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Should all signage and advertising have to be in one of Canada's official languages? Call 604.877.6332 or tweet us @News1130Radio (Poll Closed)

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31 Comments

  • Patrick - 10 years ago

    Freedom of speech includes the freedom to communicate in any language. Justify it however you please, it all boils down to xenophobia.

  • Rommy - 10 years ago

    Lol, how many of you Europeans speak an Aboriginal language. I'm 100% positive English and French weren't the official language in Canada at one time. But how easy it is for Canadians to forget the past and how many Chinese have died helping build Canada. Everyone who voted no is a racist.

  • Ling Chang - 10 years ago

    It should be considered that things should not be only done one way. Sometimes there are variations as Crest says diversity. Sometimes we have signs in English sometimes we have in French why not Chinese. That argument that English and French are official languages is a boogiemen attack. As you're probably aware that there are many Boogiemen attacks made of anything. If we have Easter and Christmas off why not Chinese New Year. We Chinese are already doing things the Canadian way we don't have to do everything a Canadian way. I understand the native populations frustration. They let us into this country and this is how they're repaid. Why would do they let us in if this is what we're doing. But that is only a matter of perspective. I believe we've accumulated too much wealth and this is a sign of resentment. If there was a sign only in Ukrainian in Alberta no one would mind if it was in a Ukrainian neighbourhood. What people are doing is veiled racism by posting comments like this.

  • Darren - 10 years ago

    Chinese on signs or advertisement posters does not bother me. ONLY Chinese DOES! Please substitute any other language that is NOT either English or French, as appropriate. P&G/Crest Canada WILL be hearing from me on this, and I will VERY SERIOUSLY consider BOYCOTTING their products if I EVER see this horse(bleep) again!!!

  • Kai - 10 years ago

    I came from Hong Kong and am rather disgusted with this Chinese only ad. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Canada is fast becoming a Chinese colony. As far as I am concerned, the federal government should make ability to speak either of the official languages a mandatory requirement to immigration. There are too many people holding the Canadian passport without knowing a word of English. Dual nationalities should be banned too.

  • Che - 10 years ago

    We should be allowed to advertise in any language other than English or French.

  • norene - 10 years ago

    all signs should be in English or French, this is not a third world country with
    50 languages, look what it costs for interpreter's or translations
    all election candidates signs should be in English or french

  • keith - 10 years ago

    all signs should be in English or French, especially candidates elections signs
    the last few years look like a chicken walked across them and who knows if it
    says vote for me for favors or cash

  • Manon Keij - 10 years ago

    YES, YES, YES!!! It is high time that we let our immigrant population know that we speak English and French here and that they should show us respect, not only with regard to what are our official languages, but also to respect OUR customs, OUR rules, laws, regulations. And stores and restaurants should not be allowed to have their signs only in their foreign languages. It is called disrespect. Asian realtors should not only advertise in their Asian newspapers instead of to all Canadians.
    I've often wondered why Canadians are so unpatriotic in accepting what obviously is NOT right.
    Immigrants? Fine, I am one, but who wants immigrants that only want their own language, customs, schools, churches?? If you can't behave like a Canadian, go back to your own country!

  • Susie - 10 years ago

    All I can say is until the government does something, nothing will change. They have allowed this to happen. I know Chinese Canadians born here, who hate what the new landed immigrants have done. To them their parents came here over 50 years ago for a better life, made them learn English, kept their native language at home only, fought to be a true Canadian only to be placed in the same group as the new immigrants. I am tired of what Canada has become. If leaving your homeland is worth a new life of freedom than respect what and who we are. Learn our Language please, follow your culture at home, like immigrants did 100 years ago.
    Learn to be proud to be accepted into Canada with all we offer, English being the official Language

  • hope - 10 years ago

    I moved here to embrace Canadian culture. I turned away from my country because I want to be a Canadian which I am now. I embrace English language as I embrace being a Canadian citizen and I am proud of what I am now. I don't want any other languages specially Chinese, Mandarin or whatever. I don't speak against all these wonderful people, but they should learn how to embrace English not to bring their own languages. IF they want to they can go back where the came from! And beautiful people from China, why are you here anyway if you don't want to embrace English as your official language.. this is CANADA!

  • ron - 10 years ago

    It states 57% is foreign and I would guess one in particular. I wonder how long it will take for them to ask to be a separate recognized province or state? With there own separate specific rules and language?
    When will Canada stop this over excessive integration of cultures and remember which is actually the main culture here.
    Remember they left there countries to come to this one not to change this one to become something they ran away from!

  • Patty The Welfare Queen - 10 years ago

    Where do I apply for these new taxpayer paid language police jobs? I want to get money..

  • chipo - 10 years ago

    If they will use unilingual on traffic signage (in targeted area)
    I am OK with that.

  • cindy - 10 years ago

    I am very upset about this sign in Chinese only. This is Canada and we are an English and French speaking country. That is the very basis of our country. Does anyone really think if we lived in China we could put up an English only language sign??? I don't think so. If you want to live in Canada I think you should have to speak English. We need to get some backbone and keep our country English and French. We don't want to lose our identity. I am a very proud Canadian, love our country and want to keep it the Canada that I have live in for 57 years.

  • Alb - 10 years ago

    Public signage, yes. Private advertisement? No.

  • Noreen - 10 years ago

    The sign should be in English as well, WE all pay taxes that fund the Immigration
    and ESL classes in schools! so please learn to speak English!

  • priemier - 10 years ago

    That's why it's called "Lower Mainland China"

  • Tired - 10 years ago

    I'm tired of traveling around the lower mainland of BC and seeing signs in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, Farsi, Hindi, Arabic, etc with no English translation to be seen. The municipalities which allow these signs are allowing exclusion of clientele. I have gone to businesses in Richmond (the highest immigrant population in Canada 1 in 4 are not immigrants) where not one word of English or French is spoken, it is only Mandarin or Cantonese, I'm tire of that. I'm tired of being on the bus and not hearing one word of English among the folks riding. I'm tired of feeling like a forgotten person in my own adopted country. I'm tired of bending over backwards to understand an individual who has lived in Canada for more than half their life, but does not speak a word of English or French. I'm tired of people coming to Canada to escape what they had in their country of birth at the chance for a better life but who are not willing to adopt to the ways of this country. Yes, embrace your native culture, but please embrace the culture of your adopted nation - that includes the official languages. The lower mainland is no longer Canadian, it is turning into East China. I'm tired of what was once a beautiful place to live being destroyed. I'm tired of trying to make a difference and nothing happening. I'm tired of seeing Canada become a welcome mat which everyone scrapes the dirt off their shoes on. I'm tired of politicians slowly eroding the values which once made Canada great. If you want to advertise, there are two languages to choose from French or English. If you want to target an audience which doesn't speak either of them, ensure that the English and French languages are included on your advertising. I will admit, when I saw the ad, first thought was lovely, they are reflecting the multi-cultural facets of Canada as I saw the model, that rapidly changed when I saw the lack of English on the poster.

  • Rob C - 10 years ago

    If you think this kind of advertisement is insulting, you might want to get some better perspective by asking the First Nations of this country what they thought of our white ancestors forcing them to speak English/French.

    An old high school teacher of mine once told me that learning French in BC was basically useless. We needed to be learning Mandarin. He was right. That was over 20 years ago. I wish I had listened.

  • Lynda - 10 years ago

    Actually this isn't a bilingual country because Quebec won't allow English in that province unless you jump through hoops. In some eateries if you speak English you won't get served, if there is an English sign up you will be fined. I say so what if Quebec can get away with this stuff why shouldn't the rest

  • Antoine - 10 years ago

    Screw French! no one likes that language anyway. French is like hockey, the government wants you to like it. They would pay anything to force it and shove it down your throat.

  • CD - 10 years ago

    If this is really a free country, then we should be allowed to advertise in any language as we wish. Learn from USA, where there is one official language, and you can write all your life away in the Spanish language.

    It is not offensive at all! When I see things like this it makes me want to learn that language.

  • graymilk - 10 years ago

    It's a privately funded sign, there is no need for it to be in any other language than what the person paying for the sign desires.

  • adam - 10 years ago

    Hey I'm also an emigrant, I came to Canada to enjoy Canadian culture, I find this offensive.

  • Sam - 10 years ago

    Our country is a very tolerant and welcoming place. People from all over the world come to Canada for a number of reasons, like: escaping from wars, turmoil, and restrictive cultural rules and governments, looking for better futures for their kids, being adventurous and entrepreneurs, and the list go on and on.

    The basic fact is: they leave their home countries to come to a place they believe it to be better than the one they leave behind.

    That being said, the onus is on them to embrace their new home, do everything they can to protect it and to strengthen all the attributes that made it attractive to them in the first place. This starts by assimilating into our culture and way of life. And, the first step to successfully achieve this is to learn one of the official languages. Our government has been very generous and set in place various programs that offer this service for new comers.

    As far as I am concerned, I avoid shopping at stores that don't display English signage and names. I do not buy products that are not labeled in English (as I need to know what it is that I am buying!).

    And, in this case, I will not be buying the product that is the subject of this ad, and I am sure many others would do the same.

    Both my wife and I are immigrants belonging to two different ethnic backgrounds. Both of us have embraced our new home with all of our hearts and are very proud of being members of this wonderful place called Canada.

    For those who can't speak the language, please do your parts and put in the extra effort to learn it.

  • Jeff - 10 years ago

    We dont need language police. People can spend their money on whatever they want (for advertising). Not my business..

  • Epicurus - 10 years ago

    It's a simple question of common courtesy and respect, these are Canadian values. This country let you in, at least learn the language. If one lacks the capacity to learn new things, the question becomes... what is one's purpose in coming to a new country with every intention of living like one did in the previous one? Why have we let them in?

  • Said - 10 years ago

    Canada's National languages are English and French ONLY and that has to be respected regardless of the marketing intention. It is the responsibility of each and every individual who calls himself/herself a Canadian to learn either one or both of the National Languages or be able to ask those who can. It is bad enough with all the signs the majority CANNOT understand.

  • al lloyd - 10 years ago

    I do not want to emulate Quebec and have language police ramming language laws at us.

  • Harold - 10 years ago

    They are going to reach those "NEW" customers even if they use one of Canada's official languages. They Don't want Canadian's that are not of that culture or They don't want to pay the EXTRA cost of Bi-lingual advertising.

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