...when listening to the House of Commons?
2007-01-04 04:16:33 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Because that's the law. Trust me, as someone from the United States, you do not want a government that ignores the law. The House of Commons is bound by the law and it makes very little sense to criticize them for following it. The equality of French and English has been a basic tenant of Canadian law since the Constitution Act of 1867 and the Constitution Act of 1982 states "English and French are the official languages of Canada and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and government of Canada." If your question is why does that law exist, I think that it is always important to defend the rights of minorities. The French speaking Canadians have the same right to be able to understand what is occurring in their nation's government as the English speaking Canadians. However, if you don't agree, feel free to petition to change the law, but meanwhile don't blame the legislature for following it.
2007-01-04 05:37:22 · answer #1 · answered by magpie_queen 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because if you listen to English 100% of the time, a portion of the population would be left out totally. No one is left out with a 50/50 split. It is about inclusion, not exclusion.
Also, French is an official language so it should be used.
2007-01-04 12:23:21 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why not boycott the French. Speak and listen to French 0% of the time. You'd be better off!
2007-01-04 12:24:13 · answer #3 · answered by Terence C 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You don't have to listen to anything you don't want to. By the phrasing of your question you have a problem with the french. That I can understand, but subjecting yourself to french, or any other language you detest really dosen't say alot about you now does it. There is really only one thing that you absolutly have to believe in, and that is water is wet, fire is hot, rocks are hard, the wind blows but vacuums suck,
2007-01-04 12:33:02 · answer #4 · answered by paswami 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Why does all legal literature have to be translated into french at an incredible cost to the highly taxed taxpayers.
Why does Quebec have language police to enforce the french language.
We are languishing in the dark ages.
2007-01-04 12:27:04 · answer #5 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋