Editor:
Re: Language barrier a concern, Nov. 7
The mayor noted in the article that when she went to the city of Mangalore in India that 85 per cent spoke English and it was mandatory in school. It was also stated that not speaking the language [English] in Canada may lead to feeling unsafe and this may cause people to gravitate to a community that speaks their language.
Well, mayor, if we keep printing driver's licence forms in Mandarin and Punjabi, allow all the buildings in those communities to be identified in their own language and provide three of four language choices at the bank machine, then tell me where is the incentive to speak the language of your chosen new country?
If anyone in government at any level is as worried as Jackson puts it, then all that has to be done is to insist those applying to get into the country have a reasonable command of the language or their application will be denied.
I assure you no member of any government in Canada would champion such a bill. So, mayor, you will have to keep on worrying.
Ernie Tobin
