Official languages: The recent Celebration of Cultural Diversity here in Powell River [“City welcomes changing population,” November 18] in some ways felt like a dream and I was touched by it all.
The event’s MC, however, when setting up a French language musical act, proclaimed that French is “Canada’s second language.” The French language, in fact, is not a second-class Canadian language: it is the official language, co-equal with English. Perhaps she intended to say “Canada’s other official language”?
My desire would be to see legislation in this nation enacted elevating all aboriginal languages to “traditional languages of Canada,” protected in perpetuity. An argument could therefore be made that Canada’s European official languages are de facto subordinate to languages indigenous to North America.
Réal Lavallée Saint Laurent
Powell River, BC
