Unilingual Canadians Need Not Apply
March 14, 2003OTTAWA – Scott Reid, MP, expressed grave concern about the Chretien government’s Action Plan for Official Languages, which was released earlier this week. He pointed out one part of the report as being particularly worrying.
“Take a look at the details,” Reid said, quoting directly from the text of the Action Plan. “It states that bilingualism within the Public Service will be boosted ‘by hiring more candidate who are already bilingual’- in other words, by hiring fewer candidates who are unilingual.”
Reid noted that the plan also places what he calls “a glass ceiling” on the careers of Public Servants who are not bilingual. “That’s the only thing that can be meant, when the Action Plan states that ‘It is imperative for language skills to be seen as prerequisites for people aspiring to high-level positions in the Public Service.”
“It is troubling to see developments such as the recent memorandum sent by Industry Canada to its managers, threatening to dock pay from – or even terminate – employees who do not become bilingual by the end of this month. Such tactics freeze out from the Public Service the 24 million Canadians who are not bilingual,” continued Reid.
Reid added that this situation is reflected locally “In Lanark County, for example, almost 90% of the population does not speak French, and therefore is excluded from an ever-growing share of federal government jobs. Surely this is not the way to ensure that the Public Service is properly staffed. Logic would suggest the government should be looking at as large a talent pool as possible in order to find the best-qualified person for as many jobs as possible.”
For more information or to speak with Mr. Reid
Please call (613) 257-8130 or (613) 947-2277.
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