Monday, January 7, 2013

Bill 101- You Can't always Get What You Want

I am always amused by those who deem that it is not only reasonable but desirable to legislate social behaviour, as if personal choice is something repugnant, and that the public, like an untamed horse, needs to be whipped into submission and obedience for the greater societal good.

Much to the consternation of these social engineers, state intervention into social issues and personal choice seldom works. As Woody Allen told us about falling in love with his step-daughter,... The  heart wants what the heart wants.

Perhaps the best example of misguided social engineering is the desire by environmentalists to ban the sale of bottled water, despite the fact that people want to buy the product.
To social engineers, the product is stupid and environmentally wasteful and as such should be banned.
But what would be the reaction to such a ban?
Would consumers run to the water fountains instead?
Would they accept as an alternative, begging at the fast food counter for a Styrofoam cup of tepid tap water, in lieu of a sanitary and perfectly chilled bottle of purchased water?
The reality is that such a ban would probably increase the amount of soft drinks or juices sold, a disastrous and unintended consequence of deciding for others how they must act.

No society in North America compares with Quebec when it come to government social engineers telling citizens how they must act, think and function.  Front and center in the pursuit of state mandated behaviour is the foulest of all agencies, the Office québécois de la langue française, otherwise known as the OQLF.

Last week an article published in La Presse complained that certain retailers were contravening Bill 101 by not offering a French language website comparable to that offered in English. Link{Fr} .

The article named a few companies but particularly singled out Urban Outfitters because it services Canadian customers from an American website which is unilingually English, something that Bill 101 forbids. (or so the newspaper article concludes)

So why has the company not been fined or otherwise punished by the OQLF over the last four or five years?

Quite simply, (contrary to what the newspaper article tells us,) it is because the company hasn't  broken any law or regulation, much to the outrage of the OQLF, which is powerless to do anything about it.

Somewhere along the line, Urban Outfitters deemed it too expensive or inconvenient to open a website exclusively for francophone customers and as I told you before, Canadian customers are directed to the English website based in the USA.

In order to comply with Quebec law that demands that French customers be treated equally to English customers, Urban Outfitters decided (quite bizarrely) to treat English customers from Quebec as badly as it treats French customers!
What they have done, is to ban any online sales to Quebec from their English website, an embarrassing work-around copied and repeated by other American retailers.

If you go online to Urban Outfitters, don't bother trying to order something to a Quebec address, it isn't possible and for consumers, both English and French it is quite galling.

No QC -Quebec
Notwithstanding what La Presse or the OQLF says, Urban Outfitters is actually following the letter of the law, so what's the beef?

The problem is that it's a bit humiliating that the OQLF cannot force a company to offer French online shopping based on the fact that such a service is available to customers in California or Ontario.
So to retaliate, the OQLF, (instead of just admitting it is powerless,) has organized an underhanded intimidation and smear campaign, by falsely suggesting that Urban Outfitters is acting illegally.

CLICK photo to enlarge
Recently I received an offer from Costco in my inbox for a home telephone system at a substantial discount if I ordered online.
I was interested and went to the checkout page only to be informed that the product was not available in Quebec. The notice didn't say why, but I can imagine it was because the product did not have French instructions.
The same goes for Canadian online websites that have toys or other products that only interact in English, you have to buy them through US based online retailers.
Read my previous post  Buzz Lightyear -Parlez-vous Francais?

French language militants will tell you that this is only fair, that because a French customer cannot buy a product in French, an English customer shouldn't be allowed to buy the product in English...Hmm....

The politics of Bill 101 are strangely paradoxical, forcing some areas of the marketplace to comply with French language requirements while ignoring others.

Take for example, books, which may be sold in English in Quebec without a French version.
Why is this?
You may think that cultural products are exempt from the law, but Hollywood movies may not be shown in Quebec without a French dubbed version being available at the same time.
Not so for coffee house movies or foreign language movies (other than English) , probably because nobody cares.

How is it that Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift, aren't required to record French lyrics for Quebec?
Why do real cars have dashboards with English words only, yet toy cars must be French or bilingual at the least?

The truth is that if French were required in the above examples, Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift wouldn't bother selling their product in Quebec, a humiliating situation that the OQLF recognizes and avoids by remaining silent. By the way, even the English only packaging is allowed. 

As for cars, it would be easy enough to add French to the dashboard, but the car companies wouldn't pass off the added cost to customers across North America, the additional expense would be added to the sticker price in Quebec only, (like higher car prices in California because of tougher emission standards) making cars more expensive in Quebec than in Ontario, something francophone consumers would be up in arms over.

The reality is that the OQLF is fine with forcing French onto businesses as long as the additional cost of the French is passed on to the greater English market, as is the case with dubbed movies, which moviegoers across Canada pay for.
Could you imagine the outrage if theatres in Quebec charged an additional dollar or so for French language version movies versus their English counterparts, to reflect the added expense of dubbing?

These are the anomalies of Bill 101 that intrigue me. It is a law that does what it can to socially engineer society, but fails because of certain economic and social realities and constraints.

While Bill 101 tells French Quebecers and Allophones that they must attend French school as a child, it dares not forbid them from watching English TV or attending English language movies.
Believe me that there are militants out there who would see English TV and movies banned, just like the social engineers who want bottled water bottles gone from the marketplace.
Again, could you imagine the riot in front of a theatre, if ticket sellers refused entrance to Francophones attempting to watch an English film. It may sound North Korean, but it is done in our schools every day.

When it comes to online sales, the legal choice in Quebec is clear, retailers must offer equivalent French services or not offer them at all.
It is when companies choose the latter alternative that the hackles of the OQLF are raised and where in response the agency reacts with an calculated smear campaign that intimates that the retailers are acting illegally, a shameful practice unbecoming to any reputable government agency.

And so, the OQLF, the guardian of the French language has evolved into a slimy, deceitful and underhanded organization that is not averse to intimidation, misdirection, lying and coercion, when faced with the limitations of its own law.

Such is the lesson of Urban Outfitters.

For the OQLF, the choice by this company and other American retailers to forgo online sales because of French language requirements should be a choice to be respected, if not appreciated. In other words, tough noogies.

Unfortunately, like dirty cops, the OQLF enforces the law where it can and uses underhanded frame tactics where it can't.
What better example of going outside the law is the agency telling the public that even though certain bilingual practices (like greeting customers with a Bonjour/Hi) may be legal, they are socially unacceptable.
Here is a quote about bilingual greetings in stores, from Louise Marchand,  head of the OQLF;.
 "It is not a violation of the Charter, but it can contribute to the feeling that Montreal is anglicizedLink{Fr}
The effect of statements like these is to encourage French language militants to intimidate those who use English quite legally and to frighten company executives from offering English services as the law provides.

How many retailers have given up posting signs in English, even though the law allows for it, this even in towns and cities that are overwhelmingly English?

You know the answer as well as I.

178 comments:

  1. I think this article should be forwarded to the Foreign Policy Association, as well as many American TV outlets as is possible. Any volunteers?

    Editor, please post every link to American media that has come your way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Come to think of it, the fact Quebec is being snubbed is nothing new, and Quebec deserves any and every snub that comes its way. A buddy of mine (now living in Scotland for the last 22 years after leaving Quebec) lived with his Scottish-born wife in Laval for the first three years of her marriage. With her lack of French and heavy Scottish accent, she felt like a fish out of water, and when offered a voluntary severance package including moving his family and household effects anywhere in the world, he took the package and moved his family to Scotland.

      While still living here, he and his wife took a trip to Florida. They were approached by a Floridan selling condos, but when they said they were living in Montreal, the fellow said Quebec residents didn't qualify. I guess the message down there was "Ici on parle anglais"! Good for them.

      Similarly, I've seen contests where Quebec residents don't qualify. For several years, the Monopoly game promoted yearly by McD's was not promoted in Quebec because they didn't want to make the game pieces in French as well as the game cards. Even strictly Canadian contests exclude Quebec because in Quebec there is a tax on the prize money available (Régie des lotteries et courses du Québec). Instead of paying the taxes, they said screw Quebec. Good for them.

      A number of multinationals are going to court to get the OQLF monkey off their backs. Good for them.

      Over 300,000 non-Franco Quebecers over the last 40 years left Quebec to get the Quebec people off their backs. Good for them...present company included! Looks good on Quebec.

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    2. "For several years, the Monopoly game promoted yearly by McD's was not promoted in Quebec"

      Vraiment triste :(

      Delete
    3. @sauga

      "the fellow said Quebec residents didn't qualify. I guess the message down there was "Ici on parle anglais"! Good for them."

      really, you approve discrimination based solely on language? that's odd.

      "McD's was not promoted in Quebec because... (...) Good for them."

      less mcdonald's promo? what a blessing. you bet it was good for them!!!

      do you also have good examples, or do you only have these?

      Delete
    4. Mr. Sauga, don`t know if you missed it, but yesterday I pointed out to Cutie that Cuba was the only country I ever traveled to where I visited a resort and guess what? I heard a couple of Quebecois dudes whining about the Cubans NOT serving them in French.

      And I'm not the only one.

      A Latino friend of mine (brown skin) went to Cuba, always stays in resorts tells me he hears it all the time because Francophones assume that with his brown skin he's Cuban and couldn't possibly understand them.

      Delete
    5. Editor - If you need help in forwarding the post from the blog to anyone and can provide a list of addresses that are interested, I will assist by forwarding the blog to them. I was also wondering if you are going to publicize the e-mail from Howard Galganov concerning Equality Party Part 2 that I sent to you last month?

      Delete
    6. Editor, I know of someone who could distribute a press release to close to 50 press release sites. Just say the word and I'll put you through.

      Hell, I'll even write the press release, if you like.

      Just give me a response and we're good to go.

      Delete
    7. Thanks so much Resident. The more negative publicity the better for our cause.

      Delete
    8. "The more negative publicity the better for our cause."

      C'est quoi l'expression anglaise déjà?...Backward?

      Delete
    9. Equality Party 2.0 - Parti Égalité 2.0Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 12:55:00 AM EST

      Cutie... can you forward me Howard's Letter re the Equality Party????
      Use the Message feature from the Equality Party Facebook page, please.

      https://www.facebook.com/EqualityPartyPartiEgalite

      Thanks.

      Delete
    10. Done but please refrain from using my real name. Thank you.

      Delete
    11. Equality Party 2.0 - Parti Égalité 2.0Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 8:40:00 AM EST

      Got it... Thanks.... Cutie :)

      BTW... I also sent you a personal friend request.

      Delete
    12. Oh my I think I refused it because I didn't know the name. I'm not sure how to correct that. Do you know how to do it? Well you now have my e-mail address and name so if you send me another e-mail with your real name I will look you up on facebook and request a "friend" from there. I hope that works and I'm sorry for the trouble.

      Delete
    13. Was able to retrieve the "friend" request and we are now friends on facebook. Thanks again and we'll talk soon.

      Delete
  2. And you want to make a country out of THIS?

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  3. This blog piece is excellent. It is succinct and eloquently presents very à propos grievances and arguments.

    Because it is both informationally and politically relevant, it ought to be translated into French and forwarded to/copy-pasted in every major French-language Quebec media blog/outlet and militant group possible. (With, of course, a courteous credit to this, the original web site).

    Anybody up to the task?

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    Replies
    1. The part about the OQLF is really good, and again, shame on LaPresse for supporting this (ambiguously lawful) campaign for the "generiques".

      But the linkage with the environmental issues was weak. The pro-business bias of this blog is blatant, and the connections he makes sometimes between (underdog) anti-business initiatives and the (state-supported) nationalist movement of QC make me laugh. Especially this line: "The reality is that such a ban would probably increase the amount of soft drinks or juices sold, a disastrous and unintended consequence of deciding for others how they must act." How about this one: "The reality is that the lack of enforcement of descriptors would would increase the use of English in the consumer population frequenting Future Shops and Best Buys, a disastrous and unintended consequence of deciding for others how they must act".

      Next on the agenda: an SSJB rally against too much English on Ste-Catherine St. compared to a rally against BP drilling in The Gulf of Mexico, because people use cars and therefore enthusiastically support extraction of fossils and are therefore sickened by the arrogant campaigns against fossil extraction.

      Delete
    2. +1

      I wish I'd said it that well; I'll just second this.

      BTW I do however agree that the paragraphs on the OQLF are compelling and penetrative and revealing.

      The overall gist is really weakened by the lame "comparisons".

      "because people use cars"
      Exactly. "The consumer is always right," blah blah blah blah. Weak weak weak.

      I'm waiting to hear "Quebec MUST continue to export asbestos to developing countries, because in not doing so, we are denying the freedom and rights of the consumers who choose asbestos!" next. It's a funny definition of "freedom" and "rights" to my ears; one that puts the Editor in the same "social engineering" camp he claims to decry. "If the consumers and the market engineer society and the world in any given way, it is right and proper, since it is decided by the freedom and rights of those consumers".

      Delete
    3. Apparatchik, I'd agree with you that portions of this piece are excellent; it needs serious trimming to stand out as a whole.

      Delete
  4. FROM ED
    EDITOR, I'm disappointed. We have hashed the French bullying thing over and over. Everyone talks about it but they do nothing. I thought this site was going to fight the OQLF by contacting news media and corporations etc. Instead we waste a whole blog talking to trolls. When I ask please don't talk to trolls i am labeled a bully. I have been critisized for mentioning that my new keyboard would allow me
    to make less typos. This from the samw guy who chatted with trolls for the whole blog. Please make clear the rules of posting so we know what is or is not right. Ed

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    Replies
    1. Good point on this comment Ed (less so on your next). Little by little, I'm going to start divesting my time on this blog as it is getting too tedious. I confess I've been one of the major players on this blog, but I think I've written myself repeatedly where any loyal followers know my story. This endless bitching on this blog will go nowhere without taking it to the next level, and while I'm willing to do my part, as per the letter I sent to the Foreign Policy Association that the Editor published back on December 17th.

      I'll gladly lobby my MP here in Mississauga about the goings-on, but don't be surprised if she's not interested. I called about an issue I had personally twice back in October and again in November and never heard hide nor hare from anybody in her office. If there is anything I can do from this end, I'll be glad to, but I'm not making a special trip to Montreal for that protest on Feb 17th. I can alert people about it, but I'm hoping more information about it can be posted on this blog so I can pass the word on.

      But Ed, don't ask for John James "Goldilocks" Charest to do us ANY favours.

      Delete
    2. @sauga

      "This endless bitching on this blog will go nowhere..."

      thanks for acknowledging mate. cuties003 do you copy?

      Delete
    3. Editor: Please note that I too am getting pretty fed up with these trolls. Please consider an "ignore" option. It is very discouraging to have every second post filled with this junk from student, SR and Jean.

      Delete
    4. Ed, just let it go already with the keyboard hurt.

      You're beginning to sound as repetitive as the "Pfff-I'm-going-to-need-more-examples-than-that" schoolboy.

      Delete
  5. FROM ED
    Also since you know him well, could you get us an email address for Jean Charest where he would answer now. I'd like to start a group to get him to come back. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. **Moannnn**...Really, Ed!

      Delete
    2. @ed

      "I'd like to start a group to get him to come back."

      why?!?

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  6. Has anyone ever tried to fight the law with civil disobedience? I think it would be far more effective to fight Bill 101 if there were well publicized cases of people being fined or going to jail for such stupidity.

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    1. I agree Suzanne but wouldn't know where to start. So far I've contacted my MNA, stores, federal MPs, the PM. What would you suggest someone, anyone, do to fire this up? I don't own a business whereby I could piss off the OQLA and, for sure, if someone mouths off to me that I should speak french in a store or something, I'm ready to blow up, but I don't think they would cart me off to jail for that. I hope there is something that comes from the protest on February 17 that Hugo is arranging.

      Delete
    2. Suzanne, you're on the right track, there have to be strategies mounted to get there. Before I found this blog, quite by accident, I didn't think that the horrid reality that surrounds us with respect to our Rights and Freedoms being denied us was of any concequence to anyone, minorities and others alike. I have always maintained that we need to embarrass the helaouta them if we are to get anywhere. I have not confidence in government of any kind in that respect. Only when they are shown to the world for the bigot little nazi and dictators they are and the are internationally hubbled will they backtrack. Otherwise nothing will change. First and foremost there needs to be a raising of a level of consciousness in everyone and everyone has to buy into it, then you can go viral! We need to start putting our money where our mouth is...

      Delete
    3. Ed and I are doing as much as we possibly can to get word out there and publicize as much as possible. Everyone has to pitch in or nothing concrete will happen. Please everyone, do your part and pass out as much information as possible about how ridiculous these language bigots are and how much damage they are doing to this country.

      Delete
    4. "Before I found this blog, quite by accident, I didn't think that the horrid reality that surrounds us..."

      Hahahahahaha!...Ne lisez plus ce blogue alors...Hahahahaha!

      Delete
    5. @anectote

      "I didn't think that the horrid reality that surrounds us with respect to our Rights and Freedoms being denied us was of any concequence to anyone, minorities and others alike."

      you did not think something horrid had consequences?!?!!? maybe it wasn't so horrid then. too easy bro.

      Delete
    6. I have always maintained that we need to embarrass the helaouta

      Nationalists (of any stripe, anywhere in the world) are already embarrassing themselves without realizing it; I don't know any better way to snap them out of it than more embarrassment.

      Delete
    7. @ student

      Yeah, you know what…’bro’…we’re not gonna go another 3 rounds of the 'sky is blue the sky Is green'…the sky IS blue…and skydiving without a parachute will get you killed…PERIOD. We’ve established all of this already, you slow? Some noteworthy advise: sit you’re a&& down, shut the f…up and maybe you’ll pick up a thing or two. Perhaps even some greatly needed survival skills so you won’t auto-combust or self-implode the next time you’re out there, and generously provided to you by fellow bloggers; (minus S.R. cause he’s a moron and a useless appendage, a lot like that round thing full of air sitting on his neck and not doing him any good. He couldn’t teach a corpse to play dead.)

      Delete
    8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    9. Cutie... the demonstration on the 17th is being put on by the Unity group, and the PutBacktheFlag.com page > http://www.putbacktheflag.com/ <... Sorry, Hugo, though a member of Unity, has nothing to do with the organization of the demonstration. Just thought you should know. Others are working very hard on this.

      :)

      Delete
    10. Thank you so much - no, I thought it was by Hugo. Great to know that there are other groups out there working towards the same end. Will check out the Website.

      Delete
    11. Went to the website but couldn't find an area where I could join - is there such a thing on there or just a "like" option (which I did). Thank you.

      Delete
    12. I am not the only soldier, nor leader in the push-back :)
      PutBackTheFlag.com 's creator and many others are working together to fix this province, whether the language hawks like it or not. We are all working together, since many hands make light work.

      BTW, please check out the latest Urbania Magazine (Urbania.ca Anglo Special)
      Have a great day everyone!

      Hugo

      Delete
    13. FROM ED
      ANECTOTE, What you've said is right on.


      " Only when they are shown to the world for the bigot little nazi and dictators they are and the are internationally humbled will they backtrack. Otherwise nothing will change. First and foremost there needs to be a raising of a level of consciousness in everyone and everyone has to buy into it, then you can go viral! We need to start putting our money where our mouth is..."

      i agree one hundred percent. let's start informing North America what's happenng. I think it would be a coup if we could get something published in a Paris newspaper. Ed

      Delete
    14. It was my misunderstanding Hugo - I thought the rally on 17 Feb about Bill 14 was to be put on by your group but have been informed that "PutBacktheFlag" is organizing the event. Makes me feel hopeful that there are numerous organizations out there that are now fighting back against these language zealots. I so hope there is a really large turnout and that the weather is decent on that Sunday. Thank you all again.

      Delete
    15. @Ed

      You’ve come over to the dark side...I’m impressed...humbled really! ...Truce?

      Just to re-iterate my point that you brought up again, (and I hope Editor indulges me along and fellow bloggers, since I may go off topic); if we consider the recent appalling rape of the young student and the assault of her friend on that bus in India which occurred a few weeks ago, we know absolutely without a shadow of a doubt that this kind of abusive& oppressive attitude towards women has gone on forever in that country without any real effective or sincere intervention by government to remedy such criminal behavior. Unfortunately for them, this atrocious event went viral, first with protests by Indian citizens and then with every single news agency worldwide clenching its teeth on this story and not allowing it to go away day after day after week. The powers that be in India, in the face of such public outrage left them embarrassed and humiliated, and had no choice but to act; thus they quickly and expeditiously went after the perpetrators to render justice. Not to mention that irreparable financial repercussions must have also been foremost on their minds. Things like this lead to boycotts you know? I’m also convinced that vacationers will not be flocking in droves to go see the Taj Mahal this summer. I know I’m turned off.

      Closer to home, Chief Spence’s hunger strike is not doing Harper any favors internationally either. Who would have thought something like this could happen in Canada, a hunger strike by an Indian Chief in a country that professes to be just, peaceful, friendly, and democratic to the core. How’s that for a nice bucket of cold water all over our national pride.

      My point being, that no government will give its populace the time of day, unless they are forced to, and I don't mean during election campaigns. The most effective way, and sad to say, is by publically embarrassing and humbling them by shining a big huge spotlight on the pimples of injustice they try to propagate. They will never back down otherwise.

      We need to begin with changing the rhetoric for what’s happening here. It’s not about Language, it’s about our Rights and Freedoms, this is the message that has to be repeated, because this is the truth.

      Lastly, I wouldn’t contact anyone in Paris. But perhaps those big retailers who have decided to fight undemocratic lawsin court would appreciate hearing from you. We’ve heard of protest marches, but what about sympathy marches? That may be a good place to start. I am sure they would love to hear...so what can WE do for you??
      Savy?

      Delete
  7. FROM ED
    Ya know Mr.Sauga I'm getting fed up with your hatred of Charest and the Liberals. Commonsense should tell you that there is no other choice. A new party will not win an election the first time. The CAQ and PQ by your own admission are not even worth considering. So stop telling us won't worrk and tell us what will. If you have no other suggestions, closing the only door we have is no help at all. Ed

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ed - Mr. Charest will never come back - he does not have to so why should he? We have to lobby the new liberal leader whenever chosen or back a new Equality Party should one start up. No choice here. Mr. Sauga - thank you again for any assistance you can provide from outside quebec. It's appreciated by myself and others.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Very good piece, Editor. It's an informative and well-sourced look at the state of affairs in terms of language, culture and law in Quebec, and I think that your description of the OQLF's frustration hit the nail on the head.

    I think that pisses language militants and nationalists off the most is when they're forced to realize that Quebec really isn't as important in terms of the global economy and international scene as they'd like to think, and that no one is ever going to bend to their will.

    They expect to have the sort of imposition of their will outside of Quebec as the Americans do with their foreign policy, which is laughable.

    ReplyDelete
  10. un gars bien sympathique de calgaryMonday, January 7, 2013 at 9:20:00 AM EST

    I flew in Montreal as a surprise to my parents on boxing day. I took them shopping on the 27th when I decided to go visit the "Carrefour Dix/30". Well I was quite surprised by the high number of english speaking folks (shoppers and workers)outside of the island of Montreal. I believe that even though one has to endure the rigidity of bill 101, the language cops, the PQ, the xenophobic pure laines, etc well things are in reality not that bad for anglo quebeckers IMHO. BTW at Trudeau airport as many english could be heard spoken as french, so...
    I would assess that many here may over dramatize the current language situation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not about language. ALL ABOUT RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

      Delete
    2. "ALL ABOUT RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS"

      Très abstrait comme revendication mais je vous le souhaite quand même pour 20...heu disons 58

      Delete
  11. Again, if you don't live here you do not see the day to day insidious affects brought on by these language militants such as store signage, refusal of clerks to communicate in english even though you speak to them in english and you know they understand, and on and on it goes including telling pharmacies to pass out health instructions in french only for God's sake, endangering people's lives. Coming for a visit you would not even notice these things so please don't tell us we over dramatize our situation. Count yourself lucky that you no longer live here and enjoy your life in Calgary. Just because we're not shot on the street yet for speaking english, doesn't mean that things aren't getting worse and worse in this hole.

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    1. un gars bien sympathique de CalgaryMonday, January 7, 2013 at 9:43:00 AM EST

      "Just because we're not shot on the street yet for speaking english, doesn't mean that things aren't getting worse and worse in this hole"
      ----------------
      Over dramatized.
      Why do you choose to live in a hole, cutie? If I were you I would move to Kingston, a beautiful city only 3 hours away. Plus since you are here at all hours of every day, I suspect you are unemployed. More jobs in Kingston. A change in scenery can do wonders for any bitter, disillusioned person:)
      Only trying to be helpful... and this is from a Quebecois expat that is not narrow minded. I still think that there are zero reasons to live in Montreal myself; my recent visit proved that. I can't even tolerate my own franco-quebecois society. In fact they are so worldly inept.

      Delete
    2. "...refusal of clerks to communicate in english even though you speak to them in english and you know they understand..."

      Pour ma part,quand c'est une jolie cliente anglophone qui entre dans mon commerce,je deviens bilingue.Elles adorent le French accent...

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    3. mdr Mec, tu es un salaud!

      Delete
    4. "Pour ma part,quand c'est une jolie cliente anglophone qui entre dans mon commerce..."

      You're a friggin' liar, S.R. You have been posting comments to this blog at all hours of the day, virtually every day, for several years. You can't possibly be working.

      Delete
  12. This is not a choice - reasons to remain here but wish there weren't - I would be gone also. Retired - that's why I can respond day or night so employment is something that doesn't help my situation. I don't consider myself bitter; pissed off with being forced out of my home by language militants as anyone in their right mind would be. Being pushed around by these bullies pisses me off; again normal human response. Don't mind you trying to be helpful but circumstances have trapped me here so I have no choice but to fight back with all the tools at my disposal.

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    1. un gars bien sympathique de calgaryMonday, January 7, 2013 at 10:33:00 AM EST

      I wished not to appear belligerent towards anyone in particular. I am a french canadian guy that left Quebec by choice to seek better opportunities out of province, mainly due to issues with the Quebecois ideologies of the left, which sacrifices economic potentials for the senseless socialist "betterment" of the connectivity for a "projet de societe" that will much sooner than later suffer Greece style collapse and then riots followed by austerity measures and under employment. Shitty situation to be in...
      Since you are retired, try to enjoy your life in Quebec from a tactical mindset; do not look at the bigger picture. Enjoy yourself and your family/friends. Don't mind the losers that give a bad name to Quebec. Cheers!

      Delete
    2. "...the senseless socialist "betterment" of the connectivity for a "projet de societe"..."

      doesn't make any sense. maybe you should revisit your reasoning. might well be flawed.

      Delete
  13. For far too long, we have let this situation deteriorate and I refuse to be part of the silent majority any longer. That is why I joined this blog: to fight back against these bigots and to regain our rights and freedoms in this country of Canada. I will no longer be silent and let them walk all over me as they wish.

    ReplyDelete
  14. un gars bien sympathique de calgaryMonday, January 7, 2013 at 11:20:00 AM EST

    Best of luck then, we all pick our battles.
    I am mostly apolitical and when I do not like some situation I refuse to be negative or miserable. Calgary works for me.
    For sure not one single federal MP or minister will ever help the anglos in Quebec. Just a fact.

    ReplyDelete
  15. “misguided social engineering” You are far to polite when you use this term.

    The truth, the facts are that all of this anti-English language, anti- anything but French (metis) nonsense that’s been going on in Kebec for decades is really racism, bigotry, hatred, xenophobia…pure 100% hate.

    The Liberals, PQ and all the other corrupt Qlue, Qlux, Qlan members that run the province can use what ever terms they want to defend this type of hatred, but bills 22, 178, 101…is all about hate. This is why a million of us have left the province and will never return; this is why the province is broke, if filled with corruption…a cesspool of hate, bigotry, slime, sleaze and corruption.

    The only hope, the only solution is to partition the province and let it destroy itself before it destroys and bankrupts the rest of the country. Forced French (disguised as bilingualism) only outside Kebec, code for government jobs for the french…the hypocrisy is just sickening…

    What an expensive joke.

    We are sick and tired of our money being funnelled into this racist province. You have no idea how fed up we are outside kebec. We have had it!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why is it important to point out that the Quebecers are really métis, unless you think that somehow diminishes them?

      Incroyable, Yannick nous a joint! Et je suis d'accord avec toi ici...
      Ecoute, il faut absolument que je laisse ce siteweb, mais je suis bien content d'avoir échangé quelques mots avec toi. Bonne chance toujours, frangin. jasonbogreen@gmail.com si jamais tu te trouve a La Grande Fumée.

      Delete
  16. FROM ED
    We have known for years that Quebec is PERSONA NON GRATA on the North American stage. There have been ads on Ebay and other places on line that say not available in Quebec.
    Suzanne, I think that any kindof civil disobediance would be used by the PQ to show how criminal Anglos are. I feel proud that Anglo kids did not walk the streets banging pots.
    The best is to get outside media help. I forwarded the EDITOR'S last Blog "Anus Horribilus" to Cnn's Jack Cafferty They want as much material as we can supply. I'm hoping we won't even have to go that far. The letter I sent to P.M. Harper actually threatened to embarrass him through outside media.
    I don't know if that is considered sedition, butif a lot more would do it, he will realize it's seriousness. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "There have been ads on Ebay and other places on line that say not available in Quebec."

      wtf? you have a link then, if it's on ebay?

      "any kindof civil disobediance would be used by the PQ to show how criminal Anglos are..."

      was ghandi a criminal ed?

      "I feel proud that Anglo kids did not walk the streets banging pots."

      on the contrary i think it's a shame as it only shows they swallow the liberal party's lines as naively as their parents do.

      Delete
    2. why don't you idiots go to a seppies blog and pat them on the head. God, I hope the Editor puts a stop to you, SR and Jean or gives us an ignore button soon. Go to f--- away!

      Delete
    3. Je crois que les commentaires de Student sont tout à fait raisonnables,parcontre votre sale caractère et vos propos antidémocratiques n'insitent personne à joindre votre éventuel parti.

      Delete
    4. @cutie003

      yes, right, sure.

      but about ebay, ghandi and the sheep flock anglo kids, cutie003? any thoughts?

      Delete
    5. "I don't know if that is considered sedition, but if a lot more would do it, he will realize it's seriousness."

      Ed, I wouldn't be too worried about sedition. Quebec separatists have been committing sedition and treason for decades without any consequences.

      Delete
    6. For sure Durham. Was also thinking e.g. if they start sending my income tax forms or my house tax forms in french only, the age old adage of "no taxation without representation" is a form of civil disobedience. Another way to get our message out.

      Delete
    7. I agree James - time to partition this place and throw the rest to hell out - can't wait!

      Delete
    8. "I agree James - time to partition this place and throw the rest to hell out - can't wait!"

      Ain't gonna happen, Mignonette. Au moins, sans un référendum disant 'Oui'. Yawn.

      Delete
    9. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    10. FROM ED
      TROY, Thanks for picking me up on that. I hope no one thoughht I was calling them a bad name. Ed

      Delete
    11. @ Ed

      I would also try Bill Maher my personal hero!

      Delete
  17. Sorry Ed - I think civil disobedience will show we have some stuff for a change instead of being walked over constantly by these bigots. If anyone has the opportunity to do this I'm all for it. I don't care what the PQ say anymore - they will always try to make us look bad no matter what we do. I also think this will help us show any federalist party that is in power that we expect them to stand up for our rights and freedoms. Publicity of any kind is great at this point in time and I don't care how we get it (short of supporting Mr. Bain of course).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "...federalist party that is in power that we expect them to stand up for our rights and freedoms"

      À force de le répéter 10X par jour,vous allez peut-être finir pas y croire :)

      Malheureusement...Vous serez la seule :(

      Delete
    2. @cutie003

      "we expect them to stand up for our rights and freedoms."

      which right cutie003? you said earlier you don't have a shop, so it can't be the thing about english posters in your window. so what is it?

      Delete
    3. un gars bien sympathique de CalgaryMonday, January 7, 2013 at 4:09:00 PM EST

      No one will ever stand up for Quebec Anglos. Never. Not a federal party, not a provincial party. No one. Besides the situation would be way too sensitive for any political party to act. Besides, the west want to kick out Quebec. Ontario doesn't care either way: they are in a fragile economic situation. Seems to me that Anglos in la belle province were effectively abandoned by the ROC. Just a fact, sorry.

      Delete
    4. I know we like to go on and on about this whole...let’s kick Quebec out bit, and Quebec (well the few extremist clowns at the helm and fellow supporters) wanting out, the truth is that this great country we call Canada is comprised of provinces and territories. These are like fingers on a hand and if you cut one off, it’ll hurt. I truly believe this. Quebec, though it may be high maintenance, richly adds to the Canadian landscape, in every shape and form. Canada just wouldn’t be the same without it. I think it wouldn’t take long for the rest of the country to fall apart, as would Quebec if it were to leave on its own. I don’t think the 'Siamese twins' would survive the separation, too many organs in common in despite of themselves. I think many share this point of view.

      I think many of us, inside and outside Quebec take Canada for granted, this is too bad. The results of what having had a country is like and then losing it, is just a tv clicker away. We are all aware of what is happening in Syria are we not?

      I think that people like ‘un gars’, rather than indulging in self-loathing for being a Quebecer and now pandering a holier-than-though attitude for having left, possesses a real opportunity ...to be, ..well ..one can say...an ambassador for this province ....out there as an 'expat' in Alberta...just sayin’..un gars.

      A Country, ...a safe and peaceful one is a precious thing to have and it deserves to be preserved. Its Democracy deserves to be preserved.

      If you never heard of Jowi Taylor and don’t know who he is, or perhaps were never fortunate enough to hear one of his speeches/presentation, let me invite you to visit the links below. As Canadians, this is who we should aspire to be. I think his wonderful initiative is something to emulate.

      http://www.sixstringnation.com/

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZtajOWrUHQ

      Finally, with the New Year upon us still, let me leave you with this old Chinese adage:

      “May you get everything that you wish for, careful what you wish for”

      Delete
  18. This weblog just Jumped the Shark for me:

    "Would they accept as an alternative, begging at the fast food counter for a Styrofoam cup of tepid tap water, in lieu of a sanitary and perfectly chilled bottle of purchased water?"

    "Tepid tap water" vs "sanitary bottled water", please.

    Equating some environmentalists with a blind and blinkered nationalist movement is really lame.

    Editor, I find you compelling as a writer; we all have our off days, but this is beneath you.

    Instead of an Ignore button, how about a Focus On & Encourage button? I'd like to see more (much more) from Apparatchik and adski and Yannick and The Cat. Why don't you four co-author a webjournal site? Many blogs have multiple contributors. I get a lot out of Apparatchik and adski's cosmopolitan, anti-nationalist views, and I'm frequently sent to google to look up their references and learn more. I enjoy being challenged by these people a great deal.

    Unbelievable. "Tap water is unsanitary in Canada"... grow up. And people here think only francophones need to "get out more". Sheesh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ok, how about "tapwater tastes like shit"? Better? I happily drink tapwater at home but only after it has sat in the fridge for a few hours. Tapwater directly out of the faucet is nasty. Drinking water out of a disposable plastic bottle is no more evil than drinking Coke out of a disposable plastic bottle. Drinking soda is exactly what you will drive people to do if you outlaw bottled water.

      Delete
    2. Just to add to your point, tap water is regularly tested by the government in Canada. There is no uniform testing of bottled water in Canada.

      Delete
    3. However, banning bottled water is idiocy.

      Delete
    4. tap water is regularly tested by the government in Canada. There is no uniform testing of bottled water in Canada

      Exactly; yet Editor finds it "unsanitary". I can't believe I ever read this blog.

      Delete
    5. @ Jacques Beau Vert "Exactly; yet Editor finds it "unsanitary".

      When you criticize someone, it is horribly dishonest to ascribe to that person a quote that he never made. Sadly, you do this regularly.

      When you put a word or a phrase in double "quotations," it means you are directly quoting someone. I defy you show where I ever said tap water was unsanitary. I did say it was "tepid" which I stand by.
      The tap water in my own home is also tepid and so I put it in a Brita and then in the refrigerator.
      It is really all about temperature, but as usual, you entirely miss the point.

      Get your game up, you appear foolish.

      Delete
    6. FROM ED
      It's not the water they want to get rid of. It's the unbiodegradable plastic containers. Millions piling up everywhere, nonrefundable. Ed

      Delete
  19. Replies
    1. "Student" never use capital letters.

      Delete
    2. On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur… except in student's case where it is blatantly displayed on a daily basis how little he knows about the world outside his little fantasy of a "pure laine Québecois"-only society. I suppose we ought to deliberately misspell his heroes names as Raynay Laveck and Poleen Marwaw to minimise his feeling of embarrassment.

      Delete
    3. Oui, mais on peut taper le vrai nom d'un homme si reconnu sans les majuscules, S.R. ;-)

      Delete
    4. @all

      i meant gandhi. sorry about that.

      Delete
  20. I think he means Gandhi. And some would say yes. Winston Churchill was said that (quoting from memory here), "Hitler and Gandhi are the two greatest evils threatening mankind".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha I know that quote from Churchill!!

      Yes, he means Gandhi.

      But, er, actually, Gandhi WAS a (loud and proud) criminal.... ask any of the police who arrested him, or Jawaharlal Nehru. Or MLK.

      Delete
    2. @joseph

      so? when are you gonna tell us what you think about this quote?

      @jacques

      and what crimes did gandhi commit already?

      Delete
    3. What do I think about the quote? It shows Churchill to be the pompous prejudiced idiot that he was.

      Gandhi committed many crimes against the state. He eventually won because those laws and eventually the state that created them lost all credibility.

      Delete
    4. "He eventually won because those laws and eventually the state that created them lost all credibility."

      That kind of reminds me of what is happening in Quebec...

      Delete
  21. A number of commenters above have mentioned civil disobedience. Personally, I am surprised no one has tried the hunger strike approach a la "Idle No More". Get a group together announce a hunger strike and let it play out. The key is to first demand something simple like a meeting with the Premiere and then constantly move the goal posts once you achieve that objective — then repeat as necessary (just like the students).

    Personally, I don't believe that the English is seriously oppressed so don't look at me. I would be more eager to join a hunger strike to protest the tax rate in Quebec.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Personally, I don't believe that the English is seriously oppressed so don't look at me. I would be more eager to join a hunger strike to protest the tax rate in Quebec.

      Hahahaha.

      I don't see (despite multiple requests) any real oppression of French; I don't see it regarding English either. It's been eating at my a couple weeks, reading this site. Honestly, what is everyone so freaking ticked off and angry about??? Quebec is a fun place, except that so many people are so P.O.'d about life there. I get, believe me, that the OQLF is petty and bullying and mean-spirited, and I know on a bad day it could drive me as angry as it does Mr. Sauga. But ultimately, I may sound like an idiot in French, but I can understand and read and figure things out. I've wanted to understand, but I've kind of given up on attaining that goal....

      Delete
    2. I'm sure it's just great for you because you're FRENCH. No one is deliberately exterminating your right to receive normal correspondence, bills, health care assistance, grocery information on labels, menus in restaurants and I could go on and on. If you live in quebec you don't care that the market value of your house sinks by $30,000 to $50,000 or more on an election night because you intend to keep residing here so you don't care if you can sell it or not. If you don't reside here, you are bilingual and are not having any problems at all. If you don't like where you live, you sell and move on. We are not that fortunate here because NO ONE WANTS TO MOVE HERE! There is no one to buy our homes! High taxes and no one wants you because your not pur laine even if you do speak french. What you have to understand is the term DELIBERATE EXTERMINATION OF YOUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS TO LIVE IN ONE OF THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF CANADA. Do you understand better now?

      Delete
    3. un gars bien sympathique de CalgaryMonday, January 7, 2013 at 6:53:00 PM EST

      Cutie, you are very certainly losing credibility. Many immigrants move to Quebec. Hey, some even buy homes. You need help. Please seek it. That you use the word EXTERMINATION is mean spirited on your part. You must be the most frustrated, misinformed and pig headed person on the net. Move to Ontario already.

      Delete
    4. Boy are you misinformed. The only help I need is for other federalists to start fighting back and extermination is exactly what I mean. I see it everyday where I live thank you. Many immigrants that move to quebec leave after a year or so because they are not accepted either. You have obviously lived in Calgary for such a long time that you do not see what goes on here. Please refrain from telling me what to do as that makes you just another separatist and that is exactly what they are deliberately out to achieve. People like yourself justify their actions and leave federalists like myself frustrated trying to make you understand what life is really like here on a daily basis. My credibility is not your concern.

      Delete
    5. @ un gars bien sympathique de Calgary

      I won't bother with using my or some of my friends' cases as examples - we are several 'drops' in a cup, but it seems that the overall trend for successful Quebec immigrants is to leave in too-big-numbers (by successful I mean business-people or employed with a high-salary, fluent in Fr and En, highly-educated).

      Here are a few sources:

      Globe and Mail: "A common criticism of immigration policies that, like Quebec’s, value language over skills is that they bring in people whose abilities do not match what the economy needs."
      http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/new-canadians-love-quebec-but-theyre-leaving-it/article6673482/?page=all

      Macleans: 6 out of 10 business-class immigrants landing in Quebec are leaving for other provinces, taking their money and entrepreneurship with them:
      http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/01/19/youre-leaving-already/

      ... and my favourite, from The Wall Street Journal: about half of the immigrants from France are going back within 8 years of arrival.
      Besides the culture shock, here are a few other reasons: "Quebec is described as a matriarchal society ("Feministan") with failing infrastructures ("Kebekistan"). The Quebeckers are described as "intolerant racists" who speak an outdated and incorrect language, bask in their own ignorance and suffer from an inferiority complex that results in a loathing of "maudits Français" ("damned French").

      http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118680079272894989.html



      Delete
    6. TS a évidemment un problème avec les femmes,pour ce qui est des "maudits Français",je crois observer ici et ailleurs,que les anglosaxons ne sont évidemment pas en amour avec les Français (de France)non plus :)

      Delete
    7. "TS a évidemment un problème avec les femmes" ... and you came to this conclusion from where exactly?

      Delete
    8. L'expression "Feministan" en dit plus que vous ne le croyez.

      Delete
    9. Don't bother TS. Those articles you just posted are way over his head.

      He doesn't have a job or money and therefore, you can't expect him to understand the concept of trade and commerce.

      Delete
    10. "He doesn't have a job or money and therefore, you can't expect him to understand the concept of trade and commerce."

      Je ne suis pas un expert en anglais aussi j'aimerais que quelqu'un de plus compétent m'explique cette affirmation ou me dise simplement si elle a un sens.

      Delete
    11. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    12. S.R, sweetheart,

      as a woman myself, I don't have a problem with other women, more than the next one.

      I just posted a quote from the article stating the issues brought forward by the French immigrants (as in French from France). Hint - the use of "...". Try to keep up.

      Delete
    13. This is silly. I am primarily an anglophone who moved to Montreal from other parts of Canada. I came to attend McGill, liked the city and decided to stay. I know plenty like myself.

      While I am disturbed by some of the policies and dogma of Quebec nationalism hyperbole from the other direction only lessens your argument.

      Delete
    14. @TS

      "S.R, sweetheart..." Hummm,love it...Yess honey?

      OK,i'll try to keep up :)

      Delete
    15. Aurais-je raté une croustillante réplique de Diablotin?

      Pauvre petit,j'imagine qu'il a encore vomi des flammèches :)

      Delete
  22. I agree putting a recycling bin beside public garbage pails would be an easy but affective solution. The best kind are the recycling bins that have the separate holes for the different materials. I love those ones. I wish I could find one at a shop somewhere. Recycling would be a lot faster that way.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Yannick, would you support a new bill that would also require the use of English on all signs in Quebec? The way the law is set up makes it seem discriminatory to me because it only requires the use of french on signs, not bilingual signs. It makes it seem like french is more important than english in Quebec. Many businesses in Quebec cater to predominantly or exclusively anglo customers, but they're forced to deal with spending extra money and time to make sure they have french signs which they often wouldn't even need.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Avant de partir, je voudrais saluer S.R., de loin le meilleur commentateur ici.

    Si un écrivain qui garde un cybercarnet voudrait attirer les commentateurs qui poussent des autres a y participer, S.R. est un bijou, et il faut qu'il soit réconnu ainsi.

    Je ne suis pas trop confortable avec le terme "troll", ça donne toujours une impression negative, et souvent ces "trolls" ne sont pas que ceux qui aperçevoit une tendence humaine a répondre dans une façon particuliere, soit que ce soit. Ils existent au monde réel aux parties, aux soirées, dans beaucoup de conversations, paisiblement assez. Sur l'Internet ils deviennent de plus en plus grands dans les yeux des autres, ceux qui desormais les appellent "trolls", tandis qu'en "real life", ces "trolls" sont souvent apprécié comme des "jokers".

    Tout ce qu'il fasse, S.R., est de simplement puiser les fédéralistes pour leurs sentiments qu'ils voudraient exprimer en haut voix. Est S.R. vraiment si méchant que ça? C'est un bon diable, selon moi.

    Prenons Mignonette; elle aime a, non, elle adore a, non, elle s'affole de crier contre les séparatistes. Pourrait-elle en faire si facilement sans S.R.? Il la donne toujours, toujours, toujours la scene ou elle peut mettre en scene ses pensées et ses sentiments. Elle aime a étre entourée par les séparatistes parce que c'est la vie qu'elle connait mieux, et elle aime sa vie. Elle préfere ça.

    S.R. agaçe souvent beaucoup de gens, mais ces gens AIMENT d'être agacé par les séparatistes, c'est pour ca qu'ils ne faillisse jamais a mordre sur le crochet de S.R.

    Je ne me moque pas de Mignonette; pas de tout. Et je ne me moque non plus de S.R., je suis absolument sérieux. Il fourni les féderalistes et anglophones facheux l'occasion de s'exprimer de tout qu'ils ont en tête.

    C'est vrai qu'il ne vient jamais a contribuer a un débat sérieux, même s'il y avait été des occasions ou il nous a donné un tres bonne réplique. Il vient pour qu'il puisse s'amuser en chatouillant ceux qui aiment sa façon de chatouiller. J'ai été vraiment fasciné par son style; si le mot est "troll" ou "joker", peu importe. Le "joker" de moi est le "troll" d'une autre. A chacun son goût.

    S.R., je t'ai démandé de me contacter si tu en avait envie; je comprends que tu n'en avait pas. C'est la vie. J'ai apprécié ton style unique. Je te remercie de m'amuser avec tes chatouillements. J'avoue qu'au début tu m'as blessé en insultant mon français, mais peu a peu, je me rendait compte qu'en fait t'es tres malin, presque un génie (surtout: "fédarastes". Mon dieu que ca me fait sourire encore aujourd'hui, tres bien pensé. Je sais que je ne suis pas encore parfait en français, mais sois rassuré que je m'améliore un peu chaque semaine. En fait, en dépit d'etre un mauvais commentateur sur le site, je suis écrivain et j'esperait que tu m'aider a corriger mes erreurs (beaucoup) en français, mais je comprends completement que t'as une vie, et que je ne puisse jamais être si amusant que Pas De Chiens Ni Anglophones. Tu me manqueras un peu, S.R., même si nous ne nous avons jamais rencontrer face a face; t'es un "joker" bien apprécié. Je dit tout ce en esperant que le Rédacteur n'effacera pas mes mots; et je dit tout ce en sachant que je ne gâcherai pas le joke. J'ai remarqué plusieurs fois que j'étais sûr que tu plaisantais, et tout le monde m'ignorais, malgré le fait qu'ils m'ont lu. Bonne chance avec tes chatouillements a venir.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bien reçu Jacques,merci.

      Surprenant tout de même qu'un non francophone saisisse la subtilité du "néologisme" fédéraste mais ce n'est pas de moi,je l'ai vu ailleurs,je ne sais où.

      Bravo!Tu progresses...In French

      Delete
    2. @ Jacques-whatever-your-name-is

      Don't let the door hit your a&& on the way out.

      And FYI ...your little ‘bromance’ happens to be with one of the most despicable, unforgivably racist & xenophobic pieces of utter crap. Congrats,.... says a lot ‘bout you. GOOD RIDDENS!

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    4. « Jaloux » ?!?!?... LOL ... tu présumes beaucoup, et tu n'as aucun sens de l'odorat. Rien d’autre à ajouter.

      Delete
  25. @Jean Naimard The chance of me and most of the people on this sight being Anglo Saxon are slim to none. I could be oriental or Scandinavian , my parents came in the late 20s from western Ukraine but you pure wool (joke),a little Indian blood, no Indian blood, what makes you pure, as far as I am concerned you on the other hand have a better chance of being Anglo, Saxon or Anglo-Saxon, with those guys crossing the channel and warring for hundreds of years.
    Culture; I guess you do not watch French TV. Star Académie American songs sung in the original language, American movies and TV shows dubbed into French etc. it is a north American culture. The difference between you and me is that I speak 4 languages and you 2 maybe more giving you the benefit of the doubt. Welcome to the 21st century.
    Get to know your history not what the elite are teaching no no no. What happened on the ground, how the elite and white French catholic church separated us. Three school systems,2 catholic(1 for white French Canadian catholic,1 for other Catholics) and 1 protestant. You are aware that there are white French Canadian protestants that where not allowed to go to French catholic schools but I doubt if you give a damn.
    If a man’s next meal depends on him not understanding, he will not understand.

    Adski it takes a big man to admit his ignorance not knowing Staples

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many years ago when I had a part-time job while going to CEGEP and university, a woman in my department was a Hugonot, i.e., French mother-tongued, but Protestant. She was as Québécois «pur laine» as any Catholic, but because she wasn't Catholic, she had no choice but to go to an English instructional school like tous «les autres» (i.e., non-Catholics).

      Bourassa's Bill 22 finally created the need for French Protestant schools, but prior to 1974, there was absolutely no such thing. People born in Quebec after 1970 can't conceptualize this. My parents were born in the 1910s and 20s, and when they told me knowing French wasn't necessary when they were growing up is something I cannot completely fathom, even though I experienced the former paradox.

      Whitey: Quebec is a composite of paradoxes.

      Delete
  26. All that to say that "social engineering" is not only sometimes desireable, it's often necessary.... such as fighting against alcoholism, smoking, drug use, spread of sexual diseases, addiction to gambling...... when we forbid establishments to discriminate on race, religion, sex or orientation.


    Exactly.

    It's only "the evil of social engineering" when the Editor doesn't dig it.

    ReplyDelete
  27. @edm

    "It makes it seem like french is more important than english in Quebec."

    i think it is more important than english edm. four times more important. just numbers you know. sorry about that. (dont get me wrong, i'm not saying english is not important. not at all.)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Is it adequate to force businesses in English-only communities like Shawville and Knowlton to put French signs up when absolutely no one in those communities will benefit from it?

    ReplyDelete
  29. @edm

    "...to force businesses in English-only communities like Shawville and Knowlton to put French signs up..."

    yeah i think it's fair. after all, they are not english only. 85% for shawville and 47% (!!) for knowlton.

    ReplyDelete
  30. The same logic can be used for places like Chicoutimi- what if an anglophone visits there? Do you see where I'm coming from? Bill 101 is unnecessary and should be repealed completely.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Editor,

    I may be splitting hair, but the obligation to serve on-line customers in Quebec in French is only for companies that have physical presence in Quebec. Companies that have no physical presence in Quebec are free to set their websites in whatever language they want and to deliver their products to Quebec addresses.

    Why? Simply because Quebec Government c.q. Office quebecois contre la langue anglaise can not harrass them. There are plenty of examples out there. The ones that I personally tried are Jos. A. Bank and my favorite, <a href="http://www.nflshop.com>The NFL Shop</i>. Can you imagine the OQLF tries to harrass the NFL? I would pay money to see it.

    So basically they are being petty, I think. They just harass the one having business in Quebec. Others with similar practice they simply cannot touch since, well the government does not the reach to them. On the other hand, this practice discourages companies that is successful in delivering to Quebec to actually open their stores there, if they have not done so.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LD

      Lowe's Hardware delivers to Quebec too w/o a physical presence here either.

      Delete
    2. Cabela's Canada too. Their website and catalogs are in English only, though they do have some bilingual customer service representatives taking phone orders at their main store in Winnipeg.

      Delete
    3. The OQCLA* vs the NFL? Too delicious to hope it comes to fruition. It's only too bad more organizations don't make a point of taunting Quebec's language sensibilities [please pardon the paradox].

      *Office Québécois contre la langue anglaise...I like that. Good one, Troy!

      Delete
  32. As I am watching the BCS National Championship, I can not help feeling sorry for the French-speaking community by the way the name of the University of Notre Dame is pronounced. Here we have a Catholic university founded by a Frenchman, today not only nobody says its name properly in French, its sports teams are even called 'Fighting Irish'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FROM ED
      The fighting Irish of noter Daim. Ed

      Delete
    2. @troy

      why do you think such a famous french expression was bastardized so heavily by anglophones? is it only lack of culture, or is there an intention not to pronounce it correctly?

      Delete
  33. Don Cherry critique l'aide envoyée à Haïti

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/national/201301/07/01-4609080-don-cherry-critique-laide-envoyee-a-haiti.php

    Donald la cerise : Fier rprésentant des canadians

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At least he isn't complaining about all the aid Canada sends to Quebec....

      Delete
    2. FROM ED
      Troy, It's only natural to use an American pronounceiation for Notre Dame.It's in the U.S.
      The French here say Notrer Dame but I'm English so I say 'Noter Daim (e.g.Noter Daim Church) My freind in Vedun calls himself Mr. Poirier. (pronounced Poireeay. His brother in Plattsburgh pronounces himself Poryer.
      The American hardware chain 'Aubchon' which they pronounce Obuchawn, in French should be Aubushone.
      Once again it's a matter of people using the language they grew up with. Just what we're fighting for here. Ed

      Delete
    3. I guess our resident troll thinks it's OK to send billions of dollars in aid to Haiti because it's french - too bad nothing has been done to improve the living conditions of those poor people since the earthquake and, of course, no accounting for where all the money donated has gone. He thinks it's just like quebec - throwing money into a sinkhole with no accountability as to where all the money is spent (gee, wonder if they have graft and collusion within the Haitian government also - you think?)

      Delete
    4. un gars bien sympathique de CalgaryTuesday, January 8, 2013 at 10:59:00 AM EST

      cutie wrote: "no accounting for where all the money donated has gone".
      --------------------

      You base this on what exactly? Please share your wisdom with us.

      Delete
    5. "I guess our resident troll thinks it's OK to send billions of dollars in aid to Haiti because it's french"

      Non,simplement parce que ce sont des humains,comme le sont les anglo-Québécois.

      Delete
    6. "I guess our resident troll thinks it's OK to send billions of dollars in aid to Haiti because it's french..."

      that's impugning motives. very bad technique. one of the worst. stop it please cutie003.

      Delete
    7. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/11/haiti-earthquake-funds_n_1200229.html

      Delete
    8. un gars bien sympathique de CalgaryTuesday, January 8, 2013 at 11:32:00 AM EST

      There you go cutie: educate yourself and ensure you always are knowledgeable of things you write. In this case about Haiti aid money...

      http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/datablog/2012/jan/12/haiti-earthquake-aid-money-data
      http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/haiti/120110/haiti-earthquake-aid-rice
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Haiti_earthquake#Rescue_and_relief_efforts
      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2092425/Haiti-earthquake-How-donated-billions-INCREASED-poverty-corruption.html

      Ensure you always pick several reliable sources, make up an appreciation and judge the info and then write some smart sentence, not fabricated, cheap statements, cutie. It goes a long way you know......

      Delete
    9. I'll read what I want when I want and by whom I want. I promise I will not tell you who or what to read. Stop telling me what to do and mind your business. If you don't like what I say or do that's just fine but from now on I will ignore your comments as you should do with mine.

      Delete
    10. un gars bien sympathique de calgaryTuesday, January 8, 2013 at 11:57:00 AM EST

      I just love your statement, Cutie003.
      You just told the rest of the world that you make no sense.
      Whatever you say or stand for is a discredit.
      You are also baseless. Sorry but just being factual here:)

      Maybe Freddy... oh Frenchy Krueger is awaiting in your dreams tonight!!!

      Delete
    11. Please do us all a favour and stay to hell in Calgary - your an a--hole - no doubt about it. Making no sense to a separatist is just fine with me but you have proven that you are totally stupid.

      Delete
    12. "I will ignore your comments as you should do with mine"

      Votre liste d'abonnés diminue dee jour en jour,cutie :)

      Delete
    13. Attention un gars bien sympathique de calgary , and Cutie003
      I'm not publishing any more of your personal spat in this thread.
      Be advised, it's time to move along.

      Delete
    14. un gars bien sympathique de CalgaryTuesday, January 8, 2013 at 12:47:00 PM EST

      Dear Editor, re-read my posts.
      They will demonstrate without a doubt that I was always courteous, well articulated and polite (meaning never lowered myself to her level and never was insulting or demeaning to her or others) and never had bad intents. I was merely requesting info and clarifications on unspecific statements.
      BTW calling others a--holes and stupid is beyond childish and ridiculous.
      However, yes, understood. Time to move along for sure. Cheers & good luck in your future endeavors, sir.

      Delete
    15. Sorry Editor but he has been goading me for a long time. Did the same a few threads back also. Depending on what one considers "polite" - I don't find him polite when he says what I say is "baseless" and what I stand for is a "discredit" but, as I said, I will not respond to him any longer no matter what he says or writes. I joined this blog to try and get people to start taking action with our political representatives not to get into sparring matches with separatists and/or arguments with people over things that are not related directly to the anglo problems in quebec.

      Delete
    16. "I will ignore your comments as you should do with mine..."

      that's crazy. why do you keep writting if you think antagonists should ignore you?!? who do you write for cutie003?!? your dogs?

      Delete
    17. @ un gars de Calgary,

      "I was always courteous, well articulated and polite..."

      That's baloney. In a recent comment you told Cutie to go seek therapy. Why?...Because she has a different opinion than yours?

      By the way, you've said in the past that you weren't going to post here anymore. I hope you mean it this time.

      Delete
    18. @cutie003

      "I don't find him polite when he says what I say is "baseless"..."

      let's assume you blurt out something that's baseless, not that i think it ever happened (!!!).

      what would be a politer way to tell you than un gars de calgary's?

      Delete
  34. Not sure I get what's going on with Jason Bo Green a.k.a Jacques Beau Vert & JBG.

    So many shifts in direction, style and opinion and now he's leaving us for the second time.

    Jason, what's exactly's going on with you man?

    ReplyDelete
  35. "...to force businesses in English-only communities like Shawville and Knowlton to put French signs up..." yeah i think it's fair. after all, they are not english only. 85% for shawville and 47% (!!) for knowlton.

    The example of my company is in order here, and it fits with the title of the post: "you can't always get what you want". You may win a couple of battles today, but you will lose a big one tomorrow. I work for a company functioning on the global market, dealing a lot with the US and UK, and outsourcing work to India and Malaysia. Like all companies located downtown, we had our share of visits from the Office. Each time we got fined, which was never a problem. What did the OQLF win? The notes and signs displayed on office walls were taken down (instead of making French translations). The word Group was removed from after the company name on the front door (instead of adding a word Groupe in front of the name). All the operating systems are still in English (the fine covered that)...Small gains for the OQLF. what about the losses? I recently spoke with someone I know in upper management. He told me he stopped hiring in QC. He thinks francophones are good people, but he doesn't want to run the risk of by chance ending up with an employee with ideological inclinations who will then raise stink about the lack of French translations on sings that nobody reads in the copy room. So now, he hires people for his team in the US. All the work is done and distributed online anyways, half the people work from home anyways, meetings are via teleconferencing or conference calls...it makes no difference if the employee is in Montreal or in Buffalo or Phoenix. So who lost in this? Certainly some francophone professionals (graphic designers, programmers, analysts, managers) who could have found employment in this company.

    The lease for the office will end in a couple of years and will probably not be renewed. We will all end up working from home, like many people who work for us in the US and the UK (though we have an office in NY and in London). The OQLF will not be able to check operating systems anymore, since the office will not exist and there will be nothing to raid. So they will lose even that symbolic victory of issuing that annual fine that the owner of the company (a francophone capitalist who runs the company from his home in London, UK) covers by writing a check right away, after asking: how much? and ending with: "see you next year" after the check is written. Soon, when the office lease expires, he won't even have to say "see you next year". Instead, he might day something like "have a nice life".

    So who is the winner and who is the loser in this case, if you look at the big picture?

    ReplyDelete
  36. "to force businesses in English-only communities like Shawville and Knowlton to put French signs up"

    If I was running a store, I would rather take a sign down completely than add a translation next to it.

    In my store, the only labels would be numbers (prices) followed by a dollar sign. There would be no words.

    ReplyDelete
  37. "If I was running a store, I would rather take a sign down completely than add a translation next to it."

    why? what have you got against translations?!? what did they do to you mate?

    ReplyDelete
  38. FROM ED
    Come on guys. Anyome can see that UN GARS SYMPATHTIQUE AU CALGARY is not the one that used to be with us. It's one of the trolls using his name. There is no comparison. The old one was insulting but his overinflated ego never let him ask someone else's opinion. He would never ask you to explain your position. This is done by trolls trying to fill up the blog.
    Cutie, the minute someone attacks you personally, don't waste another word on him. Consider him
    "persona no braina" and move on. Ignore totally after unless his next post begins with an apology.
    Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For sure Ed - Have to keep my temper under better control I guess but at times it just gets under one's skin. Oh well, never professed to be perfect. Interesting info today from my hairdresser: she is a bilingual francophone lady that runs a shop out of an addition on her home and she was telling me that one of our city councilmen had stopped by her shop and asked her what radio station she was listening to and she said it was a station that plays both french and english music because she had both french and english clients and she liked the fact that both were able to hear tunes in their own language. She said she was certain the politician was not a separatist but he informed her that unless she had a french music station on the radio, she could be fined. She said she had no idea it was against the law that she could not chose what radio station she listened to but changed the dial to a french only station just in case. What the hell are we doing in this place? Not sure if this is a true part of Bill 101 but this is the lady's private business in a private residence. Perhaps someone reading this can verify?

      Delete
    2. @ed

      sorry ed.

      "He would never ask you to explain your position. This is done by trolls trying to fill up the blog."

      someone who asks for explanations is a troll. awesome. i had been waiting for that definition for a while.

      so it's quite positive, then, right?

      then why do you advise against communication with trolls? why are you so afraid of having to "explain your position" ed?

      Delete
    3. @cutie003

      "Not sure if this is a true part of Bill 101 but this is the lady's private business in a private residence. Perhaps someone reading this can verify?"

      can't believe this. years of whining against bill 101 and you never read it?!?!?

      maybe you could verify cutie003.

      thanks for the laugh.

      Delete
    4. Actually, I know a few homosexuals who've NEVER been beaten down gay-bashed but are 100% against gay-bash violence...guess they're just a bunch of biased whiners and should get their asses kicked before saying anything against, huh?

      Delete
    5. @resident evil

      are you defending a guy who admits he doesn't know what he's writing about?!?

      Delete
  39. FROM ED
    There has been 155 posts on this last blog.92 of them were from trolls or arguing with them. Roughly 60 percent. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ed

      from king contributor to comment counter... what a decay.

      come on ed, don't let yourself go like this!

      oh! and that's 93.

      Delete
  40. FROM ED
    Darryl
    We don't need another troll. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Since this student character has started posting, it seems that Complicated has magically disappeared.

      Delete
  41. There is a post at Vigile.net that caught my attention today. The post itself is a usual nonsense, but the first comment from an Alain Maronani mostly reflects my opinion.

    Le triomphalisme sournois de The Gazette
    7 janvier 2013, par alain maronani

    Tout le monde va encore se déchirer la-dessus.

    Le problème numéro 1 est la langue de travail...mettre 1000 personnes de plus par an dans des CEGEP francophones ne changera rien à ceci...votre conclusion est un peu courte..

    Quand on travaille en télécom, aéronautique, informatique, recherche pharmaceutique (ce qu’il en reste...), si vous voulez publier et être lu (recherche fondamentale physique, chimie, maths, etc...) c’est en anglais que ceci se passe...c’est la lingua franca.

    C’est le système économique dominant, le capitalisme et le néo-libéralisme, qui sont derrière cette anglicisation planétaire, ’The Gazette’ est un laquais local qui défend son territoire, rien de plus.

    J’entendais Lisée l’autre jour, déclarer que quand on parle a un client on peut utiliser l’anglais, mais dès que l’on pose le téléphone on doit continuer à travailler en francais. Il n’a pas beaucoup d’expérience industrielle...ca se voit.

    Quand on travaille avec des clients anglophones ou à l’international l’ensemble de l’activité, les projets, la documentation, etc, tout est en anglais, Lisée le sait, il se moque de nous, ou s’il l’ignore c’est gravissime !!! Si vous avez la curiosité de rechercher un travail dans certains secteurs au Québec (Jobboom par exemple - http://www.jobboom.com/), vous découvrirez rapidement que l’on demande l’anglais parlé et écrit.

    L’exemple que je donne souvent est celui du Cirque du Soleil ,plus québécois que ca tu meurs, dont tout l’international est fait exclusivement en anglais...

    Seule une sortie ou un écroulement du système mondialisé actuel et un retour à un mode de fonctionnement plus ou moins local permettra d’inverser cette tendance, je dépasse le cadre québécois ici.

    Essayez donc ceci

    http://www.bombardier.com
    http://www.cgi.com
    http://www.bell.ca
    http://www.capgemini.com
    http://www.cirquedusoleil.com (accueil en anglais par defaut !!)
    http://www.peugeot.com (en anglais)
    http://www.3ds.com/ (Dassault systems)
    http://www.airbus.com/
    http://www.dassault-aviation.com/ (Aviation, etc..)
    http://www.axa.ca/ (assurances, filiale de Axa en France)

    etc, etc...

    La loi 101 est a peu près silencieuse sur ce qui se passe sur le Web....

    ReplyDelete
  42. FROM ED
    Troy, Having read your post am I correct in surmising
    they feel threatened because the rest of the world won't speak only French to please Quebec? Ed

    ReplyDelete
  43. I understand why you have your concerns. I personally believe, however, that it wouldn't matter if the immigrants were forced to learn French or not. Even if they don't move to Quebec with French fluency, if learning the language would become essential for work or other reaons, which it more often that not would, I believe they will learn it anyway. And even if an immigrant coming to Quebec doesn't learn French, their children most certainly will, whether they attend a French school or not. Youth bilingualism is really high in Montreal, and the percentage of alumni who know French is pretty much the same in both English and French schools, as far as I know. You're from New Brunswick, right Mr Yannick? Do you think Quebec should become officially bilingual like your home province did? That way neither half gets the short end of the stick, right? You know a lot more about these issues than I do, and it's interesting to read a different point of view.

    ReplyDelete
  44. The S.R. group are using more aliases than ever, it seems. It's better to ignore them, they've been staying up late on Pepsi caffeine and they could use a little rest instead of being called to action by their boss (Mario Beaulieu?) every time one of us pays attention to them.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Thank you Yannick - well explained. I would like to point out though that N.B. may not always be fully bilingual, they are not deliberately trying to do away with your language - they are trying to improve services to francophones whereby quebec is trying to deliberately and totally wipe out english. That is the huge difference with quebec vs the ROC. I would like the policy of N.B. to be the aim of quebec also.

    ReplyDelete
  46. "I don't disagree with you, you're just being off-topic."

    I wasn't trying to be on topic actually, and I don't get attacks on my (or anyone's) post with an argument of the sort: "you didn't address my point, so your post is crap". My intention wasn't to address anyone's point, but to tie the example of my company to 101 and the title of the post. The title of the piece is spot on I find, because with 101 as with any other law, contradictions do arise. You win one battle today, tomorrow you lose one, sometimes without even knowing it.

    I think all these unintended consequences, and the blowback that 101 has generated is what frustrates the militants the most. It's the messiness of life that they can't accept. In their minds, society's life can be ordered with a bunch of laws, but as they discover, patching up one hole in the dam only opens up another. And this actually suits some of the (more opportunistic than ideological) politicians who know exactly what I'm talking about. Many pequistes know well that since they are fighting against "problems" that sound lofty but are ambiguous, undefinable, and unresolvable (e.g. "protection of culture"), their paychecks are pretty much guaranteed.


    "Well, if the signs you make are clear enough that they need no words, French or English, then they are accessible to everyone, which fulfills the intent if not the wording of the french signage requirement. So kudos to those who would do that! "

    It would fulfill the legalistic requirement, but it would still violate the "spirit" of 101. According to the spirit, it'd be good to have a label "Apples/Pommes" with "Pommes" towering over "Apples" in double size. Removing "Pommes" and "Apples" altogether, and only leaving 3.99$, is something I would not be fined for, but at the same time I would manage to disobey the size requirement with which I disagree, and break the spirit of the law that promotes the use of the French language (I would go with no language instead). Would it stick it to the militants? I don't know. Would it make me feel better? Yes.

    ReplyDelete
  47. @ Yannick,

    "The situation is very different in New Brunswick, an exact mirror of the Quebec one : in Quebec the population is more or less willing to acomodate more English, but the government tries to suppress it."

    Keep in mind that the government of Quebec is elected by the population, and the majority of Francophones support Bill 101.

    "Most upsetting for me was the time I read that hiring francophone nurses for our francophone hospitals was "causing deaths" because of course the best possible nurses have to be unilingual anglophones. I bet you that if the best possible nurse didn't speak English, these people would not be content."

    This is exactly what is happening in Quebec. If the best possible nurse is a unilingual Anglophone, there is a very good chance that she will not find employment. Many Anglophone nurses have been driven out of the province because of the French language requirements for their profession.

    "anglophones have two hospitals to choose from while we only get the one."

    That's a reasonable proportion given that Francophones constitute 30 to 35 percent of the population of Moncton.

    @ Adski,

    "It would fulfill the legalistic requirement, but it would still violate the "spirit" of 101. According to the spirit, it'd be good to have a label "Apples/Pommes" with "Pommes" towering over "Apples" in double size."

    That's still too much English for the likes of French language militants and groups such as Imperatif Francais. They want to see English eliminated completely despite the fact that the laws allow for it in reduced size.

    ReplyDelete