Email from Joad Clément to Premier Jim Prentice (Nov. 30, 2014)
From: Joad Clément
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2014 1:07 PM
To: Calgary.Foothills@assembly.ab.ca
Subject: Merry Christmas in French too
Honorable Premier Jim Prentice,
Francophones living in Alberta need to make everyday decisions about how to maintain their French language and culture. Some of those decisions are not easy to make in Alberta, and many Albertans from past generations have lost their capacity to speak French even though their name reveals a French heritage. French language is an essential asset of Canada’s reputation and appeal, but this appears to not be the case for the Alberta government.
You must be aware that judicial transcripts indicate French as a ‘foreign language’ (see attached). The message sent to the Franco Albertans is that it is not worth to maintain their French heritage.
Premier Prentice, when you and your colleagues will be ready to take initiatives to assist Francophones to have access to the judicial system in their language, you will be doing something much more important than proving an access to the Courts in French, you will be sending a message to all Francophones in Alberta, that the efforts to preserve the French language and culture are worthwhile and valued. Such a message is essential for the survival of Alberta’s French linguistic minority and the openness of Alberta to a broader Canadian reality.
Yours truly,
Joad
Joad Clément, Certified English to French Translator Clement Linguistic Services
E : joad.clement@gmail.com
P : 403-875-1251
www.clementlinguistic.com
Member of the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA) http://atia.ab.ca
ATIA Social Media Director https://www.facebook.com/ATIAAlberta http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2722263
Last Update : 2014-12-10
