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Letter: Language, a tie that binds

Dear Editor, Re: “Language capability a responsibility,” Letters, Dec. 30/31 I would like to commend Tom Zheng for his excellent letter in the Richmond News . Mr.
Kargut
Andreas Kargut is leading a class-action Human Rights Tribunal claim against his strata council, which he claims has discriminated against non-Mandarin speaking homeowners. Dec. 2015.

Dear Editor,

Re: “Language capability a responsibility,” Letters, Dec. 30/31

I would like to commend Tom Zheng for his excellent letter in the Richmond News

Mr. Zheng has articulated very well the need for all immigrants to integrate into Canadian society.

One of the best ways to do this is to learn and communicate in at least one of Canada’s official languages. 

Certainly, we should be proud of our heritage, culture, language and customs etc. However, at the same time, we must also recognize our civic responsibility of being a resident/citizen of Canada. 

As Canadians, we must make every effort to learn at least one, if not both, of Canada’s official languages — English and French. Our common language is the glue that binds all of us together as Canadians, regardless of our ethnic, cultural, geographical or religious backgrounds. 

Unfortunately, in Richmond, the controversy over Chinese language signage and now this issue of Chinese-only strata council meeting don’t bode well for intercultural harmony, multiculturalism and inclusiveness. 

Let’s hope Richmond’s Chinese-Canadian community leadership will accept the challenge thrown down by Tom Zheng and take appropriate steps in amicably resolving issues like these.

Balwant Sanghera

Richmond