Richmond, B.C., considers banning Chinese-only signage

[Pinus]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I a sure a PC Principal will try to defend this, but this is troubling and is quite disgusting and really adds an unneeded strain between the Chinese and non-Chinese community (even between the Cantonese and Mandarin community).

The official languages are English and French. Strata meetings should be accessible for ALL people of the community.

Welcome to Canada, learn one of the official languages (or both!).

There is nothing wrong with retaining your own language and culture, but as a nation we do need unifying basics (such a language) that all people should at least attempt to learn.

No development / building should be completely tailored to one single ethnicity. This goes completely against progressive multiculturalism, and will only divide communities more.

As the article suggests, an interpreter should be hired for those who can't understand English. I am sure one of the Mandarin speaking council members are perfectly capable of translating the meetings for non-English speaking Chinese members.

All I know is I have been living in Japan for 2 years, and working my ass off the speak Japanese. Finally getting there, I would hate to come to Japan just to speak English and essentially only be friends with other westerners.

I could not imagine living in a complex in Japan that is 70% English speakers, and then telling the Japanese members, sorry, all meetings are in English only from now one.

Talk about spitting on your new home country.

Good post. This is a great country and has always been welcoming to immigrants. But the lines need to be drawn somewhere. We mustn't allow situations like this to be upheld. It sends the wrong message to both foreigners and Canadians alike on what this country is truly about.