Photo by Greg Kielec
More than 100 people lined McConnell Avenue near the Cornwall Community Hospital Saturday afternoon to protest the hospital’s bilingualism policy.
More than 100 protest hospital language policy
Chris Cameron, a nurse who has been car- rying out a one-person protest in front of the hospital. Cornwall native Laurie Iwachniuk-Bran- chaud was collecting signatures for a peti- tion along the line of sign-toting protesters. She was hoping the protest will force the hospital to re-examine its hiring practice. She no longer works at Cornwall Commu- nity Hospital, but said many of her friends are in temporary positions and cannot gain full-time employment because of the lan- guage barrier. “Today we’re making a statement to Queen’s Park, we’re making a statement to Cornwall Community Hospital and of
course city council and Jim McDonell that something has to be done here. The citizens of Cornwall and the majority are not happy with their unfair hiring policies and we want them to take a peek at it.” South Stormont Mayor Bryan McGillis, whose municipality is withholding $30,000 of funding to the hospital over its bilingual hiring policy, was also on hand. “We’re all here for the same reason. I think it’s a very historic day here today because people are standing up for their own rights,” McGillis said. He said the size of the protest was a sign the “silent majority” is stepping forward “because of lot of people in politics don’t
want to speak up about what is going on.” He said the issue is not about holding back money, “it is about people: This is about people’s livelihoods,” he stressed. Barb Romik, of Ottawa, said she was “hor- rified” to see the focus on French language when only four per cent of the population speaks Canada’s second official language. “I left this rotten place in the ‘80s because French was taking over,” but upon her re- turn to the area she has found it has become worse – “and good luck getting a job.” Follow @gkielec on Twitter. For breaking news, go to www.editionap.ca and click on The Journal. Email greg.kielec@eap.on.ca
By Greg Kielec
About 100 people lined McConnell Av- enue near Cornwall Community Hospital on Saturday to protest the hospital’s bilingualism hiring policy. Placard-carrying protesters upset with what they believe is discriminatory hiring practices against Anglophones, stretched from the corner of the hospital’s entrance al- most all the way south to the McConnell Medical Centre, under the watchful eyes city police and private security. “This is a great turnout. It’s democracy at work here. We can make change, Ontarians stand up for change,” said protest organizer Cornwall city council has decided not to immerse itself in the language debate gripping Cornwall Community Hospital. Councillors unanimously decided to shelf a motion from South Stormont urging the city withhold money to the hospital over its bilingual hiring policy. The majority of councillors argued the mu- nicipal council table was not the place to de- bate provincial language policy. There was a crowd of at least 50 people in the council chambers, many of them French, who erupted in applause after each council- lor spoke in opposition to the South Stor- mont motion. Councillor Leslie O’Shaughnessy said he had heard a lot of comment on the issue – “it seems to be creating steam” – but he recom- mended city council take no action of South Stormont’s motion. “I believe it would be detrimental for everybody.” The city has recently given $8.4 million to the hospital – during his previous term on council, the city gave the hospital $5 million, O’Shaugnessy said. None of that money was designated to support either English or French patients. “Health care is for everyone in Cornwall, regardless of the language they speak.” He also said city council has no authority over what is essentially a hospital issue. The discussion about bilingualism requirements can occur at the hospital board or through union representatives, “but not at this table.” Councillor Glen Grant agreed with the hos- pital’s intent to provide French language By Greg Kielec
Cornwall city council opts to stay out of bilingualism fray
Photo by Greg Kielec Cornwall city councillor Elaine MacDonald, left, chats with an audience member prior to last Monday’s council meeting. Council, in a chamber packed with both English and French language supporters, opted to stay out of the hospital bilingualism debate.
Mayor Bob Kilger said “this fabric of both French and English” has been a “rich part of our history” going back 240 years. The com- munity’s bilingual nature “is truly an asset” when marketing the city to outsiders, he added. Follow @gkielec on Twitter. For breaking news, go to www.editionap.ca and click on The Journal. Email greg.kielec@eap.on.ca
cultural diversity in the community. “This argument really has no place at this table,” MacDonald said. “There is a subtext there. We all realize it’s about language.” Councillor Andre Rivette said he against withholding money from the hospital. But he also believes advanced French language skills are really necessary in dealing with pa- tients. He believes that “intermediate French would be good”.
services, but said, to the applause of lan- guage protesters, there is a problem with how the policy is being implemented. Councillor Denis Thibault said the way the issue has been presented is dividing the city. “It is not an issue for us to debate,” he said. “I think it’s a dead issue.” Councillor Elaine MacDonald said the dis- cussion gives city council the opportunity to “affirm” its respect for language rights and
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