[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Zoupa]

I meant that Air Canada is subject to the Official Languages Act, not its CEO.

This report is from 2016. Nothing has changed because there is no consequences for ignoring complaints.

https://www.clo-ocol.gc.ca/en/publications/annual-reports-other-reports-parliament/2016/special-report-parliament-air-canada-road-increased-compliance-through-effective-enforcement-regime

I leave you with this quote from 1976

There is hardly a technical or administrative problem in language reform that Air Canada could not solve if its attitude were different. From the start, the Corporation's approach to language has been fearful, defensive and negative. No wonder so many of its employees seem to have the impression that respecting the official language preferences of paying passengers on the State airline is not a high priority. And no wonder reasonable wishes of its own employees to work at least part of the time in their preferred language have caused near trauma.

Keith Spicer, Commissioner of Official Languages, Sixth Annual Report, 1976

[Jacob]

The Official Languages Act.

It is why you here everything in French and English when you take a flight.

Yeah that last part I'm familiar with. It's also why there's French labels on our groceries.

I'm not familiar enough with the Official Languages Act to know whether executives of affected organizations are required to be bilingual. But I guess that's the case then? And Air Canada is still subject to the official languages act it seems, in spite of being privately held?

And then they tried to exploit a bit of leniency with a "he's not fully bilingual, but he'll get there... give him a bit of grace" and then he did sweet fuck all about it in that time?

If that's the case I'm absolutely in favour of Air Canada getting slapped down for that. That's bullshit.

And I'm in favour of that on two separate grounds. 1: because I support our official bilingualism policies; and 2: because corporations and rich executives should not get away with ignoring our laws. Fuck that.

[Jacob]

I meant that Air Canada is subject to the Official Languages Act, not its CEO.

This report is from 2016. Nothing has changed because there is no consequences for ignoring complaints.

https://www.clo-ocol.gc.ca/en/publications/annual-reports-other-reports-parliament/2016/special-report-parliament-air-canada-road-increased-compliance-through-effective-enforcement-regime

I leave you with this quote from 1976

There is hardly a technical or administrative problem in language reform that Air Canada could not solve if its attitude were different. From the start, the Corporation's approach to language has been fearful, defensive and negative. No wonder so many of its employees seem to have the impression that respecting the official language preferences of paying passengers on the State airline is not a high priority. And no wonder reasonable wishes of its own employees to work at least part of the time in their preferred language have caused near trauma.

Keith Spicer, Commissioner of Official Languages, Sixth Annual Report, 1976

I see. Thanks.

Whether the CEO is legally required to be bilingual at this stage or not, I agree that the basically unilingual condolences to the family of the deceased Quebec pilot is fucking disgraceful.

I also agree that the anemic implementation of the official languages act in general is reprehensible. Its proper implementation should be a point of pride in Canada, for all Canadians, whether or not they're bilingual, Francophone, or Anglophone. Air Canada, of all fucking organizations, should be a shining example of this and that it isn't is straight up shameful.

[Grey Fox]

Being unilingual anglo is only a small part of the problem. He's not a politician he doesn't need to hold conversations in french. He just needed to do the Hockey player special and read phonetically a prepared statement of 4-5 lines. But he can't do that because Michael Rousseau is a very toned deaf person. The tolerance of AC share holders is astounding to me.