Official bilingualism was studied by Pearson and implemented by Trudeau the Elder. It has had the effect of entrenching the Laurentian Elite throughout the bureaucracy in Ottawa. Due to the bilingual requirement, at this point almost all senior managers and deputy ministers are exclusively Quebecois who hire more on bloodlines than bilingualism. By which I mean if two bilingual candidates apply for a job; one of English descent and one of French descent, the French candidate will get the job, even if the English candidate is better qualified. Well qualified English Canadians hit "the Quebec ceiling" at the supervisor stage.
The only government branch which hasn't completely been consumed by this insanity is the Armed Forces where they've studied the impacts of requiring senior officers to be bilingual (as opposed to having translation available) and the impact on competence was measurably negative. Meritocracy won but barely. Other DEI measures have overwhelmed meritocracy. Hence the CAF struggle with recruiting and/or retention since no-one ambitious and competent wants to work where they know they'll end up hitting the Quebec ceiling.
IF those facts offend anyone, feel free to refute them... but good luck since I know I'm right...
Sorry the wee rant. AirCanada is now a private company. I wonder how many billions have been spent imposing bilingualism on Canada? Especially since Quebec declines to have any part of it? Pretty good deal for the Quebecois; we must accommodate them but they feel not compunction to reciprocate. When I lived in Montreal, the locals found that amusing.
How does this play in the five provinces where it is difficult to find anyone who has even rudimentary French language skills?
Controversial take warning!!
Official bilingualism was studied by Pearson and implemented by Trudeau the Elder. It has had the effect of entrenching the Laurentian Elite throughout the bureaucracy in Ottawa. Due to the bilingual requirement, at this point almost all senior managers and deputy ministers are exclusively Quebecois who hire more on bloodlines than bilingualism. By which I mean if two bilingual candidates apply for a job; one of English descent and one of French descent, the French candidate will get the job, even if the English candidate is better qualified. Well qualified English Canadians hit "the Quebec ceiling" at the supervisor stage.
The only government branch which hasn't completely been consumed by this insanity is the Armed Forces where they've studied the impacts of requiring senior officers to be bilingual (as opposed to having translation available) and the impact on competence was measurably negative. Meritocracy won but barely. Other DEI measures have overwhelmed meritocracy. Hence the CAF struggle with recruiting and/or retention since no-one ambitious and competent wants to work where they know they'll end up hitting the Quebec ceiling.
IF those facts offend anyone, feel free to refute them... but good luck since I know I'm right...
Bilingual rules spark merit debates in the bureaucracy and military. Fair enough. For passengers, it's simpler. I checked Air Canada's brief to Parliament. They alone fall under the Official Languages Act among airlines. https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/LANG/Brief/BR12049652/br-external/AirCanada-brief-10694860-e.pdf The new $50,000 fines could finally fix service gaps at the airport. We'll see how it plays out for travellers.
Sorry the wee rant. AirCanada is now a private company. I wonder how many billions have been spent imposing bilingualism on Canada? Especially since Quebec declines to have any part of it? Pretty good deal for the Quebecois; we must accommodate them but they feel not compunction to reciprocate. When I lived in Montreal, the locals found that amusing.