i agree, about time they did this.

for one thing maybe with this we can save billions on having to have interpreters (provided at no cost), for anything governmental. now many will moan about the "poor immigrants" that will have issues because of this. well tough. if you want to move somewhere don't you thing you should be able to communicate? seriously lack of ability to speak the language used causes major issues on a day to day basis.

it is not a minor thing not being able to communicate with more than a small group of people. for one thing it causes confusion which tends to build up to hostility (sometimes within one conversation), which can lead to racism and bigotry against each other. heck i have even been told that I should be able to speak THEIR language, since i was working in THEIR area.

ever try to use a six year old to interpret for you about mechanical things? i have and it doesn't work. this can actually lead to DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. i once sadly watched a lady loading her 6 or 7 kids into a van that was extremely unsafe for both her and anyone else on the road because, i could not get her to understand that her brake system was practically non-functional. something i found out after applying the brakes and finding them so bad that i achieved a stop by running into equipment, (the speed i was driving didn't even register on the speedometer. we pushed that van out of the shop). but i had to watch helplessly as she and her kids piled into it and drove away, after trying to communicate to her the danger for several minutes that ended in her screaming at me, because i could not speak HER LANGUAGE. i wonder if she ever crashed and killed all her kids or someone else. all because she did not know the language.

It's dangerous too..

I am certain there have been many instances where a paramedic/police/fireman was delayed assisting people because of the language barriers. It's one thing to visit a country, it's expected you won't know the language. But if you've been in a country for several years and still can't communicate properly, who are you going to call for help if no one can understand you.?

There isn't enough money to pay for all the translator necessary...

Originally posted by bobs_uruncleClose the doors until we needed them open

They want everyone to come into Canada because we need more people in our country.
We're a young, small population, country for as large of a nation we have.

Originally posted by juniperberry
It's dangerous too..

I am certain there have been many instances where a paramedic/police/fireman was delayed assisting people because of the language barriers.

A very young child was killed by the LRT system here and the uncle that was with the child that fell off the platform, could only speak ROmanian, or Russian, I forget but not a single word of English and they had to ask by standers for translation.

(not saying that was the reason the poor child died)

Originally posted by CALGARIAN

Originally posted by bobs_uruncleClose the doors until we needed them open

They want everyone to come into Canada because we need more people in our country.
We're a young, small population, country for as large of a nation we have.

First off Canada is NOT A COUNTRY, it's a british colony, a wholly owned corporate subsidiary of the city of london. I even forget sometimes on these boards. Now, with an unemployed adult (21 to 65 and not retired) rate greater than 20%, I really wonder why we need more people?

Is it to fill more welfare roles to create dissent between the middle and poor classes so that the upper 1% can have the pressure taken off of them?
Is it to demoralize or disenfranchise more people who could be living productive lives?
Is it to create an environment of non-consensus so that the government can do whatever the hell it wants?

I think all of the above.

Cheers - Dave

Good for Canada. It is important that every country takes protection of its cultural heritage into account in immigrationn policy. Knowing the language is the bare minimum.

so ATS members are cool with Canada doing this but not the United States..

I applaud this, but not for the reasons many may think.

I believe that citizenship is an honor, and -not- a right. You want to visit our country? By all means! You want to reside and work here (non-citizen) - by all means! You want the right to vote and declare this country your home? Well, pass a basic history and language test, eh? (and this goes for say, native-born people as well. You turn 18, you take the Citizenship Test before you can vote.)

As an American who's traveled abroad, I'm glad that English is widely spoken. An international language is useful. But I take the time to learn the language (and culture and customs) of any country I live in, so that I can communicate in the "common language" wherever I live!

Quebecers speak Quebecois French, the rest of Canada, English. You live in those regions, you should learn the language! You live in China? Learn Chinese! etc. Does that mean to shun enclaves of expats who speak your native tongue? Not at all, look at Chinatowns all over the world.

Originally posted by Ancient Champion
so ATS members are cool with Canada doing this but not the United States..

edit on 30-9-2012 by Ancient Champion because: (no reason given)

I think it's great for Canada and would also be great for the USA, we have a population of Hispanics around here and none of them speak any English!

While waiting for the bus they talk to me and my 2 years of Spanish.... well, basically I've forgotten most of it, and it takes me a while to remember what the words they are saying mean. So we can't communicate! I went to my son's school one time and was held up for half an hour because a woman demanded to be talked to in Spanish about a problem with her child!!

Learn the language of the country you are trying to be a part of!