Richmond, B.C., considers banning Chinese-only signs amid uproar over city’s ‘un-Canadian’ advertisements

More on the debate over Chinese-only signage in Richmond (over 50 percent Asian origin, mainly Chinese). And striking, but not atypical, that most of Richmond’s municipal council is white, in contrast to provincial and federal representation:

Henry Yao, a Chinese-Canadian independent candidate, said he is supportive of a “well-redeveloped regulation” for Richmond signage, in part because it would end the ”racism, discrimination, and anger” spurred by the sign debate.

Nobody will dispute that the number of Chinese-only signs in Richmond is increasing, but the vast majority still feature English text.

“There aren’t really that many signs that are Chinese-only in the city overall,” said Judy Chern, a lifelong Richmondite with a passing understanding of Chinese characters.S

he noted that the city’s Chinese signs are largely placed on businesses that are uniquely targeted to Chinese clients: Chinese apothecaries, Chinese-language DVD stores and purveyors of feng shui products.

“I don’t think they’re purposely trying to exclude anyone. I’m a second-generation Taiwanese-Canadian and I don’t use these services either,” she said.

Last year, city councillor Bill McNulty conducted an informal survey of the city’s signage. He found only about half a dozen that were exclusively Chinese.

The Richmond Chamber of Commerce, for its part, has maintained that the city’s sign issue is best left to free enterprise: If local businesses want to exclude the nearly two million Metro Vancouverites who cannot read Chinese, that’s their prerogative.

“We’ve always had the same position on this … we don’t feel a bylaw is the right answer,” said Gerard Edwards, chair of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce.

It is a view echoed by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses. “The market can correct itself pretty fast on this type of thing,” said Dan Kelly, the group’s CEO.

This has been the case at Richmond’s Aberdeen Centre, a prominent Richmond mall that is a hub of Asian stores and eateries. To keep the clientele base as large as possible, though, the mall strictly mandates that all signage be at least two thirds English.

“I trust the entrepreneur to know what is in the best interest of their business,” said Mr. Kelly. He warned that language laws — however well intentioned — “are regularly taken to their ludicrous extremes.”

Richmond, B.C., considers banning Chinese-only signs amid uproar over city’s ‘un-Canadian’ advertisements | National Post.