The Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism has forgotten one of the country's founding nations -- Native Canadians. Mrs. Monteur of the National Indian Council insists that rather than being bicultural, Canada is actually "tricultural." Monteur addresses commission members on their cross-country tour, as heard in this 1963 CBC Radio recording. Commission members also hear a humorous account from Walter Bossey of the Canadian Mosaic Federation. He tells the story of his large family and their various intercultural marriages. His third-born son, for example, married a Jewish immigrant. And one of his daughters married a Canadian from Scotland. After submitting these as arguments for why his country is not just French and English, he asks: "Who are we now?"]]>
The Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism has forgotten one of the country's founding nations -- Native Canadians. Mrs. Monteur of the National Indian Council insists that rather than being bicultural, Canada is actually "tricultural." Monteur addresses commission members on their cross-country tour, as heard in this 1963 CBC Radio recording. Commission members also hear a humorous account from Walter Bossey of the Canadian Mosaic Federation. He tells the story of his large family and their various intercultural marriages. His third-born son, for example, married a Jewish immigrant. And one of his daughters married a Canadian from Scotland. After submitting these as arguments for why his country is not just French and English, he asks: "Who are we now?"
French and English should be the two languages of government from airports to federal courts, recommends the commission studying bilingualism. The inquiry known as the B&B Commission releases its final report today -- four years after it began. It's been so long that in this CBC Television clip, reporter Ron Collister can't remember what B&B stands for. Commission members say that protecting French culture at the federal level is not enough. They found that 95 per cent of francophones live in three provinces: Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. For this reason, they're generally in favour of regional protection and suggest that the three provinces should declare themselves bilingual.]]>
French and English should be the two languages of government from airports to federal courts, recommends the commission studying bilingualism. The inquiry known as the B&B Commission releases its final report today -- four years after it began. It's been so long that in this CBC Television clip, reporter Ron Collister can't remember what B&B stands for. Commission members say that protecting French culture at the federal level is not enough. They found that 95 per cent of francophones live in three provinces: Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. For this reason, they're generally in favour of regional protection and suggest that the three provinces should declare themselves bilingual.