‘Momentous change’ will permit lawmakers in Canadian province to address chamber in ‘first languages’

The Ontario government house leader, Paul Calandra, this week moved to amend a standing order that previously required lawmakers to use either English or French. Following a vote, that order now allows for an “Indigenous language spoken in Canada” to be used when addressing the speaker or chamber.

Sol Mamakwa, a member of the New Democratic party who represents the Kiiwetinoong electoral district, recalled being punished for speaking Ojibwe (Anishinaabemowin) in his youth.

“I am very honoured to be able to speak today on behalf of the people of Kiiwetinoong, on behalf of the people that were never allowed to speak their language in colonial institutions,” Mamakwa told the legislature. “These racist and colonizing policies led to language loss.”

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  • nyan@lemmy.cafeEnglish
    2·
    8 months ago

    It isn’t about which language has the most speakers, it’s about acknowledging history. (I mean, if “who has the most speakers” were the only important thing, French wouldn’t be allowed either—Ontario is not required by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to provide provincial government services in French, but does so to some extent anyway, for historical and practical reasons.)

    How the languages of large immigrant communities should be handled in official contexts is a completely separate matter from this.

    • howrar@lemmy.ca
      2·
      8 months ago

      I don’t think they’re disputing that. They’re just giving numbers to answer your question. There’s very few speakers of these languages, so it’s probably not going to be an easy task.

    • sailingbythelee@lemmy.world
      2·
      8 months ago

      Okay, bud. I was just supporting the conversation with what I thought was interesting contextual info, partially in support of your point. But I guess you couldn’t miss the opportunity to virtue signal. Good job.