Post by MommaBear on May 16, 2007 11:55:13 GMT -5
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Tories' feud closes bilingualism body
Dispute over chairman of federal committee comes as language commissioner gives stern rebuke to Harper
CAMPBELL CLARK
May 16, 2007
OTTAWA -- The Conservatives shut down the Commons official languages committee yesterday, on the same day that Canada's Official Language Commissioner criticized the Stephen Harper government for failing to live up to its own rhetoric.
The decision to close a parliamentary committee came after opposition MPs voted out Tory committee chairman Guy Lauzon. The Conservatives in turn refused to allow any of their MPs to accept the position, leaving the committee without a chair, and therefore unable to hold meetings.
That only increased attention to the criticisms levelled by the Official Languages Commissioner, Graham Fraser, who said the Conservatives have been saying the right things yet have taken steps that hurt minority-language rights.
"We are underlining the gulf that exists between the words and the actions," Mr. Fraser said at a news conference.
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He said that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been "exemplary" in using both languages in news conferences and public events, and that the minister responsible for official languages, Josée Verner, has promised more action for minority languages.
But the government then cut several programs without examining their effect on minority-language communities, and has failed to signal what it will do when a five-year, $787-million "action plan" adopted by the previous Liberal government expires next year. Ms. Verner said the government is working on a new action plan to replace it, but offered no specifics.
Mr. Fraser said 40 court cases brought by individuals and groups arguing that their language rights have been violated were stopped for lack of funds when the Conservatives cancelled the Court Challenges Program, which funded minority-rights court cases.
The report is a blow for a Conservative government that has plotted strategy for more than a year to win a majority with increased support in Quebec.
In the 2004 election campaign, Mr. Harper was forced to fire one of his closest friends in caucus, Scott Reid, from his post as official languages critic because Mr. Reid said he favoured cuts to minority-language services.
Yesterday, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion quoted from a speech in which Mr. Harper once called official bilingualism "the god that failed," and insisted that the Conservatives are now showing their true colours.
"The Prime Minister does not like the Charter; he kills the program supporting it. He does not like official languages; he kills the program supporting it. He does not like to be questioned by the members of this House; he kills committees," Mr. Dion said.
The battle over the Commons committee came after Mr. Lauzon suddenly cancelled two committee hearings last week that were to examine the government's move to end the Court Challenges Program. Mr. Lauzon later said he thought the hearings were going to be too partisan.
Mr. Dion asked Commons Speaker Peter Milliken to rule that the Conservatives are obstructing parliamentary business. Mr. Milliken said he will consider the matter and issue a ruling in coming days.
***
How official bilingualism works
WHAT THE ACT DOES
The Official Languages Act, first passed in 1969 and updated twice since, stipulates Canadians' right to receive federal government services in either English or French where numbers warrant, the right of public servants to work in either language in certain areas, the right of either English or French speakers to advance in the public service, and that the government must promote bilingualism.
THE COMMISSIONER'S ROLE
The Commissioner of Official Languages is an officer of Parliament who acts as a kind of ombudsman to ensure that the federal government is treating English and French as equals, and to promote the development of minority-language communities.
The commissioner's role is to protect the right of Canadians to receive federal government services in either official language, as well as the right of public servants to work in English or French in regions designated as bilingual.
To do that, the Office of the Commissioner audits government departments to see if they comply with the Official Languages Act and government language policy, monitors new regulations and policies to ensure they comply, and investigates complaints. It also makes contacts with government bodies and community groups, works to promote bilingualism, and intervenes in court cases when the commissioner deems it necessary.
The commissioner cannot order the government to do anything, but issues recommendations that carry the weight of his office. If the commissioner upholds a complaint, but the government does not act, the complainant can appeal to the Federal Court of Canada.
Campbell Clark
***
Canada's official languages
The information below is based on the 2001 census
***
ENGLISH
59% of the population are native English speakers but 85% of the population can speak English
***
FRENCH
23% of the population are native speakers of French but 31% of Canadians are able to speak French
***
BILINGUALISM
In 2001 almost 18% of the population were bilingual, up from 13% in 1971. Noticeable, in the 15-24 age group, almost 25% were bilingual in 2001.
***
BILINGUAL PEOPLE BY MAJOR CITIES*
Vancouver, 7.5% (147,775 of 1,967,480)
Winnipeg, 11.1% (73,690 of 661,725)
Edmonton, 7.7% (71,540 of 927,020)
Toronto, 8.5% (393,415 of 4,647,960)
Ottawa-Gatineau, 44.2% (464,485 of 1,050,755)
Quebec, 32.8% (220,585 of 673,100)
Montreal, 53% (1,792,750 of 3,380,640)
Moncton, 47% (54,410 of 115,820)
Halifax, 11.5% (41,105 of 355,945)
*Data represent Census Metropolitan Areas
RICHARD PALMER / THE GLOBE AND MAIL
SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA, OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
Tories' feud closes bilingualism body
Dispute over chairman of federal committee comes as language commissioner gives stern rebuke to Harper
CAMPBELL CLARK
May 16, 2007
OTTAWA -- The Conservatives shut down the Commons official languages committee yesterday, on the same day that Canada's Official Language Commissioner criticized the Stephen Harper government for failing to live up to its own rhetoric.
The decision to close a parliamentary committee came after opposition MPs voted out Tory committee chairman Guy Lauzon. The Conservatives in turn refused to allow any of their MPs to accept the position, leaving the committee without a chair, and therefore unable to hold meetings.
That only increased attention to the criticisms levelled by the Official Languages Commissioner, Graham Fraser, who said the Conservatives have been saying the right things yet have taken steps that hurt minority-language rights.
"We are underlining the gulf that exists between the words and the actions," Mr. Fraser said at a news conference.
Print Edition - Section Front
Section A Front Enlarge Image
More National Stories
* Dreams of Michelin to a 'hole-in-the-wall joint'
* Tories' feud closes bilingualism body
* Yard-sale find expected to yield $100,000
* Mounties had no dogs to search for explosives
* Ottawa to address land-claims backlog
* PM to invoke parliamentary privilege
* Go to the National section
The Globe and Mail
He said that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been "exemplary" in using both languages in news conferences and public events, and that the minister responsible for official languages, Josée Verner, has promised more action for minority languages.
But the government then cut several programs without examining their effect on minority-language communities, and has failed to signal what it will do when a five-year, $787-million "action plan" adopted by the previous Liberal government expires next year. Ms. Verner said the government is working on a new action plan to replace it, but offered no specifics.
Mr. Fraser said 40 court cases brought by individuals and groups arguing that their language rights have been violated were stopped for lack of funds when the Conservatives cancelled the Court Challenges Program, which funded minority-rights court cases.
The report is a blow for a Conservative government that has plotted strategy for more than a year to win a majority with increased support in Quebec.
In the 2004 election campaign, Mr. Harper was forced to fire one of his closest friends in caucus, Scott Reid, from his post as official languages critic because Mr. Reid said he favoured cuts to minority-language services.
Yesterday, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion quoted from a speech in which Mr. Harper once called official bilingualism "the god that failed," and insisted that the Conservatives are now showing their true colours.
"The Prime Minister does not like the Charter; he kills the program supporting it. He does not like official languages; he kills the program supporting it. He does not like to be questioned by the members of this House; he kills committees," Mr. Dion said.
The battle over the Commons committee came after Mr. Lauzon suddenly cancelled two committee hearings last week that were to examine the government's move to end the Court Challenges Program. Mr. Lauzon later said he thought the hearings were going to be too partisan.
Mr. Dion asked Commons Speaker Peter Milliken to rule that the Conservatives are obstructing parliamentary business. Mr. Milliken said he will consider the matter and issue a ruling in coming days.
***
How official bilingualism works
WHAT THE ACT DOES
The Official Languages Act, first passed in 1969 and updated twice since, stipulates Canadians' right to receive federal government services in either English or French where numbers warrant, the right of public servants to work in either language in certain areas, the right of either English or French speakers to advance in the public service, and that the government must promote bilingualism.
THE COMMISSIONER'S ROLE
The Commissioner of Official Languages is an officer of Parliament who acts as a kind of ombudsman to ensure that the federal government is treating English and French as equals, and to promote the development of minority-language communities.
The commissioner's role is to protect the right of Canadians to receive federal government services in either official language, as well as the right of public servants to work in English or French in regions designated as bilingual.
To do that, the Office of the Commissioner audits government departments to see if they comply with the Official Languages Act and government language policy, monitors new regulations and policies to ensure they comply, and investigates complaints. It also makes contacts with government bodies and community groups, works to promote bilingualism, and intervenes in court cases when the commissioner deems it necessary.
The commissioner cannot order the government to do anything, but issues recommendations that carry the weight of his office. If the commissioner upholds a complaint, but the government does not act, the complainant can appeal to the Federal Court of Canada.
Campbell Clark
***
Canada's official languages
The information below is based on the 2001 census
***
ENGLISH
59% of the population are native English speakers but 85% of the population can speak English
***
FRENCH
23% of the population are native speakers of French but 31% of Canadians are able to speak French
***
BILINGUALISM
In 2001 almost 18% of the population were bilingual, up from 13% in 1971. Noticeable, in the 15-24 age group, almost 25% were bilingual in 2001.
***
BILINGUAL PEOPLE BY MAJOR CITIES*
Vancouver, 7.5% (147,775 of 1,967,480)
Winnipeg, 11.1% (73,690 of 661,725)
Edmonton, 7.7% (71,540 of 927,020)
Toronto, 8.5% (393,415 of 4,647,960)
Ottawa-Gatineau, 44.2% (464,485 of 1,050,755)
Quebec, 32.8% (220,585 of 673,100)
Montreal, 53% (1,792,750 of 3,380,640)
Moncton, 47% (54,410 of 115,820)
Halifax, 11.5% (41,105 of 355,945)
*Data represent Census Metropolitan Areas
RICHARD PALMER / THE GLOBE AND MAIL
SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA, OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGES