July 18, 2001

Dear Friends,

On May 28 I wrote to you about the Chretien Government’s attack on Ottawa to force it to impose an anti-English language policy under the label of bilingualism.

Despite the protests of the citizens, the Mayor and a majority of City Council carried out the demands of the Prime Minister and approved a “Bilingual Policy” that will change Ottawa into a city that is Francophone at every level. The people of Ottawa are helpless. Nobody seems to know what to do.

Other organizations have asked for the Institute’s help and guidance.

WE PUT ON A PUBLIC FORUM

We heard heartrending accounts of what is happening. We heard from Professor Keith Henderson, Leader of the Equality Party in Quebec, who shared his experience of the anti-English hostility of Quebec Government policies and of the betrayal of English-speaking people in Quebec by the Federal Government.

We heard from English-speaking and French-speaking people who left Quebec because of the racism of the anti-English policies.

People who fled from Quebec to Ottawa because of the language discrimination, are now asking where they will find a safe place to go. If the Prime Minister can impose French on Ottawa, as the Capital of Canada, he can impose it on every part of Canada.

THE INSTITUTE DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES, BUT I HAVE AGREED TO DO THE LEGAL RESEARCH IF THE NECESSARY FUNDS CAN BE RAISED.

I am asking all our members, regardless of where they live, to help by donating to the Institute for this cause. We are all at risk. When fire is at our next-door neighbour’s house, it will soon be at our door.

We need your help to force the Ontario Government to refer this legal matter to the Courts. We need your help with funds so that we can do the research and develop the strategy. This is the place where the rights of Canadians will be decided.

THIS IS THE SITUATION

The City of Ottawa is applying the rigid Bilingualism Policy without testing it in the Courts. People’s rights are gone unless the funds can be raised to review the language laws and develop a strategy.

Federal Minister Dion admitted, in a letter to me May 30, 2001, thatthe Government of Ontario, not the City of Ottawa, has the authority to declare Ottawa bilingual.

In the same letter, he announced that the Federal Government will use whatever constitutional powers it has, to force Ontario to declare Ottawa officially bilingual.

Under the Canadian Constitution since 1867, the Provinces have had total responsibility for the cities. Premier Harris has not moved to protect Ottawa. Citizens need to know their rights. That is what the Institute wants to research.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Two things. Enclosed is an ACTION Petition for us to send to Premier Harris. 

Get your friends and neighbours to join you in signing it. Even if you do not live in Ontario, your signature is important.

Individual letters to Premier Harris from people across Canada will help greatly.

Insist that Premier Harris refer this so-called Bilingualism Policy to the Ontario Court of Appeal for a decision on its legality.

TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS about this Federal Government attack on Ontario and on the Constitution that holds this country together. The action taken by the Mayor and City Council of Ottawa shows how easily the people’s rights can be taken away. The Ontario Government must not abandon Ottawa.

People can only protect themselves if they know what the law is. Please do whatever you can to raise funds for our ongoing research into the laws that are being so misapplied. We provide Charitable Receipts.

No one should depend on politicians to decide on their rights. Citizens must know what rights they have.