 (1).” He also said health isn’t
really a dual department.
But
Simard could not be reached Friday by The Daily Gleaner for further comment.
The
Charter of Rights and Freedoms recognizes the uniquely bilingual nature of New Brunswick by
singling out the province in a number of articles connected to guarantees of
bilingualism.
It
is 16.1(1) that declares, “The English linguistic community and the French
linguistic community in New Brunswick
have equality of status and equal rights and privileges, including the right to
distinct educational institutions and such distinct cultural institutions as
are necessary for the preservation and promotion of those communities.”
Duality
of health care isn’t explicitly called for in the Charter, unless you count
hospitals as cultural institutions, another section, 16 (3), says, “Nothing in
this Charter limits the authority of Parliament or a legislature to advance the
equality of status or use of English and French.”
While
New Brunswick’s
two health authorities are divided on linguistic lines, there is an expectation
of service in both official languages at any provincial health facility.
Woodside
said Friday in an exclusive interview with The Daily Gleaner that he didn’t
want to continue the discussion because he doesn’t want to continue to fan the
flames.
“It’s
really a lightning rod and whenever you talk about language, it brings out the
best and the worst in people,” the capital city mayor said.
Woodside
said he only raised the duality issue because of Premier Brian Gallant’s public
call for citizen engagement in advising the province on how to reduce the
deficit and bring down the cost of public spending.
“There’s
a lot of things that have been in place for a long, long time and we are in
over our heads in debt, and we have a provincial government that has asked the
public for ideas and suggestions,” Woodside said.
“My
idea is take a look at it. Justify if it’s necessary or possibly could save
money. I’ve made it abundantly clear I don’t have a problem with bilingualism.
“Why can’t the province address the issue and explain to the people
of New Brunswick
why it’s necessary and why the cost is necessary. I think the vast number of
New Brunswickers don’t understand it and don’t support it and it does require
dialogue. There’s nothing wrong with dialogue.”
Woodside
said the tweet “certainly has been taken out of context and used for other
purposes.”
“I’m
surprised how some people have interpreted the response, but once again that’s
social media,” he said.
“There’s
people coming out on both sides of this issue in a pretty mean way. It wasn’t
my intention to get down into the dirt.
This
isn’t meant to offend or cause problems with the bilingual nature of our
province.
“This
has to do with government departments and the duality of those. Nobody wants to
talk about it because it’s contentious. Dialogue is probably the best way to
solve the problem.”
The
Fredericton
mayor said he chatted with the mayor of Edmundston.
“I’m
only suggesting ways that the province might save some money and this is one of
them,” Woodside said.
“Given
the constitutional nature of the comments in question, the commissioner
believes that it is more appropriate for government and our provincially
elected officials to clearly reaffirm the constitutional right of both
linguistic communities in New Brunswick to have distinct educational
institutions and such distinct cultural institutions as are necessary for their
preservation and promotion,” said Hugest Beaulieu, the director of public
affairs and research at the Office of the Commission of Official Languages for
New Brunswick.
When
it comes to the public purse, given the province’s fiscal outlook, nothing
should be exempt from a review, Woodside said.
“When
they’re discussing these matters and the public brings these matters forward,
there should be a reasonable explanation from (the provincial) government.”
“Take
out the emotion. Take out the issue of bilingualism and talk about duality and
inform the public. That’s all. It’s not a debate between me and people. It’s
not my program. It’s a discussion the province should have for the people of New Brunswick,’’ said the Fredericton mayor.
Comments:
· Joy Dykeman Listen to the
frantic spewing of the francos when it is suggested that the anglos and others
no longer accept the status quo and want dualism revisited because it serves
only one purpose - to give to the french and take from the English speaking
majority. Hope to hell they all cancel their tickets for the meeting in
Edmonton - the country would be happy to have a peaceful, quality meeting, open
for truth and respect....WAY TO GO BRAD....you have exposed the racist,
bigotted radicals among us.....we stand firmly behind you.
