Take action!
…on your doorstep
A candidate shows up at your front door? Take the opportunity to talk about support for Canada’s official languages.
- Express your support for the French-speaking community in your riding.
- Emphasize the lack of opportunities for English-speaking Canadians to learn their second official language.
- Voice concern for recent challenges to the legitimacy of French and the language rights of Francophones.
- Make it clear that you expect federal MPs to stand up for Canada’s official languages and bilingualism.
- Tell the candidate that modernizing the Official Languages Act to ensure its full implementation and reflect the Canada of today is a great way to convey to all Canadians that our two official languages are a core Canadian value.
- Ask him or her a question.
…in summer BBQ’s organized by candidates
Summer barbecues and picnics organized by local candidates and parties are a great way to meet the people seeking your vote. A few pointers and suggestions:
- Shake the candidate’s hand and introduce yourself.
- Describe how the French language and the French-speaking community are present in the riding: schools, immersion classes, cultural and community activities, etc.
- Voice your support for Canada’s official languages as a core value and tell the candidate you hope he or she feels the same.
- Emphasize the lack of opportunities for English-speaking Canadians to learn their second official language.
- Tell the candidate that modernizing the Official Languages Act to ensure its full implementation and reflect the Canada of today is a great way to convey to all Canadians that our two official languages are a core Canadian value.
- Ask him or her a question.
…on social media
- Tag your candidates in a post asking them a question or requesting a
commitment. - Voice your support for Canada’s official languages as a core value and tell the candidate you hope he or she feels the same.
- Tell the candidate that modernizing the Official Languages Act to ensure its full implementation and reflect the Canada of today is a great way to convey to all Canadians that our two official languages are a core Canadian value.
Canada is marking the 50 th anniversary of the Official Languages Act this year, but the status and legitimacy of French, namely, remains precarious. What do you plan to do to consolidate and promote the status and value of our two official languages?
How will you act to protect the language rights of French-speaking citizens in your riding?
There is a shortage of French-language teachers in Canada. This has an impact both on French-language education and French immersion programs. Some are even calling it a crisis in the making. What will you do to resolve this issue?
According to the Conference Board of Canada, the contribution of bilingual Canadians outside Quebec to the country’s GDP represents $134.8 billion. How will your party capitalize on bilingualism to foster economic growth and prosperity for Canada?
There will be 715 million French speakers worldwide in 2050. How will your party work to grow the population’s bilingualism in order to give Canada an economic edge in this emerging market?
French immersion and French as a second language education are very popular but suffer from a lack of resources. Parents must often wait in line all night to register their child for French immersion. What will you do to increase access and opportunities for Canadians who want to learn their second official language?
For years now, the government has under-enumerated children and youth who have a constitutional right to education in French. This means French-language schools are built too small and are filled to capacity 2-3 years after opening. This is not an efficient way to plan and build schools. A modernized Official Languages Act should require the government to rework its data collection and account for every child who has the right to French-language education. Will you commit to taking action to make it happen?
There have been attacks and challenges recently to the legitimacy of French as one of Canada’s official languages. In New Brunswick, for example, there is a political party that wants to roll back the language rights of Acadians. If elected, will you stand clearly and publicly for the equal status of our two official languages and the value they represent for Canada?
There is a shortage of French-language teachers in Canada. This has an impact both on French-language education and French immersion programs. Some are even calling it a crisis in the making. What will you do to resolve this issue?