Richmond City councillors may not want to further discuss the exclusion of English on some Chinese business signs, but it should live on at the community level.
That's the hope of Coun. Chak Au, the sole member supporting a motion Monday to have city staff examine the situation more closely after a delegation submitted a 1,000-signature petition decrying the situation.
"To me, the sign and the language is only the surface. I think actually what we have to do is improve intercultural relationships," Au said. "And in order to improve that we need to have dialogue and discussions."
Au clarified he was not asking for a bylaw to ensure English be included on business signage.
"What I asked for was to develop a process of consultation on this issue," he said. "I think we have lost a good opportunity to engage different sectors of the community to have meaningful dialogue in order to come to some kind of consensus.
"Perhaps after the consultation and dialogue we don't need to have a bylaw," Au added, "because the problem will be solved already."
In discussion following the petition's submission Coun. Evelina Halsey-Brandt said she did not support further action on the matter, preferring not to play the role of language police.
"I think the bad image the language police in Quebec is so strong in peoples' minds that when we talk about language and signage that they jump to the conclusion that, oh, that would be the end result," Au said.
But to do nothing would also be a mistake of allowing the situation to shift in the wrong direction, he added.
Referring to Halsey-Brandt's comments that she did not feel excluded by the lack of English on some signage and was unwilling to shop at stores not offering assistance in a language she understood, Au said that is not a solution.
"If you examine this response carefully this is very dangerous," Au said.
First of all it says you feel unwelcome.
Second, because you feel unwelcome, you walk away.
"By walking away there's no interaction, there's no communication. And there's no understanding," Au said. "Then there's no bridge being built. And this is not healthy. This is not good for our community in terms of racial harmony."
Au said there are already some elements of a fractured community in Richmond, but remained optimistic that by fostering dialogue the situation can be repaired.
Au hoped local community groups can play a part in that.
"But the city, I think, should also play a role in this. Sometimes, things are easier to do with the facilitation of the city."
Au said he was contemplating his future options, but stopped short of committing himself to conduct an independent report on the matter.
"I'm trying to see what I can do, however, I am only one person, and if I can't convince my fellow councillors, I don't know how much I can do."
Kerry Starchuk, who along with Ann Merdinyan, submitted the petition said she has been buoyed by calls of support following Monday's meeting, but was also unsure of what is her next step.
"It's up to them (city council). I've done what I need to do. And it's up them," Starchuk said. "What are you going to do. They won't do a bylaw. I guess this brings about public awareness. Maybe we don't need a bylaw. I don't know what to think of it all."
Starchuk added she was disappointed by council's unwillingness to examine the issue further.
"I'm disappointed that they knew this has been going on for 17 years," she said. "They need to come up with a solution that makes it better. I don't make policy. It's up to them."
