--CTF Reacts to Boudria's Demand for an "Officially Bilingual" Ottawa--

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today reacted to media reports that indicate Federal Government House Leader, Don Boudria, has written to Claude Bennett, Chair of the Transition Board overseeing the amalgamation of the new City of Ottawa, requesting that the new City of Ottawa be declared officially bilingual.

"While we can appreciate Mr. Boudria's passion for this issue, this is not a federal issue," stated CTF federal director Walter Robinson. "Mr. Boudria and the Prime Minister continue to meddle in an area completely removed from their jurisdiction. The last time we checked, cities were legislative creatures of the provinces, not the federal government."

The new City of Ottawa will come into effect on January 1, 2001 resulting from the restructuring of the two-tiers of local government. In total 11 cities and townships (the lower-tier) and the regional government (the upper-tier) will be amalgamated into one unicity of 750,000 citizens.

"Predecessor cities like Ottawa, Vanier, Gloucester, Cumberland and the region already have a track record of providing bilingual services in a practical manner," noted Robinson. "There is no reason whatever to assume that this will not continue in the new City of Ottawa."

"However, to walk the road of official bilingualism only serves to incite language zealots from both sides of a contentious and divisive issue," added Robinson. "The creation of a new City from former entities with varying property tax regimes, differing service levels and diverse collective agreements is difficult enough. And the costs and implications of official bilingualism could undermine anticipated tax savings that commercial and residential ratepayers are expecting. To further complicate the task by demanding that an appointed Transition Board forward policy that should be made by an elected council is irresponsible."

"On this issue, the federal Liberals continue to play the hollow national unity card and trumpet the fact that Ottawa is part of the National Capital Region so it should be bilingual," concluded Robinson. "Funny though, we don't see Mr. Boudria or his colleagues making the same demands on the cities of Hull, Aylmer or Gatineau on the Quebec side of the river. Hmmm "