When Francois Legault came onto the scene and declared that the sovereignty issue would be set aside in order to afford a government led by his new party the freedom to concentrate on economic issues instead of the life sapping independence debate, people were excited.This breath of fresh air was immediately appealing to a large majority of Quebecers, federalists who could live with a nationalistic government without the sovereignty option and separatists who were tired of talk of a referendum which in their hearts, they knew could not be won.
The merger between the CAQ and the conservative ADQ augured well for his vision and with the inclusion of an anti-Bill 101 militant, Bill Johnson, Mr. Legault gave evidence that indeed he was organizing a rainbow coalition of diverse elements that would have by its very makeup the force to stay clear of the referendum question, or else explode from within.
For a while he talked the talk of a radical reformer, but alas, he and his new party has backslid significantly and is more and more becoming just another banal party falling somewhere in between the Liberals and the PQ.
It didn't take long for the politics of expediency to take over and sadly, the CAQ has has sunk quickly into the mire of language and entitlement.
And so we are starting to hear the same old, same old and it's most disheartening.
Sadly, it seems that a potential CAQ government will embrace and promote the same old fantasy that French is under attack and in consequence, attacks on the English language, Ethnics and Anglos will become an entrenched part of the party platform.
"...Mr. Legault emphasized the defense of the French language and is "concerned about the situation in Montreal." "We are within our rights as Quebecers, to worry about preserving our language, our culture and our identity," he said. "Quebec is the only government in America, which represents a majority of francophones. It has a duty to defend the identity of the Quebec nation." According to him, "the Liberal government has failed in its duty to protect our identity, allowing several businesses in Montreal to neglect to serve their clients in French."I get the feeling that these attacks are inspired by the Roman tradition of gladiatorial spectacles, a question of bread and circuses, designed to fulfill and satisfy the deviant blood lust of the masses, in this case, language supremacists.
Also, the Charest government has allowed "those who can afford it, to buy a right to go to English schools, in full contradiction with the principles of the Charter of the French language." "For us this right is unacceptable," insisted Mr. Legault. Link{Fr}
It remains a dishonest and expedient political device, giving these people what they are perceived to desire, not what is right.
Before the ADQ merged with the CAQ, its then leader Gérard Deltell was unambiguous about English immersion in grade six;
"The ADQ wants all children enrolled in sixth grade to receive half their instruction in French, the other half in English.But that position hasn't survived the merger of the ADQ and the CAQ.
This bold proposal emanates from the ADQ leader, Gerard Deltell, who says he is very concerned about the low rate of bilingualism among young Québécois. In an interview with The Canadian Press, Mr. Deltell argued that the intensive teaching of English in primary and secondary school should become a priority.
It is urgent, he argues, to train a generation of Quebecers perfectly bilingual and take the necessary steps to get there, and that, whatever the cost." Link{Fr}
Eric Caire is now the education critic for the CAQ.
This once ADQ member supported the intensive English approach while he was an independent member of the National Assembly, but since joining the new party is parroting the new party line;
So much for integrity...."The Charest government is wrong in wanting to impose a "Wall to Wall" program of intensive English in sixth year, according to the Eric Caire of the CAQ.But "to impose a wall to wall model" as does the government may cause problems in some schools, he believes. Students with learning difficulties could be doomed to failure, especially." Link{Fr}
It seems that the CAQ has adopted an anti-English platform that is as bad as the PQ, minus the referendum.
It is in fact a humiliating disappointment.
While the CAQ has promised a new approach, their proposals now sound like the same wishy-washy drivel emanating from the Liberals and the PQ.
As for new proposals, the CAQ has recently backed off its hardline promises to reform Quebec society and tackle the problems of big government, union avarice and the public demand for entitlements.
A good example is the current issue of revolving strikes in the public daycare program.
While the public would support and embrace a total ban on job action, the CAQ has offered a tepid response, allowing the union to retain its right to strike, but declaring the sector an essential service, subject to limitations set out by the Conseil des services essentiels, a board that limits how far a union can go when striking in an industry determined as essential.
The board is charged with telling striking municipal workers how much snow to remove, or how much garbage to pick up and how many employees must remain on the job during a strike.
How would this work in the daycare industry?
Would the board allow one worker instead of three, mind the 16 children in a certain CPE or would they allow two out of three daycare centres to close down during a strike? Arrghh!.....
As for solving the current shortage of family doctors, the CAQ has proposed that every family doctor take on another 1,000 patients.
Poof, problem solved!
These ridiculous proposals demonstrate that the CAQ is an immature work in progress, it's party platform nothing more than a lick and a promise.
The party's erratic behavior and unrealistic policy declarations have Quebecers backing off.
And like the proverbially crucial second date, the flaws are fast becoming apparent.
Already, the party has plunged in popularity and now the three parties, the Libs, Pq and CAQ are all tied in the polls, a far cry from a couple of months ago, where the CAQ was far out in front.
Alas for we Anglos, there is nothing there for us.
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Next week the ever popular French versus English will return.
If you come across any stories or nuggets of information that might make the post more interesting, please drop me a line at anglomontreal@gmail.com
Even if you think the story will be sent in by someone else, please make an effort.
I cannot always devote the necessary time to ferret out all the stories, I have a job and sometime there are time constraints.
Please help!
Whatever modest success our blog achieves, it is in fact, reader based. Contribute!
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Here's something fun for the weekend....
It is the search device that tries to complete your thought when using the Google search box, sometimes with hilarious results.
Here's one that happened to me, which I swear I didn't Photoshop.
So go ahead, let's see how clever and original you are. Complete the following search items with a one word or a short phrase, English or French...
I look forward to your offerings in the comments section.
JUSTIN TRUDEAU _________________
JEAN CHAREST _________________
STEPHEN HARPER _________________
PAULINE MAROIS _________________
FRANCOIS LEGAULT _________________
FURTHER READING:
French versus English Volume 47
Have a great weekend!
My mom told me she wouldn't lie on an excuse note for my high school and wrote quite honestly that I took off class because I had EXPOS fever. I received no detention.
I sat on the 1st base line on a bridge chair because the stadium wasn't complete.
Memories......
I'm not good at sentimental claptrap, but Gary Carter remains a fixture in my Expos memories with the likes of Steve Rogers, Maury Wills, Rusty Staub, Bill Stoneman, Mack Jones, Don Clendenon and a myriad of other players who were my heroes.
Readers, who was the first player to hit a home run which landed in the swimming pool outside right field?
Most of you are too young to remember Gary, but if you do take a moment in the comments section to offer a kind word.....
