2020
DOI: 10.1017/s0008423920000359
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Talk COVID to Me: Language Rights and Canadian Government Responses to the Pandemic

Abstract: Since the COVID-19 outbreak, a gradual loosening of linguistic obligations in public institutions and governments has been observed in various jurisdictions in Canada. This article argues that in addition to legal requirements to provide minority language services, it is not justifiable for governments to suspend or curtail such services in an emergency situation, for reasons pertaining to public safety and public health. After performing a survey and analysis of government actions against their constitutional… Show more

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Cited by 14 publications
(11 citation statements)
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“…While digital innovations are a promising avenue for LTC homes, we still need to address barriers for residents and their caregivers so that they can equitably access and meaningfully engage with these innovations. For example, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, gaps have been identified in the linguistic obligations (i.e., bilingualism) of public institutions and governments in various jurisdictions in Canada (Chouinard and Normand 2020). Beogo noted that some residents and family caregivers required further support to engage with digital innovations:…”
Section: Interventions Need To Be Designed With Equity and Inclusion ...mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…While digital innovations are a promising avenue for LTC homes, we still need to address barriers for residents and their caregivers so that they can equitably access and meaningfully engage with these innovations. For example, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, gaps have been identified in the linguistic obligations (i.e., bilingualism) of public institutions and governments in various jurisdictions in Canada (Chouinard and Normand 2020). Beogo noted that some residents and family caregivers required further support to engage with digital innovations:…”
Section: Interventions Need To Be Designed With Equity and Inclusion ...mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…French-speaking minorities in other provinces saw their linguistic rights abridged during the pandemic. Since the outbreak, respect for linguistic obligations in certain public institutions and governments gradually diminished (Chouinard and Normand 2020). For example, Ottawa exempted certain products from bilingual labelling.…”
Section: Impact On the Federation's Multinational Charactermentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The severe limitations of multilingual crisis communication that the COVID-19 crisis has laid bare result from the dominance of English-centric global mass communication; the longstanding devaluation of minoritized languages; and the failure to consider the importance of multilingual repertoires for building trust and resilient communities" (Piller, Zhang, & Li, 2020). An example of this would be the lack of French used in officially bilingual Canada's early COVID responses in 2020 (AFP in Ottawa, 2020; Chouinard & Normand, 2020).…”
Section: The Role Of Multilingualism As a Tool In Effectively Addressing Complex Global Issues --Organizations Issues And Language Policymentioning
confidence: 99%