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Richmond Chinese-language only sign controversy, a sign of cultural tension.

Mar 12, 2015- A public forum on the use of Chinese language-only signs in Richmond took place tonight.

A petition with more than 1000 signatures was presented to council a couple of years ago, protesting the practice. Now Richmond resident Sue Graham says it bothers her. She claims that she stays away from businesses with Chinese only signs, and wants to see English on them. "These people, and they're wonderful, they've come to Our Country. I believe that it is for both of us. Otherwise, you feel like you're being taken over. "Graham has lived in Richmond for 20 years, and she believes having English on all signs would help build a more inclusive community.

Canada is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy with The Queen as Sovereign. As a constitutional monarch, The Queen abides by the decisions of the Canadian Government, but she continues to play important ceremonial and symbolic roles. Over the course of more than sixty years and over twenty Royal Tours, Her Majesty’s Canadian tours have included stops in each of the thirteen provinces and territories, often playing a key role in national celebrations and recognizing achievement in all walks of life. In all these duties, The Queen acts as Queen of Canada, quite distinctly from her role in the United Kingdom or any of her other realms.

Although Canada is still officially part of the British Commonwealth and British Empire, the Official Languages Act is a Canadian law that came into force on September 9; 1969 giving English and French equal status in the government of Canada. This makes them "official" languages, having preferred status in law over all other languages. The Official Languages Act is not the only piece of federal language law, but, it is the legislative keystone of Canada's official bilingualism. It was substantially amended in 1988. Both languages are equal in Canada's government and in all the services it administrates, such as the courts.

The act provides, among other things, that Canadians have the right to receive services from federal departments and from Crown corporations in Both Official Languages;

·         that Canadians will be able to be heard before federal courts in the official language of their choice.

·         that Parliament will adopt laws and to publish regulations in both official languages, and that both versions will be of equal legal weight.

·         that English and French will have equal status of languages of work within the federal public service within geographically defined parts of the country that are designated bilingual (most notably in National Capital Region, Montreal and New Brunswick), as well as in certain overseas government offices and in parts of the country where there is sufficient demand for services in both official languages.

In remaining geographical areas, the language of work for federal public servants is French (in Quebec) and English (elsewhere).

The Federal government has set in place regulations establishing linguistic categories (Anglophone, Francophone, bilingual) for some job functions within the public service. Departments and agencies of the federal government are required to fill these positions with individuals who are capable of serving the public in English, in French, or in both languages.

Unilingual public servants are given incentives to learn the other official language, and the government provides language training and offers a "bilingualism bonus".

Yes, thanks to this very expensive-to taxpayers- pile of Bovine Dung brought in by Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau; usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau- 15th Prime Minister of Canada- Canada does have two official languages-English and French (even though Chinese, not French is the second most commonly spoken language in Canada.

Chinese-only signs are 3.5% of total business signs.

Last fall, Richmond city council asked staff to look into the issue. They counted how many Chinese-only signs are in the city, which amounted to 31, and whether creating a bylaw to require English-only signs would be enforceable. They, city council staff??? found the bylaw could??? violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms-no mention of the Caanadian Constitution. Municipalities claim have the right to regulate signs that pertain to rezoning and development permit applications, but that regulation cannot be used to control business licences, or sign permits.

A Sign of Cultural Tensions? What About Canada and Canadian Nationality?

Longtime Richmond resident Albert Lo argues the controversy around Chinese-only signs might be a pretext for other contentious issues. "There are those issues of visibility. You can see that the demographics have definitely changed. And from time to time, you hear people complain about 'We are no longer a Euro-centric kind of culture. We don't agree with transforming Richmond into a kind of Asian community."

Albert Lo is the chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, which works to eliminate racial discrimination??? in Richmond.

According to Statistics Canada data from 2011, Richmond has about 50% of residents self-identifying as Chinese???.