Racism against English speaking in Ottawa

[britcan]

Whilst we are talking about discrimination -feel I should warn folks who are thinking of coming to Canada, avoid Ottawa like the plague.

My husband and I have experienced first hand, discrimination against us by French First anti English sentiments. In Ottawa, only the French first get the decent jobs, in other words, unless you are French and not Parisien French either, forget getting a look in. Its jobs for the boys, or actually girls as men are also considered 2nd class citizens.

No one will tell you how much the bilingalism costs, and they even have language police making sure the signage is up for the French and if it is not then the shop/business gets a big fine.

In the meantime, the healthcare in Ontario is crumbling and drugs are being refused to cancer patients cos they are too expensive.... sound familiar?

Watch out in the South- if you allow Spanish as a language officially this could be coming to a store near you.

[Kriz1]

I think it already is.....went into Walmart on 192....every box was turned Spanish side out...I'm writing a letter of complant....now I read Spanish so no real problem there...but this is still an English speaking country...so why should English readers have to take box's off the selves to read about the item inside...

[DEE F]

Whilst we are talking about discrimination -feel I should warn folks who are thinking of coming to Canada, avoid Ottawa like the plague.

My husband and I have experienced first hand, discrimination against us by French First anti English sentiments. In Ottawa, only the French first get the decent jobs, in other words, unless you are French and not Parisien French either, forget getting a look in. Its jobs for the boys, or actually girls as men are also considered 2nd class citizens.

No one will tell you how much the bilingalism costs, and they even have language police making sure the signage is up for the French and if it is not then the shop/business gets a big fine.

In the meantime, the healthcare in Ontario is crumbling and drugs are being refused to cancer patients cos they are too expensive.... sound familiar?

Watch out in the South- if you allow Spanish as a language officially this could be coming to a store near you.

Hi Britcan,wow that is seriously scary stuff,but to be honest I think Spanish as the official language here is not that far away,we will see.:(

Dee xxx

[anniefromessex]

I think it already has!!! On the phone if you want it in English you have to press 1, omg what is this world coming to!!! Talk about second class citizens. Agreed we are not superior to others, nor should we think we are, but we are slowly being treated as though we are the dirt on the shoes of everyone. Hey ho, we live to fight another day.

Apparently in England they are making sure there are signs in Polish so they know not to take a wrong turn and go home!!!

Love Anniexxx

[lorraine]

Hey I got told today to go back from where I came from......... I was so angry (very unlike me but it was racism against a brit) I answered by saying I was American born and bred, and then I was taken to Europe to be educated and then returned to America.............. mmmmmmmmmmm nothing said after that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[britcan]

The worse thing is that you think your eyesight is going cos the writing is so small on the label so that they can fit everything on.. Really though,don't let it happen, the Mexicans will get all the plum jobs and the English speaking etc will become the minority as they are in Ottawa.

[Kriz1]

A lot of jobs in FL ask that you speak Spanish already....I see no reason for it most of the time....and if I were interested in the job and saw no reason to need Spanish I would play the racist card...its there for everyone to use...and it scares the living daylights out of people...

[paulbweb]

Its already happening in the South West. Many jobs require you to be bi-lingual in English and Spanish. This actually discriminates against non Latinos, because most white, black and asian americans don't speak spanish. There are people who can't get jobs in construction because they can't speak Spanish and these are the well paid jobs Americans do want. However I do believe that its only a matter of time before somebody brings a law suit against this.

[kirtida8]

I have always insisted that the subbies I had spoke English - and would talk slowly to those who only had a spattering so that they could improve. I am lucky in that I pick up languages quickly, but in this instance - I refuse to do so! There are plenty of Americans who also get irrate at having to press 1 to get English on the phone - it should be the Spanish that should have to press to get the translation!!!! I also get p.......d off when they assume I'm Mexican and start speaking to me in Spanish. :mad:

[Kriz1]

It must be different up here because we don't have the option for Spanish on most things...and if we do they have to press 1...
I've noticed looking for work that even in my husbands field...they want bi-lingual down in FL ...

I don't let people speak Spanish in front of me in a shop...I'll just leave everything on the counter and walk out....also from now on I'll call someone to turn the boxs if they are Spanish out...which in the 192 Walmart they always are...you just have to make a fuss...