Canada's new weapon for English speakers only

National Post ^ | February 11, 2006 | David Pugliese

[george76]

Forces cut French out of new armoured vehicle as a cost-saving measure...

The Canadian Force's new armoured vehicle will be operated by an English-only unit with the army planning to save time and money by not translating documents and equipment manuals related to the $700-million purchase, according to a military report.

The unusual arrangement with the Mobile Gun System (MGS) comes as the Defence Department is already under fire for shirking its responsibilities to official bilingualism...

Military equipment in Canada is usually supplied with manuals and support material in both official languages.

In total, the Canadian Forces will purchase 66 MGS. The vehicle is now under development in the U.S. for the American military.

The wheeled MGS, equipped with a 105-mm gun, will be operated by the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) based in Edmonton...

But defence planners hope to save money and time by cutting out French-language content on the MGS...

Canadian Forces officers say they are trying to cut down on the amount of "Canadianization" needed on the 66 vehicles so they can be delivered faster and at less cost.

Some retired soldiers greeted the decision not to translate MGS manuals and documentation positively, saying that official bilingualism has at times saddled the Canadian Forces with extra unnecessary costs.

[george76]

"The French make some good armoured vehicles.

The only problem is they only go in reverse ..."

[george76]

[VOA]

The Canadian Force's new armoured vehicle will be operated by an English-only unit

AFAIK, French was being scheduled to become THE language of
international aviation in the years just before WWII.
So much for that idea after the end of the French Air Force.

Actually, the tank should be run by French-only crews.
That way the instructions for it would be a mysterious for most enemy
forces that might capture a vehicle.

[MARKUSPRIME]

Thats known as the stryker in the US.I think the GM plant in Canada builds them for the US and Canadian forces.

[fanfan]

Canada Ping!

Please FReepmail me to get on or off this Canada ping list.

[Fenris6]

French was being scheduled to become THE language of international aviation in the years just before WWII.

Thats the problem with "soft" power.

[AntiKev]

They're built by General Dynamics Land Systems in London, Ontario. Right next to the GM Diesel plant.

[ncountylee]

I've heard that many Canadian WWII vets were for "exempting" French speakers from military service. Don't know if that feeling was wide spread.

[BluH2o]

It won't be that far down the road when controversy will be sparked here in the U.S. when military procurement insists that all related operating and maintenance instruction material (in the interest of expediency) that come with weapon systems, be written in English ... not English and Spanish.

[george76]

How many French only speakers even volunteer?

[MARKUSPRIME]

Ahh ok thanks for the correction.

[Doctor Don]

Why does France plant trees along every highway? Because the Germans like to march in the shade.

[Paulus Invictus]

Hey, our own gummint estupidos insist on putting everything having to do with our multiple agencies, both Fed and state, in Spanish. Why should we be surprised that the Canucks in Edmonton are resisting the multiculturization of their province? They have the right idea-resist!

[kajingawd]

every single one of them that went to France volunteered...


Quebecquers, for the most part didn't want to fight for * Brittania *...

But French Cajuns in New-Brunswick,and french speaking men in Nova-Scotia, PEI, Ontario all volunteered to go and did. Q: "Why did the Canadian cross the road?" A: "To get to the middle" thought i'd laugh at myself this morning.

[muawiyah]

Anyone whose ever met French-speaking Canadian troops knows them to be essentially the same sort of folks as the English-speaking Canadian troops.

Actually, in public places, the French-speaking Canadians act much more like Americans than the English-speaking Canadians.

Other Freepers may have had a different experience with them, but not me.

[null and void]

thought i'd laugh at myself this morning.

Someone has to, I suppose...

[Wiz]

Sounds good with French TRASHED!

[solitas]

"Canadianization"

LOL - that's great!

[null and void]

[US] Students may be required to take Spanish