There is a concern, which I've seen expressed in the comments sections more often than not, that a vote for the Equality Party will lead to the Parti Quebecois winning seats that would otherwise go Liberal.
I've taken the liberty of digging up some voting numbers from the last election and present eighteen ridings where the Equality Party can safely run and perhaps win a couple of seats without any danger of contributing to a PQ victory.
In every single riding below there is no amount of votes that the Equality Party may garner that would lead to a PQ or CAQ victory.
Either the Liberals would hold the riding or the Equality party would overturn them, but the PQ or CAQ could not possibly win.
That is because even if the Liberal Party lost half its vote to the Equality Party, it would still mean that the PQ or CAQ would lose.
It would make sense that the Equality Party would run in these ridings BUT forgo running candidates in other ridings where Liberals or CAQ have small majorities, ridings where they could affect the outcome negatively.
I've spoken to the leadership of the Equality party and am assured that they are not Hell-bent on running candidates everywhere, just to make a showing.
They aren't that dumb or destructive.
The Equality Party could also run candidates in ridings where the PQ has a large majority, again where the outcome could not be affected.
Should the government decide to publicly fund political parties through a per-vote subsidy, every vote cast would mean additional funding to the Equality Party.
Let me be unequivocal, if you live in one of the above ridings, a vote for the Equality Party CANNOT in any way, shape or form contribute to a PQ or CAQ victory.
So why is it important for our community to elect one or more members of the Equality Party to Quebec's legislature?
Firstly, it is quite simply a question of pride.
If mainstream parties refuse to represent our interests and assume we will vote for what we consider the lesser of evils, we debase ourselves.
It's like choosing to live with one certain parent in a martial breakup, because he or she beats us up less the other. It's shameful.
Secondly, having just one member in the legislature sends a powerful signal that we do not accept the status quo and to borrow from Robert Browning we send the message that;
"God's is not his Heaven/All is not right with the world!"
Just one elected member can make all the difference, believe me.
Symbols are important. It would represent a symbol of resistance that could ignite a movement across Canada to support our cause.
I'm not a dreamer, most of you who come to this blog regularly know me as cynical , but I promise you that just one elected member of the Equality Party would be a game-changer.
Ask yourself... What do you have to lose?
Actually, 3 of those 18 ridings would risk a split, but likely with CAQ as opposed to the PQ: Vaudreuil, La Pinière and Viau. In the case of Viau, I imagine the PQ voters will get their heads out of their asses seeing what their separatist heroes are doing to their finances.
ReplyDeleteIn the other 15 ridings, there is NO excuse, Ed Brown! If Equality can't get at least a dozen candidates elected in that whole group, you get what Ed Brown deserves! Sticking your head in the ground like a timid ostrich named Ed Brown gets you EXACTLY what you deserve. Right Ed?
If the Equality Party aren't willing to run candidates in a lot of ridings, we can safely assume that they will never form a government. They will never be in a position to make decisions.
ReplyDelete"Either the Liberals would hold the riding or the Equality party would overturn them"
So if the Equality Party somehow wins one of those ridings you listed, it means one less seat for the Liberals, no loss for the PQ. Unless I'm mistaken, that's only good for the PQ.
Am I missing something here?
I'd love to see change as much as any of you, I'm just trying to be realistic. I dislike the PQ much more than I dislike the Liberals, and so I'd rather get rid of them first, whatever the cost.
Perhaps not making decisions but definitely influencing decisions made by the liberals. That would be a plus for federalism rather than what we have now. Nationalist and soft nationalist. Wrote an e-mail to marc.tanguay@assnat.qc.ca this morning - he is the liberal member in charge of the opposition to Bill 14 in the National Assembly to thank him for the liberal's rejection of Bill 14 because IF have asked their readers to e-mail him to tell them they are ticked off because they refused to vote for Bill 14. If you have a chance, drop him a line and thank him to show support for the rejection of this hateful bill.
DeleteI'd like to think the EP could win a dozen of those seats, but even if they win one measly seat, it gives representation to Anglophones and other minorities that are currently being oppressed a voice to say "no" to destructive anti-English legislation and represent our collective views.
DeleteAs I've written previously, and anyone who knows their Quebec history, the last PLQ MNAs, all cabinet ministers and three of the best in the Assembly at that time, concurred with their constituents, did not follow their leader like sheep and voted with their conscience. There have been no MNAs like Richard French, Herbert Marx and Clifford Lincoln since 1989, and this group of Quislings certainly won't dare disobey their dictator...I mean, leader.
Vote Equality 2.0 or be a timid ostrich like Ed Brown and get what Ed Brown deserves.
I don't think any of you are being objective and rational about this.
DeleteI agree with your opinions about the Liberals, and that we need some serious change. But you all picked the wrong time to get this movement going. Try to look at the bigger picture. Where was the Equality Party 5 years ago, when the PQ was much less of a threat?
It's like a civil war... within a nation that is already at war. And make no mistake about it, we are at war, with a group of people who are willing to sacrifice our freedom and our futures for some racist ideal. Just like their last 10 years in power, the PQ will do nothing to improve our quality of life, things will only get worse.
Let's be realistic here, PQ voters aren't going to switch over to the Equality Party. All their votes will come from ex-liberal voters, and possibly some CAQers. You're not doing any damage to the PQ, the separatists, or the language nazis, you're actually helping them.
So you want change? Fine, great. I hope you will all accept the consequences of your choices when the PQ win the next election. There are also consequences to maintaining the status-quo, but they seem irrelevant compared to 10 years of PQ rules, to me at least.
It's simple, who do you dislike more? The PQ or the Liberals?
The NDP has never formed a government nationally in Canada. Yet, some would argue, their influence on the national stage has been huge.
ReplyDeleteThere is also the example of the Swedish People's Party of Finland. Swedes make up about 10% of Finland's population and their party has, traditionally, represented them for decades, despite the fact that they will never form a national government.
Allan Finkelstein, the interim president of EP 2.0, has put together a list of accomplishments of the four sitting EP MNAs from '89-'94. It is quite impressive and may give you an idea, Quebecker of the Tree Stump, the benefits of having such a party represent some or all of the ridings the Editor lists, above, in his editorial. Off the top of my head, I think the most important of these was the EP's opposition to Bill 150 which was the Bourassa Liberals' separatist threat to Canada in, I think, '92. Up to that point, even the PQ had never done anything so audacious. Yet having the EP votes against it on the floor of the National Assembly was worth, I believe, their election.
Would you have wanted YOUR Liberal MNA to have voted for Bill 150? The ONLY exception was Nelligan (a West Island riding) Liberal MNA Russ Williams vote against his own party...and he paid a steep political price for it.
There are numerous other examples as well.
In the Scandinavian example, the difference is that Finns aren’t consumed with hatred and hell-bent on revenge like minority Quebec separatists are, therefore they don’t try to sabotage themselves by outlawing, hiding or minimizing the importance of regional languages by making their own language twice the size on commercial signs, restricting access to minority-language institutions and so on, even though the only common language Finns have with the rest of their continent is English.
Delete"[...]Finns aren’t consumed with hatred and hell-bent on revenge like minority Quebec separatists are [...]"
DeleteSince 2011, 39 out of 200 Finland members of parlement are from the True Finns party, a ethnic nationalist party.
"[...] the only common language Finns have with the rest of their continent is English."
In Europe, english is a much more neutral language. Out of a population 800 millions, only 68 millions are native english speakers (UK and Irland). For instance, there are more german native speakers (88 millions). For the majority of europeans, english is a second language, which makes it more neutral.
M. Patrice,
DeleteIn Europe, english is a much more neutral language. Out of a population 800 millions, only 68 millions are native english speakers (UK and Irland). For instance, there are more german native speakers (88 millions). For the majority of europeans, english is a second language, which makes it more neutral.
While it may be true that the number of native English speakers in Europe is not that high, the number of Europeans able to speak / write English fluently is certainly very high. In fact, English is the prominent language in Eurozone, Eurocorps and Schengen Area even though the United Kingdom is not part of those organizations.
Let's say that no one spoke english natively and that anyone who spoke english would speak it as a second language, that would make english a neutral language. That was my point which, I am sure, you understood.
Delete"Since 2011, 39 out of 200 Finland members of parlement are from the True Finns party, a ethnic nationalist party."
DeleteIs the rise of ethnic nationalism elsewhere a justification for ethnic nationalism in Quebec, or is it a warning for the whole world?
Is "cultural preservation" a legitimate reason, or a cover for bigotry?
Is "preservation" a true concern, or is it more about supremacy and hierarchical ethnic order?
Am I posing valid questions, or am I just in favor of disappearance of the francophone (and even Aryan) race?
http://northwestfront.org/
"The Northwest Front is a political organization of Aryan men and women who recognize that an independent and sovereign White nation in the Pacific Northwest is the only possibility for the survival of the White race on this continent."
"In Europe, english is a much more neutral language. Out of a population 800 millions, only 68 millions are native english speakers (UK and Irland)."
Delete"Since 2011, 39 out of 200 Finland members of parlement are from the True Finns party, a ethnic nationalist party."
The Finns are not in the "sea" of any other language, and almost 20% of parliament members are True Finns.
Geography and history has served Quebec as an excuse for creating what in essence is an ethnic state. The true causes of nationalism here lie not in geography though but in the culture of supremacy and a desire to preserve the "natural" hierarchy, and today also partly in economic globalization and market "flexibility" that shatter stability and make people look for scapegoats.
It sounds as if even should fully half of Liberal voters in the cited ridings voted for the Equality Party (a highly unlikely scenario), the Liberals would still get re-elected in most of them, while still defeating both the CAQ and PQ. Unfortunately, it is much more likely that the EQ would be part of the tiny “Others” category shown in black that no one pays attention to. Even if I were to suggest to all my friends and family living in the cited ridings to vote for the EQ, I don’t see how this would be helpful.
ReplyDeleteWouldn’t it make more sense to concentrate all of the EQ’s efforts on just two, three or four ridings for now, given that we don’t have proportional representation and wasted votes are a reality? I suppose the surprise NDP victory in Quebec is the perfect counter-example for that, regardless of it being a fluke resulting from a deceased leader.
The First-Past-the-Post system that we are saddled with was created for a two-party system, not for four, five or more parties. Vote-splitting is a valid concern for those of us not in one of the cited ridings. According toThreeHundredEight.com, if a provincial election were held now, the Liberals would handily win. The “Others” category makes up less than 2% of the vote. Quite the dilemma!
Without trying you're losing to the bigot parade of discriminatory laws
ReplyDeleteStrange but the whole PQ strategy towards anglophones reminds me of this song by Roberta Flack that I hope you will all remember:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1eOsMc2Fgg
Indeed, it reminds me of Jean-François Lisée trying to seduce us with his mots doux before an anglophone audience at the CBC town hall and then turning around to denounce Justin Trudeau as a “little prince” for having the gall to come visit in Quebec City.
DeleteAnother serious signal of Montreal's decline internationally:
ReplyDeleteThe International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is headquarted in Montreal may move to Doha, Qatar.
Among many reasons cited there is one that is key: "des taxes et des impôts élevés." Qatar offers tax free stay for the expats who would work there in a new ICAO HQ.
Here:http://affaires.lapresse.ca/economie/transports/201304/23/01-4643911-le-qatar-veut-ravir-loaci-a-montreal.php
More proof that taxes kill jobs and... in quebekistan paying too many/much taxes scare business away.
quebec=fail
New poll: Couillard's PLQ could win majority in next election:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/actualites/politique/201304/23/01-4643920-sondage-crop-la-marque-liberale-remonte.php
Couillard at 38%
PQ at 25%
QS at 11%
----------------
S.R. ton petit reve de separatiss est un cauchemar pour toi. Si le PQ fusionne avec le QS et autres groupes extremistes-separatistes et marxistes peut-etre que le bien petit quebec pourrait avoir un nouveau parti revolutionaire qui menera les quebekistanais vers l'independance.
S.V.P. assures-toi que ton reve se realise comme ca tu pourras crisser ton camp hors de mon beau pays. Focus tes efforts, quittes ce site et deviens benevole pour ces partis.
Canada's reputation worsens: global poll
Deletehttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2010/02/11/bbc-poll-influence.html
L'immense catastrophe écologique albertaine semble être la cause principale de la détérioration de l'image canadienne au niveau intenational.
DeleteS.R. If you hate Canada so much and that you perceive that Canada is bad for you... why won't you leave Canada?
Delete"L'immense catastrophe écologique albertaine semble être la cause principale de la détérioration de l'image canadienne au niveau intenational."
DeleteFrom a guy who quotes Iranian media sources as reliable and true...
You are a full-on fraud.
P.S. Remit all the money that Alberta oil has given your "nation" through transfer payments because Quebec is full of unemployable, demonstrating bums.
The day will come when Canada will say enough and expel all you quebecois.
This must have been taken before pastagate. Imagine how low we are now. We would be positively through the floor if people knew the government ignores the UN covenant of human rights for citizens within it's won borders when Quebec is concerned.
DeleteLa souveraineté, c'est payant!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=325523537575031
FROM : ÉCOEURER LES ANGLAIS (ANNOYING THE ENGLISH)
ReplyDeleteALAIN DUBUC, LA PRESSE, APRIL 24, 2013
The most amazing element of Bill 14, which proposes multiple changes to "strengthen" Bill 101, is the provision that would permit the removal of the status of bilingual municipalities where the proportion of English-speaking [sic; in fact it’s “English mother tongue”] residents dips below 50%.
This is not a big element of the bill, as are changes to the Charter of Rights or the idea of imposing the Bill 101 straightjacket to SMEs. But on the symbolic level, this measure, which is absolutely unnecessary and vexatious for anglophones, reflects a framework that is found throughout this bill that, directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly, attacks the legitimacy of living in English in Quebec.
Right from the beginning, we could have guessed that this bill is more political than it is linguistic; that it is meant to serve the Marois government in terms of identity politics rather than to find practical and effective solutions for specific problems that the French language may encounter. This downward spiral is fed by two specific lacks of understanding in the government's approach.
The first thing is the very analysis that would justify such urgent action, that which we foolishly call the decline of French in Montreal. What is this really all about? It’s about French-speaking Montrealers who move to the suburbs and the increasing number of immigrants, who speak their native language at home. These are not phenomena that indicate the strengthening of English but we mistakenly treat them as if it affected the balance of power between English and French.
The second is applying in the context of 2013 reflexes that we may have had in the 1960s, when the assertion of French-Quebecers meant fighting the privileges of an English-speaking minority, and where the battle for the French language had in part to do with battle against the English language.
But in 2013, the two major challenges, namely, the assertion of English as a lingua franca - the global language of commerce, tourism, mass culture, science - and the attraction that English has in an English-speaking continent, are not imposed by English Canada or by Quebec anglophones. And yet we continue to thump upon our anglophones who have nothing to do with this.
Removing the bilingual status from a few municipalities will not help the French language to progress whatsoever. However, it will affect the community life of anglophones and will reduce their collective living space. This measure has no purpose other than to annoy anglos. Along with a side message: in our efforts to strengthen the role of the French in the public space, we also wish to reduce that of anglophones. Behind which, let us not forget, are the ever present anglophobic and vengeful currents which, in the end, would prefer that anglos simply leave.
We have duties toward our linguistic minority. We too must preserve the quality of relationships with anglophones who have accepted the new rules of the game, who had sincerely believed that we had achieved a linguistic balance and who now wonder whether we really want them.
This risk of damaging our relationships with anglophones also affects our collective interests. Shattering linguistic peace is but another way of killing Montreal slowly. Montreal’s strength, what makes the city unique, it is not that it is multicultural - all major cities are - but that it is bilingual, the meeting place of two major linguistic communities. This meeting, with its difficulties and its creative tensions, also gives us an economic advantage and contributes to its soul and its cultural richness.
In order to avoid moving backward together, it is not simply a matter of eliminating some questionable items from Bill 14. It is the spirit and the overall logic of the project that must be challenged.
Wow - something from LaPresse that didn't piss all over us for a change and even makes sense. The language militants will not be putting the spotlight on this I bet. SR - please provide the link for this would you? Always gives me pause as to why it's strictly Montreal that is mentioned in these articles and do not consider areas like Gatineau which are also very bilingual and mainly, at the present time, enjoy a bit of linguistic peace even though the good old IF is out to destroy that each and every day.
Delete“Nous avons des devoirs envers notre minorité linguistique. Nous devons aussi préserver la qualité des rapports avec des anglophones qui ont accepté les nouvelles règles du jeu, qui croyaient sincèrement qu’on était arrivés à un équilibre linguistique et qui se demandent
Deletemaintenant si l’on veut vraiment d’eux.
Ce risque de détériorer nos rapports avec les anglophones affecte aussi nos intérêts collectifs. Briser la paix linguistique, c’est une autre façon de tuer Montréal à petit feu. Ce qui fait la force de Montréal, qui rend la ville unique, ce n’est pas qu’elle soit multiculturelle – toutes les grandes villes le sont –, mais qu’elle soit bilingue, le lieu de rencontre de deux grandes communautés linguistiques. Cette rencontre, avec ses difficultés et avec ses tensions créatrices, nous
donne aussi un avantage économique et contribue à son âme et à sa richesse culturelle.
Pour éviter de reculer collectivement, il ne faut pas seulement éliminer quelques articles douteux du projet de loi 14. C’est l’esprit et la logique d’ensemble du projet qui doit être remis en cause. Nous avons des devoirs envers notre minorité linguistique. Nous devons aussi préserver la qualité des rapports avec des anglophones qui ont accepté les nouvelles règles du jeu, qui croyaient sincèrement qu’on était arrivés à un équilibre linguistique et qui se demandent maintenant si l’on veut vraiment d’eux.
Ce risque de détériorer nos rapports avec les anglophones affecte aussi nos intérêts collectifs. Briser la paix linguistique, c’est une autre façon de tuer Montréal à petit feu. Ce qui fait la force de
“qui rend la ville unique, ce n’est pas qu’elle soit multiculturelle – toutes les grandes villes le sont –, mais qu’elle soit bilingue, le lieu de rencontre de deux grandes communautés linguistiques. Cette rencontre, avec ses difficultés et avec ses tensions créatrices, nous donne aussi un avantage économique et contribue à son âme et à sa richesse culturelle pour éviter de reculer collectivement, il ne faut pas seulement éliminer quelques articles douteux du projet de loi 14. C’est l’esprit et la logique d’ensemble du projet qui doit être remis en cause.”
@R.S
Thank you for providing this piece published in La Presse, (English version). I decided to include a specific portion of it in French, here below, -original version for reference.
Personally, I think someone should nominate Alain Dubuc for a Journalism award. Finally someone in mainstream FRENCH media that says it like it is and has the integrity to tell the truth. It is clear and to the point. The last two sentences should grab everyone’s attention hopefully.
“Pour éviter de reculer collectivement, il ne faut pas seulement éliminer quelques articles douteux du projet de loi 14. C’est l’esprit et la logique d’ensemble du projet qui doit être remis en cause.”
Nice to know that the true intentions of bill 14 are obvious to EVERYONE! Now let’s see what EVERYONE does about it. EVERYONE in the ‘silent majority’ that is. Ultimately, that is where the pressure needs to come from if we are to quash this back-stabbing bill once and for all,….AND for good
Clearly it wasn't written by a PQ Quebecer.
DeleteThe person that wrote this will find friends won;t be returning his phone calls now.
The seppie machine needs to destroy anybody that sticks their head up. Thinking for yourself or having opposing views is not tolerated. Public shaming starts now.
Very well written and true account of affairs by Alain Dubuc. One sentence of note really struck me:
DeleteBut in 2013, the two major challenges, namely, the assertion of English as a lingua franca - the global language of commerce, tourism, mass culture, science - and the attraction that English has in an English-speaking continent, are not imposed by English Canada or by Quebec anglophones. And yet we continue to thump upon our anglophones who have nothing to do with this.
This paragraph is so true and so glad a francophone journalist noted it. The anglophones in Quebec/Canada seem to always take the blame for the demise of french in Canada and Quebec. But its really a global movement spread by the powerful american media that has pushed english everywhere. If franco-extremists are really upset about the prevalence of english they should complain to the USA media giants..maybe they should also stop vacationing in Florida and cross-border shopping. Because in the end its the USA driving a lot of this.
"Because in the end its the USA driving a lot of this. "
DeleteGlobal hegemony. Monoculture!
This is just the standard PQ argument made larger.
The USA isn;t a boogeyman waiting to take over Quebec.
As you say Quebecers should stop vacation in Florida so much. It's violating their rights to sit next to people speaking english.
Oh wait, Quebecers love it since the can get french newspapers and retire there for 9 months of the year.
So we have to ask the usual PQ stupidity!
Is it right and normal for people living in another country to keep their own culture? Should they be allowed to communicate in their own language and not integrate into the larger Florida population?
Is this not an insult to the native population of Florida? How can such an insult be allowed.
Oh wait. Florida is part of a free country, where people CAN do that. They CAN have their french newspaper and not integrate. And better yet. It's allowed and encouraged!
The local population is ok with it because they believe in individual rights not this statist socialism imported from cold war Europe "what pauline wants we all want" mentality.
Freedom of association vs Quebec group think.
cebeuq - I like you more all the time. Great post - complicated - will you make up your mind? How come yesterday it was alright to shit all over us yet again for sins of the past but now that the whole of Bill 14 is made to look like what it is - a miserable, deliberate attempt to keep the anglophones down and out as subordinates in quebec, by a notoriously famous separatist supporter newspaper, you appear to agree that it is not the fault of the minorities that the french language is under fire?
DeleteComplicated,
DeleteYou said : "...our anglophones who have nothing to do with this. This paragraph is so true and so glad a francophone journalist noted it."
Since you enjoy this kind of comment, I have found another one for you : "Je crois aussi qu’au Québec, le français n’est pas menacé de l’intérieur par la communauté anglo-québécoise mais de l’extérieur par l’idée de l’anglais comme langue mondiale." (http://nadeaubarlow.com/penser-la-langue-autrement/)
Your comment just reminded me of this one.
cebeuq,
DeleteOh wait, Quebecers love it since the can get french newspapers and retire there for 9 months of the year.
It is just my being pedantic. Most Quebec retirees stay in Florida for 6 months or less in a year. If they stay there for more than 6 months, they lose their Quebec residency and with that the Medicare coverage.
Troy, you are right! 6 months not 9. For years many people drive to Florida so the govt isn;t really sure of the coming and going dates. Remember this is Quebec, rules are just suggestions.
DeleteImagine how apoplectic Quebec would be if 50000 people moved to Quebec for 6 months of every year and totally isolated themselves from the larger Quebec society.
Read their own newspapers, spoke their own language.
The PQ would go bonkers. Immigrant invasion. Meanwhile this is exactly what Quebeckers of all stripes do.
@troy
Delete"Most Quebec retirees stay in Florida for 6 months..."
most?!? you're out of touch, mate. way out.
Cutie, I already provided the link above; you can simply click on the title of the article, which is in bold and capitalized, to see the original article in French.
DeleteDubuc writes:
Delete"We too must preserve the quality of relationships with anglophones who have accepted the new rules of the game..."
He must be reading the Gazette which deems to tell the world that anglophones in Quebec have accepted Bill 101. Learning to live with it and accepting it are two different things.
Every public opinion poll done on Bill 101 since its inception (36 years ago) shows an overwhelming opposition to it by Quebec anglophones. And that's just the anglophones who stayed. The other 500,000 or so who left I daresay hate it even more.
lol = sorry RS = was being sarcastic with our resident troll - rubbing it in essentially.
DeleteFROM ED
DeleteAlain Dubuc is an Officer of the Order Of Canada. A good ally. His email is adubuc@lapress.ca Ed
Cutie: understood. Incidentally, "La Presse" is a notoriously famous federalist newspaper. It is "Le Devoir" that is a notoriously famous separatist newspaper, as you put it earlier. You may have noticed this from the numerous links provided by a certain resident of Sherbrooke.
DeleteAlso, if you'd like to read the comments this article has elicited, you should use this link instead:
Deletehttp://www.lapresse.ca/debats/chroniques/alain-dubuc/201304/23/01-4643842-ecoeurer-les-anglais.php
Thanks RS. Boy there are a lot of comments that this bill should have gone through even as hateful as it was. And my bad - I do not read either La Presse or Le Devoir on a regular basis but assumed that both were separatist supporters. The people have really fallen for the PQ mantra of "diminishing french" as the reason for these sorts of things again when it's really separation they are aiming for. They care nothing of pushing this province ever closer to outright violence without a second thought. Isn't Le Devoir published in Ottawa?
DeleteOpen letter to the VP of the Federal Liberal Party from the Equality Party 2.0 - seems to be a few problems with communicating with the feds on our problems here in Quebec. To read the whole letter go to the following site. We'll have to see what happens here but boy the feds are sure difficult when it comes to dealing with our issues in Quebec. They should all be ashamed of themselves for hiding behind the same constitution that is supposed to help us in times of need. Wonder if anyone of them will grow a pair before real trouble breaks out here.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/EqualityPartyPartiEgalite?fref=ts
Interesting reading. Cutie, I have noticed a lie in a document against partition. "Les frontières du Québec, rappelons-le, sont géographiques et non pas linguistiques ou ethniques." If that statement were true what exactly is the purpose of Bill 101.
DeleteGreat question Liam - wonder who can answer that?
DeleteThe PQ are complaining that the CAQ have refused to talk to them about Bill 14 and they have been trying to contact them for a week - poor babies. The CAQ are coming out with their decision on the Bill at 3:00 this afternoon - let's hope Legault has decided to File 13 the whole damn thing. With even LaPresse coming out against it, maybe our chances are better than we thought earlier. Let's hope for the best.
ReplyDeleteAgain this entire story proves how ungovernable this province really is. We can't work together. A guy in Pontiac doesn't care about a guy in Saguenay or Gaspesie that is worried about the french language in his hometown. It is time we admitted that Quebec is too big a province to be governed effectively. I have solution that isn't partition, but would be acceptable to both anglos and francos. Designation of special regions, those regions won't have to respect Bill 101. So in effect, Pontiac, West Island, and Vaudreuil would be allowed to ignore bill 101. This isn't partition and should be acceptable to both side, while avoiding a total partition. IF would be outraged if Hull and Aylmer were included in the Special region, so I have not included them in the plan.
DeleteSounds good Liam but as this area would not be given the same consideration, and simply to get rid of the IF, I would demand that we be included in this special designation. As a matter of fact, we, of all areas in quebec considering we're part of the NCR, should be the first to be included in the exemption. To hell with the IF - so they would have to move their annoying HQs to another part of quebec. Better them than us. As you are aware, they are the one of the reasons that we are having as many problems as we do such as people shopping elsewhere to ensure they can receive services in one of our official languages. Getting this group out of here would be the best thing in the world for our value of our homes and businesses and would end some of the tension we have been feeling lately that we never had before they moved here.
DeleteAgreed, getting rid of IF would be a good idea. Hull and Ottawa had a great relation before the separatist came and changed the city.
DeleteYeah Liam and your next link shows that they can't leave anything alone. Now they want to invade the Pontiac - what the hell business is it of theirs what language others speak at home. Boy, they are a Nazi movement if there ever was one. I hope the people of the Pontiac do what they did before and ride these idiots out of town on the rails. Would love to be there to support them if that happens. Time some of our group took action against these language Nazis. And they laughed along with Sienfeld about the Soup Nazi - this is no laughing matter. Watch IF up there next week pushing their agenda!
DeleteGood luck getting an exemption for Bill 101..again that defeats the whole purpose of Bill 101. The main point behind it was to reduce the encroachment of english in places like Montreal and Gatineau. Francophones living in these areas felt that english was essentially taking over and I think they were right..again easy for the anglos to sit here and say there was no problem. From an anglophone point of view all was well as english was predominant in many of these areas..again when your largest city becomes predominantly english its a serious problem and threat to the french language. If you exempt certain regions from Bill 101 then effectively you will end up with the english taking over those areas within 30-50 years..from these points then you will start to have anglos creep into neighboring regions and then in 50 years or so the anglos who will be stronger politically will then start asking for the exemption to spread further. You guys just dont get it..many francophones are rightfully fearful of eventually being pushed further and further away by a growing anglo population..there are countless french communities across Canada that have more or less disappeared..they are not being paranoid and delusional..there are real threats to the french language.
DeleteFROM ED
ReplyDeleteEDITOR,
I can' understand why you would risk supporting another party in Quebec. Four seats for the EQ party is still four seats less for the Liberals, I'm told the votes would take nothing from the Liberals. I don't care how the votes add up. If we went by the number of votes in this province the Liberals would be in power now. But they are not because the CAQ took the seats they needed and will be doing so again in the next election.
The future does not promise a win for Anglos.;- 59 PQ / 50 / Libs / 19 CAQ / 4 EQ / 2 AQ = 4 more years of PQ government. The Liberals need more seats not less.
Try to be pragmatic. The Liberals are the only party within reach of governing. Some here say the EQ party members would work with the Liberals. Possibly so but with vote splitting the PQ WOULD STILL BE IN GOVERNMENT. Can anyone show me how it makes sense to have another four years of the province going in the hole when we could have a government that will move the economy.. I don't care if people hate the Liberals, why cut off your nose to spite your face. Ed
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results."
ReplyDeleteAfter 30 years of voting Liberal many people are starting to realize the statement above might actually have some truth in it..
FROM ED
ReplyDeleteThe way I remember 30 years of voting Liberal was peace,
contentment and affluence while they ruled. People were at peace until Marois came into power in 2012. Ed
I have hopes for more then just being allowed to live here.
DeleteMontreal needs to be bilingual city. 80% of the PQ bigots live in the hinterland of Quebec anyway.
We have human rights on our side.
That's not as strong an argument as PQ logic of course. Human rights arn;t the same in Quebec. We need to understand that. There are limits on human rights whenever the PQ need.
You should want more then just be happy that the PQ bullies arn;t beating up anglo's in the street anymore and Paul Rose stopped bombing us.
That's so true Cebeuq - We are fighting this mentality because we've had so many years of no other choice. We can't keep going on the same way and nothing is going to change unless we get a chance to vote for some other solutions. That's exactly what's going on with Ed - he's still living with the FLQ image and the bullies are still winning because of people like him. The whole system in quebec is based around nationalists and the fear they instill in the population - fear of losing their language, fear of losing their culture, fear of the anglophones running the whole province, fear of the IF, fear of the SJBS, fear of the FLQ, and fear of so many other things. I would like to see people vote for what the party represents rather than out of what it doesn't - only then will democracy be restored to quebec.
Deletecebeuq, you clearly don't understand what Ed is trying to say.
DeleteDo you believe Ed doesn't want the things you listed above? Do you think Ed doesn't care about his rights and his freedoms?
Of course we all hope for more. But by helping the PQ, you're not going to end up getting more, you're going to get LESS. The exact opposite of everything you've claimed we need. Less freedom, less english, a declining market and crumbling infrastructures.
We're not saying "support the liberals". We're saying "get rid of the PQ". Unless you support the PQ? Or do you think the Equality Party will form the next government?
I do understand. I also realize the current strategy over the last 30 years hasn;t worked.
DeleteI'm more then willing to consider new strategies to defeat the seppies.
If we fight the good fight and we lose there is nothing you can do.
Can;t leave in fear of making decisions and exercising your rights.
I can appreciate that, you have convictions and you stand by them.
DeleteWhen you mention new strategies to defeat the separatists, I'm curious about what exactly you're referring to. Splitting the non-separatist vote is a strategy aimed at defeating the separatists? I think these are more likely strategies to get rid of the Liberals, which is fine in itself, as long as you're not lying about your intentions.
After the next elections, if the PQ are elected by the same circumstances which led us to where we are today (non-separatist vote splitting which cost us the very few seats we needed), how will you react?
Will you stop complaining about the separatists? Will you stop posting on this blog? It only seems fair to me, since your real priority isn't getting rid of the seppies.
I consider Quebec like an alcoholic. It can;t be treated until it's hit bottom and it knows it. The population still thinks everyhitng is ok. We arn;t anywhere close to the bottom yet. A few more years..
DeleteThe Liberals (and feds giving this province $) are just enablers.
The PQ are coming. A few anglo's voting one way or another cannot make any difference.
The problem is the population of Quebec is so easily led astray. Their insecurities are insurmountable and impenetrable to logic.
As Quebec circles the bowl on the way down we can talk about strategy all we want.
Once the PQ get into govt and push independence we can push for our own normal place to live.
Personally I'm come around to the idea that I would prefer to live in a the province of montreal separated from Quebec then in Quebec as it is now.
The seppies are too damaging to any economy and civil society. You will never be able to appease the bottomless insecurities and bigotry in PQ Quebec.
Better to talk about coming out the other side with a billingual province that Quebec was meant to be.
Quebec city and the hinterland can slide off into the ocean at that point.
Saving Montreal is really the only goal besides help the natives with their land claims.
What better time to give the natives part of Quebec then when the PQ start wanting it cut up?
You really think the natives up north are going to sit aorund and watch the PQ claim they can take native land out of Canada without giving any to them?
Best case is we strip PQ Quebec of as much power and money and land as possible. Then set the crazies off on their way.
They can do as much cross burning as they want then. Finally they will have an ethnically pure homeland without foreigners within the border.
Really serious independantists should be all for this idea.
So your idea, like many others on this blog, is to destroy the province so that the separatists realize the error of their ways?
DeleteWell okay, but I can't get behind that plan unfortunately.
Despite the problems and issues we face, I still love my province, all of it. Separatists represent a minority (not even 30%?), I don't think we should all have to suffer because of a small group.
I do think about it sometimes, how it would be nice for the separatists to get what they deserve, what they want. No jobs, no foreign investments, just a bunch of lazy people living off what the government can give them (which wouldn't be much at that point). Then I remember that I'm better than these crazy extremists.
Anyways the economy isn't a very good place to hit these people; they will claim that money is not important to them, yadda yadda. They are so used to living on government/union handouts, and being told that the "méchants anglais" are stealing all their jobs, opportunities and wealth, I doubt they would ever realize the error of their ways. Right now they think they'd be better off, and once they were in deep shit, they'd place the blame on the ROC.
Trying to make these people learn is pointless. We should try to make our lives better instead, no?
No the province gets destroyed because the seppies want that.
DeleteIn the rubble the normal people and the seppies go their own ways.
I agree with you that helping them learn is pointless. The dogma is too strong with seppies.
I just don;t agree with you that all anglo's need to think exactly alike and support the Libs. Agitating and discussing is important even if nothing comes of it!
Yes, Ed, Yes! Voting for the Liberals from 1944-1974 was a 30 year period of linguistic peace...then came Bill 22. In fact, even before that, in the late 1960s the language war was well underway, like in St-Leonard.
DeleteThen in 1974 you had Bou-bou's Bill 22, then in 1977 you had Bill 1 and then the watered-down Bill 101 (but not watered-down compared to Bill 22), and then you had Bou-Bou's Bill 178 and Bill 86 and somewhere in there you had the PQ's Bill 104 and then you had John James Charest's Bill 103 or 115 or whatever it was and now you have Bill 14. For the Dec 2/85 election, Bou-bou promised the English more representation in the civil service and relaxation of the sign laws. Came Dec 3/85, and it was all forgotten. Then he passed Bill 178. Language peace from the PLQ? Faggedaboudit!
Of more recent times, John James Charest dropped Anglos from cabinet, and they all voted for that Bill 103 crap like the Quislings they are.
Now go stick your head back in the ground like the timid ostrich you are, Ed! The status quo will burn you! It already has!
"Agitating and discussing is important even if nothing comes of it!"
Deletewhy is it important if nothing comes of it?
Again cebueq is totally right - the province will be destroyed because the seppies want it and so it goes. The federalists that reside here have a right to decide their own fate and their own country. A separate country for those that want to leave is fair = the rest of us can do without them and become our own bilingual province. A lot less chance of outright civil war than if they try to drag those of us that don't want to leave along with them to their own demise. Complicated seems to think there will be no civil war if they decide to take the whole province but he is totally wrong. There will be much more violence if that is even contemplated. The corridors through quebec to maintain Canada as a whole are the areas that will vote to remain and the East and West Coast will remain connected this way. That is the only option for the survival of Canada and for we Canadians to have peace again.
DeleteReally, Ed?
DeleteOf course, you didn't say "40 years" because then we'd have to go back all the way to Bill 22 in '74 which was a Liberal project.
But within the last 30 years I remember Bill 178 and Bill 150 which directly led to a constitutional crisis and, ultimately, the referendum in '95. Those bills were also courtesy of the Liberal Party of Quebec.
You're not only a bigot but you have selective memory as well.
ED - Yes we should all vote Liberal even though they presided over the most corruption in Canadian history..even though they racked up as much debt as the PQ..even though they ignore the anglo community on a regular basis but they gladly take our votes..even though they talk from both sides of their mouth on a regular basis. Yes lets stop thinking and just vote Liberal. It seems that the Liberals brough in the first language rights bill if memory serves correct and it was them who wanted more french inspectors..hmmm. Oh now we have the new saviour Mr.Couillard and Mr.Trudeau-lite..yes I am sure they will be much different. How many more decades of Liberal rule will it take to convince people that this party is ineffective and incompetent. The anglos here are like scared sheep..they just vote Liberal without thinking..I am starting to wonder what the Liberals would have to do to make the anglos stop voting for them..at this point I cant think of anything..it seems like anglos are hard-wired to vote Liberal. Sorry but I will actually think about who I am voting for and look objectively at the previous records of these governments and make an intelligent informed decision instead of acting like a robot like most anglos.
DeleteLa CAQ appuie la loi 14 sous certaines conditions ... Le projet de loi va de l'avant :)
ReplyDeleteYes!!!!!
DeleteUn pas de plus vers l'independance de la future republique populair du quebekistan!!!
Pauline 1ere future Reine du quebekistan.
Vivez tous-tes en francais a jamais... mais avant crissez moi votre camp au plus crisse du Canada.
Merci.
The english language should all but dead in a future Republique Populaire du quebekistan which should come to be by 2020.
DeleteQue pensez-vous ugBSdc de notre future devise pour notre nouveau pays? :
Delete"On les a eu les anglais"
Pas mal hein?
Pierre Allard would beg to differ.
Deletehttp://pierreyallard.blogspot.ca/2012/10/mrcpontiacmapjpg.html
"Que pensez-vous ugBSdc de notre future devise pour notre nouveau pays? :
Delete"On les a eu les anglais"
Pas mal hein?"
Pas pire. mais tu devrais concentrer tes efforts a des fins plus utiles que d'etre ici a perdre ton temps. Tu es contre-productif. Contactes quelqu'un au PQ ou au QS pi soit volontaire pour convaincre les gens de voter pour un quebec libre du joug fasciste d'Ottawa. Ce joug opprimant et insultant.
Tu me rends service car le Canada va se debarasser du quebec. Les deux cotes seront enfin heureux.
C'est toi qui devrait organiser une manifestation avec tes amis canadiens,je trouve votre communauté ethnique manque de tonus.
DeleteS.R. c'est vous qui voulez vous separer.
DeleteNous ca nous ferait bien plaisir que vous quittiez.
Si tu le veut ton pays, merites le. Ca ne se fera pas tout seul. Apres tout le Canada vous a bien trop accomode jusqu'ici.
Fais un effort. Demontres tes intentions, donc releves tes manches et mets-toi au travail, camarade. Montrez que vous pouvez etre une belle nation, seuls.
Très bon conseils mais je ne parlais pas de l'indépendance de mon pays mais bien du projet de loi 14 qui sera bientôt adopté,du moins,en partie.Beaucoup de gueulards anglos sur les médias sociaux mais personne dans les rues.Étrange non?
DeleteUn gars bien sympathique de Calgary,
DeleteThe english language should all but dead in a future Republique Populaire du quebekistan which should come to be by 2020.
I am still under the opinion that a separate, independent Quebec will mean the end of the French language in North America.
Troy - I do agree with you totally there. Its the great irony..seperatists all believe that this independant Quebec will strengthen the french language but in reality it will be the opposite. A weaker isolated Quebec will be forced to do more trade with the outside world and will force people to use english even more than they do now. They will no longer have the billions and billions of dollars flowing into the province from Canada..the french language will also be more or less abandoned in the rest of Canada. Hence even fewer people will speak french in North America. It all comes down to money and economic power in the end and an independant Quebec will be much weaker and more vulnerable. Of course the political elites like Pauline Marois will do just fine but the average Quebecois will be sc@ewed.
DeleteATTENTION READERS!
ReplyDeleteWatch for a special post on Bill 14 tonight at midnight....
April 24, 2013. 3:08 pm
ReplyDeleteNEW AMENDMENT TO BILL 14 EXTENDS BEYOND THE GRAVE, STIRRING UP HEATED CONTROVERSY AND ANGER
MONTREAL — Immigration Minister Diane De Courcy, who is responsible for strengthening Quebec’s Charter of the French language, whipped up controversy and fueled anger with a proposed new amendment to Bill 14. That new amendment seeks a measure that would force French be the only language permitted on grave and headstones markers in Quebec cemeteries starting as early as the fall of 2013.
When asked about existing grave sites, the minister said that nothing will change, however hinted that her party may examine the possibility of retroactive enforcement of the law by "modifying per-existing headstones to reflect Quebec's common language".
Outrage exploded from all sides, "First it was our schools. Then it was our towns and cities. Next came basic fundamental rights with search and seizures powers. Now they dare propose this? This [right to bury our dead how we choose] is sacred, non-negotiable!" said Christopher Rose, a Montrealer resident. Under the new law, stone engravings would have to be in French, which would even extend as far as personalized messages family commonly add to stones.
Liberal Philippe Couillard quickly denounced the idea, stating it was "absurd" and "utterly disrespectful" and further highlights the need to vote against Bill 14. Francois Legault of the CAQ told the media his party would examine this new proposal before passing any judgement, but expressed that there is a great need to protect French in Quebec and this is one area commonly overlooked.
In a press statement Diane De Courcy said, "We live in French, work in French, socialize in French. It is vastly important that be carried through even after our passing, and show future generations that we truly lived through life in Quebec in French. What will historians say hundreds of years from now? Do we want them to think we were assimilated by English culture?". Rights activist Beryl Wajsman made a public statement earlier in the day, "This crosses the line, it cannot pass, it will not pass! Should the PQ even attempt to push such a narrow minded and intrusive law forward, there will be consequences that will spill out onto the streets of Montreal. You do not touch how we remember our family and loved ones, period.".
Hearings on Bill 14 continue through the week.
where is the link to this story?
DeleteDon't see anything in the Gazette pertaining to this - probably student having fun at our expense. Sick minds that's all.
DeleteHaha! Very funny. You made a mistake, the hearing on Bill 14 is over, since, the PQ is in a minority it needs the opposition support to move it towards second reading for a clause by clause analysis.
DeleteNice try, Montreal Gazette. It is now 24 April. April Fool's Day was more than 3 weeks ago.
DeleteEditor, is using the name of a real, bonafide news source like this allowed?
Dear "MONTREAL GAZETTE."
DeleteYour post was amusing but please don't use that moniker, it is strictly against blog policy to portray yourself as someone or something you are not.
Since there are comments attached already and since you went to such a big effort I'll indulge you this time.
I cannot believe that some people actually fell for the story, it reminds me of the alphabet soup story.
That's how crazy this province has become.
FROM ED TO
ReplyDeleteQUEBECER OF THE TREE STUMP.
I'm afraid it's no use with people like Cebueq and Cutie. They remind me of posters like Complicated who campaigned long and hard for the CAQ. he actually has the nerve to come back here arguing that splitting the vote was not what elected the PQ, even though we all know different. They moan about having to live with the PQ in power but refuse to be pragmatic about the danger of giving them another four years. I agree with your idea. If vote splitting returns the PQ to power they should stay off the blog. We will have to live with the fruit of their labours. They are not serious about the danger. cebeuq is starting to sound more like Une gars who enjoys seeing our homes go down the drain. If the PQ is reelected they will simply move and leave us to live with the mess left behind. Anyway I'm outta here for a while. I have to do the rewrite on my novel, I have a publisher waiting, it will take around three weeks. Your on your own almost . The only other one that sees the sense to it is Sandy McTire. Ignore Mr. Sauga and Tony K, they are just itching for a fight. They hate me because I tell it like it is. Neither one lives here but they talk like they know best. Ed
Ed:
DeleteI actually enjoy reading everyone's opinions on this blog, even if I completely disagree with them. I'm only in my 30s, and I still have a lot to learn, and so I very much enjoy all you posters with such a great knowledge of this province's history.
I tend to have strong opinions about all these issues, but my views could always change as new information becomes available. I think that's why I love a good debate, I'm very interested in understanding what motivates people to think or act a certain way, and who knows, maybe they'll convince me. Either way I'll probably learn something new, or a different way of seeing things.
In this case I've been more outspoken because I'm actually very worried.. My main concern right now is simple: How do we get the PQ out of office? Nobody here really seems to want to discuss that question. We all want them gone as soon as possible, don't we?
On a side note, I hate seeing the little fights between posters that carry over from post to post. I think we're all here because we want the same things, we might just have different priorities or opinions on how to get there. If we always agreed with each other, this blog would be a lot less interesting.
Good luck with your book!
I am beginning to understand Ed a little better. He writes:
Delete"If vote splitting returns the PQ to power they should stay off the blog."
and
"The only other one that sees the sense to it is Sandy McTire."
Sandy-de-Souche believes only people with 200 year pedigrees in Quebec have credibility to debate the language issue...just like certain francophone xenophobes.
Ed wants people who disagree with him to "stay off the blog". Ed and Sandy are a mutual admiration society, praising each other in posts.
Ed, you don't want discussion; you want people to agree with you. This is quite clear when you state that you want those that disagree with you to stay off the blog. You also write:
"Ignore Mr. Sauga and Tony K, they are just itching for a fight."
It's called debate, Ed. That's, essentially, what blogs are for: an opportunity to exchange, debate, and discuss issues, something you clearly don't want to do, unless people agree with you.
You also write about Mr. Sauga and me:
"They hate me because I tell it like it is."
I don't "hate" you for your political opinions. I do, however, laugh at them because I find them silly.
And I don't hate you for expressing bigotted opinions, as you did recently. I just feel sorry for you.
ED - The world according to you is that we should just vote Liberal sd infinitum no matter how corrupt and incompetent they are. We should keep on supporting a party that has taken the anglo community for granted for decades..how does that make any sense ED?? I have given you facts from the last election which clearly showed that the CAQ were far more competitive with the PQ and ironically would have given the Liberals the win if a few thousand more Liberal votes had swung over to the CAQ. But facts get in your way..you prefer to just make up things out of thin air..show me some real numbers and then we can talk. If the CAQ had won 5 more ridings then the Liberals would have won the election by one. The CAQ was very competitive with the PQ in 12 ridings..the Liberals were only competitive with the PQ in maybe 5 ridings. People..especially francophones were fed up with the lies and total incompetence of the Liberal party and punished them accordingly..how you can come here day after day and keep defending a morally bankrupt useless party is beyond me. The numbers once again show ED that the Liberals have added as much to the Quebec debt as the PQ..go check it for yourself. It seems to me that the worst corruption in Canadian history was ongoing under Liberal rule..so either the Liberals were aware and did nothing about it and likely even participated or they were utterly incompetent and were unaware of it..either way a huge fail.
DeleteSo instead of coming on here with your opinion why dont you give me some real numbers then maybe we can have a debate.
If the polls are to be trusted, the Liberals will win the next election. Anglophones have every interest in making sure that at least some anglo MNAs are represented in the cabinet. I have to ask, what did the 1989-1994 Libman-led Equality MNAs accomplish for their constituents? Absolutely nothing and they lost their seats at the 94 election and the party never won anything again. The Bourassa majority was able to completely ignore them. As an anglo Montrealer, I would much rather vote Liberal (warts and all) and hope that my MNA will be able to have some degree of influence from the inside. I fail to see how this 2.0 upgrade would produce anything substantive for constituents.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous writes:
Delete"I have to ask, what did the 1989-1994 Libman-led Equality MNAs accomplish for their constituents? Absolutely nothing and they lost their seats at the 94 election and the party never won anything again."
The first thing they accomplished is that they strategically ran in only those ridings in which no vote splitting could happen and your beloved Liberals still formed a majority government.
And from me Ed, I really wish you would stop telling people what to post, whom to agree with and whom to address with their comments. This is everyone's blog and the Editor is the one that makes these decisions. As in any democracy, people have a right to vote for whom they see fit as it will be come the next election. It also follows that this blog will not continue if you have your way because the Editor is also supporting the Equality Party so if the PQ get elected, to your logic, the Editor should also not post. Yes, take a rest.
ReplyDeleteТοday, I wеnt to the beaсhfront with my kids.
ReplyDeleteӏ found a sea shell and gavе it to mу 4 yeаr old
daughteг and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear."
She put thе ѕhell to her eаr anԁ ѕcreаmed.
Thеre was a heгmit crаb insіde аnd іt pinched hеr
ear. She never wants to go baсk! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell
sоmeone!
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