Monday, July 29, 2013

Quebec Not Very Accommodating

A half a dozen years back, a cabane à sucre  was taken to task for making an accommodation to a large group of Muslims who asked that pork not be used in the preparation of their meals.
Since the group was rather large and represented an important and profitable booking, the owner agreed. Why not?

A good time was had by all, the owner very happy to provide a service for which he was well-paid and the Muslims happy for the social outing that represents an important aspect of Quebec culture and history.

But not everyone was amused, in fact the Quebec Association des restaurateurs de cabanes à sucre was horrified that the traditional recipes which included pork were bastardized in order to make a religious accommodation.
The president, Hermine Bourdeau-Ouimet, opined that pork is part of the pleasure at the cabane à sucre and that there shouldn't be any question of modifying the traditional menus. Link{fr}

In another cabane à sucre, 260 hundred Muslims were celebrating a day at the sugar shack and asked that the dance floor be used for prayer for about ten minutes.
The only other group in the hall was about twenty non-Muslims who were told to get off the dance floor for the short period that the prayers were offered,
Incensed, that group stormed out in a huff.
When the owner was questioned by the press over the incident, he remarked casually that there were close to 300 Muslims and twenty Christians and if the majority didn't rule, their money certainly did.

And so was born in Quebec the debate over religious accommodations.

Should we or shouldn't we.

If you believe the polls, most Quebecers don't want to make what are commonly known as 'reasonable accommodations,' a clever euphemism for 'reasonable religious accommodations', fearing that it will somehow lead to a breakdown in society and destroy the all important social cohesiveness, that is the cornerstone of the nationalist narrative.

As a society, we are in fact, very in tune with the concept of reasonable accommodations, just not with reasonable accommodations that involve religion.

The leading anti-religious-accommodation journalist of the Journal de Montreal Richard Martineau makes this point about the religiously observant.
"You chose to follow the tenets of a religion? ..... Then assume the consequences.

Maybe your choice will prevent you from eating in restaurants in La Ronde because you won't find halal or kosher meat ...
And maybe your choice will prevent you from bathing in a public lake, because in Quebec there isn't separation between the sexes.

It's your choice.  

A company does not have to bend over backwards to accommodate you.
If God is so important to you, you should accept without complaint the sacrifices that the religion you have chosen .

This is the price
to pay."
Link
To many this argument makes sense, but it does show an incredible naïvete by someone who hasn't a clue as to what a business is all about, which is selling as much product or services at a profit, as one can.
If a group of 300 customers made a request for square dancing music to be played while they dine, then square dancing music it would be.
Maybe not to Mr. Martineau, but to any smart businessman.

If you believe in what Mr. Martineau wrote above about personal choice and living with the consequences, then you would have to agree that no accommodation should be offered to a large group of vegetarians who wished to arrange an afternoon at the cabane a sucre, because it too would entail a menu modification.
 After all, like the Muslims, it is a personal choice that vegetarians make not to conform with mainstream Quebec society and so they too should be forced to live with the consequences.

But I'm pretty sure that if faced with the question of vegetarians, Mr. Martineau would find room in his heart for an accommodation.

How about a large Yoga group, which asks that the dance floor be liberated for ten minutes so that they could do some limbering up exercises. Considering that 260 of the 280 guests are part of this Yoga group, is it really unreasonable or just good business?

Such is the folly of the debate over reasonable accommodations, because by definition an accommodation that is reasonable should be supported by all and contrarily we should all be against an unreasonable accommodation.

Of course we make accommodations all day long, the old standby that the rules should apply equally to all, is nothing but a pipe dream. We make these accommodations because they are the right thing to do.

We allow those with limited mobility to park closer to entrances and reserve parking spots just for them, excluding others.
The special prices at the movies for students or senior citizens is an accommodation that discriminates based on age.
The Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts both discriminate against the opposite sex.
Golf clubs that don't allow women in the dining room may be seen as dinosaurs, but fitness clubs that bar men are seen as progressive.

All of a sudden accommodations don't seem so absurd, but when those accommodations revolve around religion, the atheist majority, led by Mr. Martineau see red, the debate always returns to so-called concept of equality, where we in fact violate those rules every day.

And so to the decision made by the La Ronde amusement park in Montreal (owned by Six Flags) to no longer allow Kosher or Halal food to be brought into the park by guests, can be seen in the Quebec context.
After a newspaper story detailing the horror, an online petition demanding that the amusement park end the religious accommodation was signed by 19,000 people who had nothing better to do with their time. Read a story  See the petition

Incidentally another petition, asking the La Ronde to sell healthier food received less than six hundred signers. Link
It is a sad commentary on what drives public debate in Quebec.
I bet if you asked these 19,000 petitioners if it would be okay for La Ronde to sell Halal or Kosher food, the majority would say absolutely not.
Why? Dunno.

The venue has a firm no outside food policy, which is fair for a business that makes much of its money selling food.
Unlike other venues who do offer kosher food, there isn't enough business in Montreal to warrant the investment and so La Ronde caved to the pressure and reversed a policy that did allow food to be brought in.

In a massive show of support, the Richard Martineau's in the media applauded this policy, citing the old chestnut of equality. If Jews and Arabs can bring in food, why not the Christians?

There is of course an easier solution to the problem and as the old saying goes, where there's a will, there's a way.

Like the airlines, the amusement park could have patrons pre-order kosher or Halal or in fact a vegetarian plate from a published menu, perhaps 24 hours before coming. Customers could pay for their purchases online and pick them up at a designated counter.
Not a big deal, certainly not brain surgery.
I'm not sure how many people would actually use the service, but if it were to be underused, the park could then successfully argue that it is unnecessary.

As I said, where there's a will, there's a way.

Unfortunately, in Quebec, there is a lack of will.

198 comments:

  1. Il parait que les Juives ne peuvent serrer la main des hommes même lorsqu'elle se présentent en politique au Québec...Pas très accomodant non plus,n'est-ce pas?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Check your facts before you make such an obviously obtuse statement.

      Delete
    2. Demandez à Mme Mindy Pollack qui fera campagne pour le poste de conseillère dans Outremont.

      Delete
    3. You want facts 2 cents?

      3:40
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObLeAHfnc-k
      She can't shake hands with men.

      Delete
    4. @SR

      Il parait que les Juives ne peuvent serrer la main des hommes
      I misunderstood that 'les Juives' referred to jewish women, not all jews.

      Regardless, it is still an obtuse statement.
      How is not shaking hands with a person of the opposite sexnot very accommodating to the other person?
      I did not realize that certain francophones are easily insulted when someone does not greet them with a handshake.
      In the spirit of reasonable accommodation, I will try my best to shake the hand of every separatist and separatiste I meet in the future!

      Delete
    5. There are many people that are offended by the french tradition of kissing on both cheeks but you don't see newspaper articles and riots about it. Lots of people don't appreciate that kind of intrusion into their personal space.

      Delete
    6. "I did not realize that certain francophones are easily insulted when someone does not greet them with a handshake"

      Avez-vous déjà vu une campagne électorale sans poignée de main en Amérique ou en Europe?
      Cependant elle a le droit d'accorder plus d'importance à la présence de hot-dog kosher sur le site de La Ronde :)

      Delete
    7. And this affects your life… just how exactly?

      Delete
    8. Qui croyez-vous qui sont réellement les plus affectés?

      Delete
  2. Editor,

    You are way way way off base here.

    If I was one of the 20 people at the cabane, I'd demand my money back, pronto. You want to pray? Do so at home or at your temple. Not at the cabane a sucre. You want to be religious? Not a problem, please keep it at home or within your temple; and yes this applies to Christians as well.

    Religion has no part to play in a modern society (outside the home or the temple) as it does the opposite of bringing people together.

    And editor, when you immigrate to a country your job is to acclimate yourself to your new compatriots, not the opposite. The idea that a guest should be given everything humanly possible at your expense is revolting. A line must be drawn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Mr. Marco

      You don't want it to play a part in modern society, okay, I can accept that. However, I do and many other people want it to as well. I work hard and pay taxes just like you. Why shouldn't community institutions, the culture and society be representative of some of my values and aspirations? Why should I or anyone else have to hide in our homes and temples? If you don't like religion tough... Get over it. After all, I am asked to tolerate all kinds of things and I do for the sake of social cohesion and harmony.

      >when you immigrate to a country your job is to acclimate yourself to your new compatriots, not the opposite

      And do you not think that immigrants going to a Cabane a Sucre is not acclimating yourself to your new country? I guess its better if the immigrants stayed home and ghetto-ized. What immigrants are doing is slowly integrating, by participating in common cultural activities, with slight adaptations, to suit their needs. Why is this a bad thing?

      D-

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    2. Typical anti-theist attitude. The fact is, the majority of people in Canada are religious and you have no right to tell people when and where being religious is acceptable.

      Delete
    3. Yes we do if we want to keep our country from changing

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    4. Countries change constantly, like it or not.

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    5. "And do you not think that immigrants going to a Cabane a Sucre is not acclimating yourself to your new country?"

      Dégagez le plancher...Nous allons prier.

      Bravo!...Pas tout à fait l'attitude de personnes civilisées.Nous avons déjà vu mieux comme efforts d'adaptation,les Asiatiques,par exemple :)

      Delete
  3. The level of intolerance from posters is quite shocking. So Marco, following your train of thought, why should the French majority allow any accomodations to the English minority? Live and let live. In total agreeance with Editor

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  4. Dear Editor,

    I've been reading this blog for a while and this the first time I comment. I read the article of Richard Martineau and had the exact same thought... A lot of "personal choices", such as vegetarianism, are accommodated for in business and public institutions.

    If certain personal choices should be "banned" from the public sphere, where does it end... One could even say that speaking a particular language is a "personal choice". So if people can't integrate into the common culture and language why should we accommodate them?

    This debate isn't about "reasonable accommodations". It is a means for people who hate religion to advance their agenda and I think, more subtly, it is about submission of all to the true religion of Quebec, nationalism and submission to the state.

    D-

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Americans are now starting to freely talk of the discrimination in quebec while visiting: Copied from a FB page.
    "I was told that several American radio stations were criticizing the lack of respect for tourists that visited Montreal for the Just for Laughs festival. Several cafes and restaurants treated the tourists rudely when they tried getting service in English. The word is slowly getting out there. We should spread the word further..."
    Keep it up Seppies - show the world the cowardly, selfish stuff you're all made of. We don't need no damn tourists!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Encore un cas isolé...Beaucoup d'Américains se débrouillent très bien en français,contrairement aux canadians.Pour les autres,ils n'ont qu'à visiter Détroit...Mdr.

      Delete
    2. Good, lets get the word out far and wide...expose these french only bigots all around the world...boycott Quebec period.

      Delete
    3. Le monde a d'autres problèmes plus importants à régler que vos petits caprices d'angryphones:)

      Delete
    4. I like how one single quote = The USA

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    5. Speaking of tourism in Montreal...

      Went with some family during the evening to visit the Old Port of Montreal last week, at what I believe is the height of the tourist season (mid to late July). In the past, the Old Port and Old Montreal were a big part of summer. Outdoor artists and outside galleries, street performers, indoor art galleries, interesting shops, music, food vendors, etc.

      As of last week, it was practically DEAD! About a block of junk shops selling low class tourist crap like post cards, mugs and t-shirts. No street performers, no artists/painters, no music, hardly anyone walking around. Just quiet and empty. All the art galleries and shops were closed and locked up by 9 PM. Oh...but I did get to see not one, but THREE separate people publicly urinating! And not discreetly, one guy was peeing into sewer grate on the peer pathway, standing right out in the open with no shame. Lots of people asking for spare change too.

      Almost tripped several times because of holes in the road and sidewalk, and sadly, much of the old cobblestone has been paved over. Montreal isn't very welcoming these days, no wonder people are staying away. I'd be embarrassed to bring any out of towners to visit Old Montreal or the Old Port.

      Delete
    6. "As of last week, it was practically DEAD! About a block of junk shops selling low class tourist crap like post cards, mugs and t-shirts."

      Êtes-vous bien certain que vous n'étiez pas à ottawa?

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

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    8. A link to that quote would be helpful, Cutie...

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    9. Sorry - one of the FB sites that support anglo rights in quebec but can't remember which one.

      Delete
    10. @ Sebastien,

      "I like how one single quote = The USA"

      Repugnant incidents of that type aren't isolated. Several years ago one of my friends had parents visiting Montreal from their home state of New Jersey. They went to see the Olympic Stadium and when some teenaged Francophone girls heard them speaking English, they yelled and spit at them. His parents have avoided Montreal ever since and now they spend their valuable tourist dollars elsewhere.

      Delete
    11. @durham

      "Repugnant incidents of that type aren't isolated."

      and you think you can prove this by describing what happened to your friend's parents? haha. come on now stop wasting internet space, mate.

      Delete
    12. Yeah, Durham! Don't you know that anecdotal evidence means nothing at all to separatists?

      Apparently, one of them requires double-blind experiments and peer-reviewed published articles before he sees which way the wind is blowing... and even then, he has the ability to blinker himself to whatever he wants to believe...

      Delete
    13. @equanimity

      you are an imbecile if you think it's enough to bring forward a second anecdote to prove the first one does indeed represent a trend.

      Delete
  6. For your information:
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Unity-Group-Quebec-civil-rights/619408914752897
    Join as many groups as you can - they will be happy with all the support they can muster.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 'Quebec Not Very Accommodating" No kidding...they can spin it any way they want...but bills 22, 178, 101, 14...are nothing more then racism, bigotry, xenophobia, all dressed as a rights issue...but in reality its just hate,intolerance, the Quebec way.

    Enjoy the latest clip exposing what these "french" bigots are really up to.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZz61S3sTA8

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Propagande de rednecks à saveur d'orange

      Delete
    2. Another Quebecer who can’t handle the truth...typical. You do keep us entertained...LOLLLL.

      Delete
  8. Bientôt sur St-Laurent?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn9mi5tnVTA&list=PLD35636BBD61ED5F4

    ReplyDelete
  9. "...everyone should be allowed to express their religious beliefs without persecution."

    Nommez moi un seul pays occidental où celà ne cause aucun problème.

    ReplyDelete
  10. En français svp, plutôt que de vosu cacher derrière l'anglais pour dire du mal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is an English blog. If you can't live with that, back to vigile.net for you.

      Delete
    2. This blog is called no dogs or anglophones. I'll speak french if i want

      Delete
    3. Ce coward a bien choisi son pseudo.

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

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    5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    6. @anonymous : Find youself a username and stop acting cocky!

      Delete
    7. It's the sign of a very ill society when some of its members show up on someone's personal blog, which is in English and concerns anglophones, thinking they have the right to tell people not to speak their own language on the internet.

      Can you imagine? A North American telling people "don't hide behind English to say bad things"... the mind absolutely boggles!!! There cannot be any other place on Earth where such a thing could possibly happen.

      Delete
    8. @True Montrealer : Welcome to the internet! Just go to youtube, pick a video with millions of views and read the comments. You'll see a lot worse

      Delete
    9. Comme si la langue d'internet était exclusivement le globish...C'mon!

      Delete
    10. You seem to be confusing YouTube with someone's personal blog dedicated to anglophones in Quebec. Tsk-tsk. For shame!

      Delete
    11. I speak the original language of this land, which you call Cree, and I too want you to stop “hiding behind English” so you can "bash" us, because my nation also feels insecure about itself, just like the minority franco-Québécois separatists do.

      OK, I'm just joking... there is no way anybody else on Earth could possibly feel as insecure as the franco-Québécois separatists! There is no nation in the world that is as insecure about itself as them, not even us Cree, even though they expect everyone else to provide one-way accommodation for them.

      PS: I would have written this in Cree except that, unlike franco-Québécois separatists, I respectfully follow the rules of this blog’s editor.

      Delete
    12. Cree cree ferait un très beau pseudo,vous devriez l'utiliser...Cree cree,hmm

      Delete
    13. @ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ

      Good to see a native voice on this blog.

      Maybe the seppies will be made to understand that Quebec does not actually belong to the neo-French.

      Delete
    14. +10 and they will not have to give up THEIR LAND (HYDRO) AND BUILDINGS to a separate quebec, you can bet your bottom dollar on that one. Neither will areas that have no intention of leaving Canada. Partition this place and let those areas leave that want to leave and the rest of us can build a new bilingual province, along with the Natives, to ensure the prosperity of all. Can't be soon enough for me!

      Delete
    15. Quebec: from the Míkmaq word kepék, meaning "strait" or "narrows"

      Yet over decades of anti-everybody except themselves, Quebec now translates as "french catholic" only.

      funny how they can go from being colonists, to overrun the local population and then finally start to call the province "historically theirs".

      revisionist history at it's best.

      Delete
    16. Plutôt drôle de voir les "canadians" appuyés les "indians" seulement lorsque ceux-ci ont une attitude négative envers le Québec,car nous savons tous très bien que les "canadians" se crissent (foutent) totalement des "indians" :)

      Delete
    17. Native Anon from Cree Nation

      I'm 100% for helping the cree/labrador etc carve up Quebec. After that Montreal can break off into a city state or join back to Canada.

      The crazy hateful part of Quebec that constantly agitates for more language laws but yet has no jobs or employers outside of government. They will build their walls and borders, and disappear out of our collective contentiousness while reading seppie poetry and saluting the FLQ flag.


      Delete
    18. Personally, I've never had any bad experiences when hanging out with Natives.

      However, I've encountered many, many, many (many infinity!) asshat seps who are nothing more than self-pitying droogs.

      Delete
    19. @cebeuq

      Why only Quebec? Why couldn't they claim all of Canada's land while we're at it?

      Delete
    20. @Dasve Santi

      Hahahahaha!

      Delete
    21. Because we WANT to remain one of the nations within Canada and have no interest whatsoever in joining the hate-based francophone dream.

      Delete
    22. "Because we WANT..."

      Qui?Combien?...Des chiffres?

      Delete
    23. This land does not belong to the indians. Nobody is born owning land.

      Mark from Ottawa

      Delete
  11. We are not paranoid and we are serious. A few years back Dalton Mcguinty premier of Ontario tried to bring sharia law to ontario. He backed off when a protest of muslim woman popped up in toronto because they knew sharia law will supress the woman. Dont be so naive!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Editor,

    Nobody ever raised this point. Do you not find it suspicious that Erabliere au Sous-Bois was burned to the ground not long after they made the news with their decision?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Comme Charlie Hebdo en France

      http://blog.lesoir.be/jour-apres-jour/2011/11/02/charlie-hebdo-en-feu-mais-pas-eteint/

      Delete
    2. Have you looked at their ridiculously complicated price scale? And not a word of English on their website either, even though they’re less than 50km from Montreal… no wonder they went down in flames. Serves them right.

      Delete
  13. Editor,

    Is there anything that can be done to the Anonymouses?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Troy, there is only one anon posting in this thread, the other is signed "D-" at the bottom.
    I encourage everyone to get a 'handle' by following the instruction on the green bar above the main post.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I do have one critique and that is referring to Richard Martineau and others of his viewpoint as atheist.

    The Quebec/France version of a secular society is very different from the Anglosphere version in that it presumes the dominance of Christianity-- and specifically Catholicism -- above all.

    The proof is not in the pudding, but in the National Assembly, where politicos find the notion of removing the statue of the crucified Jew absolutely terrifying and a crime against humanity -- all while falsely proclaiming that religion has no place in the public sphere.

    -John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vous admettrez que les catholiques sont plus discrets et qu'ils savent s'adapter à leur environnement.

      Delete
    2. Et surtout il ne vous menaceront pas de mort si vous faites une caricature du christ.

      Delete
    3. Such utter hypocrisy from franco-Quebecers is indeed most damning to their cause.

      Delete
  16. FROM ED
    When ever a group of people get together there is usually a singular reason. In this case it was Islamism. Of course they wanted to pray, that's what Islamists do. Is it really different than Canadians at a hockey game singing O Canada or a basketball team kneeling to pray before a game. Lots of university football teams do that. The spoiled brats were'nt being asked to pray with them, simply wait a few minutes. Too many want it "my way or no way" which is what leads to road rage for example. I little toleration of another's religion is a great way to encourage assimilation. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ils n'arrêteront pas un match en plein milieu pour chanter le O canada :)

      "I little toleration of another's religion is a great way to encourage assimilation."

      Totalement illogique.

      Delete
    2. These spoiled brats were asked to get off the dance floor to let these islamist pray to a god that tells them to kill us infidels. Thats why i moved to quebec its the only province that will stand up to these guys.

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

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    4. All I see is a little Chihuahua puppy, yipping and yapping, hoping to get some attention while being ignored by all the grown-ups… LOL! :)

      Delete
  17. It is difficult for readers to understand who they are talking to when multiple people post under 'ANONYMOUS'

    It isn't a question of seeking out who you are, an individual screen name makes it easy to converse. Your anonymity is protected.
    Please click on the green bar at the top of the page entitled "How to comment on this blog'
    It's easy.
    I won't allow any more post under the ANON label in this thread, it isn't an editorial decision about the content, just an attempt to create some order.

    Thank yo in advance for your cooperation in choosing and using a screen name that DOES NOT AFFECT YOUR ANONYMITY!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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

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

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    4. Un anonymous qui se répond à lui même...Trop drôle :)

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

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    6. So sad that those of your ilk keep getting smacked down... not really. :)

      Delete
    7. @Not Anonymous

      I sometimes believe a higher power created them specifically for our amusement.

      I mean, they're pretty good at it.

      It goes all the way back to 1759, or what some call, the "Hang 'Em High" era.

      Then we have 1980, the "laisse moi donc pleurer sur ma maudite manche, tabarnak" era.

      Of course, no good event is without a sequel and that's why we got to live the good times in 1995. Ethnics and people with money got to have a great time that evening.

      Bless their smacked-down little hearts.

      Delete
    8. "believe a higher power created them"

      Vous êtes un créationniste?

      Mdr!

      Delete
  18. This is from 2012 but it's the first time I've read it so perhaps others would be interested too.

    http://www.menzieshouse.com.au/2012/08/quebec-where-its-cool-to-be-racist.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is this the story that you've already post 400 times? I can tell you that I'm not interested. k thanks bye

      Delete
    2. As I said, and if you bother reading the post, it's the first time I've read this article and I have never posted anything 400 times not even 2 times if I can help it. This is our blog and is used to pass information throughout the anglophone community about various problems we encounter as anglophones living in quebec. If you do not want to participate in that, that's fine. I'm sure there are many other blogs that would satisfy your needs whatever they are. Meanwhile, don't read what you don't want to: That's part of being in a democracy right? You have the choice.

      Delete
    3. @cutie003

      interesting how the philosopher's looks have evolved through time.

      before: http://tinyurl.com/l5n36th
      and now, the autralian author of this illuminating article: http://tinyurl.com/n6xxjox

      jokes apart, the article is total crap. he doesn't even realize that the foreigner running for election (djemila benhabib) was in for the party he tries to portray as racist. what an imbecile.

      you display a natural knack cutie003 to dig out, or produce, the worst of the web.

      Delete
    4. "information throughout the anglophone community about various problems we encounter"

      Je suppose que vous comprenez mieux maintenant comment se sentent les Québécois en Amérique du Nord.

      Delete
    5. "Je suppose que vous comprenez mieux maintenant comment se sentent les Québécois en Amérique du Nord."

      Let me add a little tad of salt...

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIlUvEOhFos

      Future = Non

      Delete
    6. A primo example of ignoring the Golden Rule from our sad troll S.R, which succinctly explains why he is destined and, in fact, is obligated to always be a bitter, eternal loser…

      Also, a fascinating view of Quebec from abroad (i.e. not France)... and from home too:

      Chaz said...
      As an Australian living in Montreal, Quebec, I can't even tell you the reactions I get when I tell them what we did to Pauline Hanson. That the woman was threatened for wanting to limit certain races of people coming into Australia yet here they go as far as to condemn English (the language of business) and encourage verbal and physical abuse against people who speak English or choose to speak English over French. I for one, have been bullied, yelled at by strangers and I have been spat on in the train station for requesting an English translation to a voice over I couldn't understand about a train delay.
      We need more media coverage. The world needs to act on what is going on. The rest of Canada have had enough and the mob here (not the government) is running the place like pigs in a sty. We've all had enough. It's time their BS was exposed so thank you for your contribution.
      July 27, 2013 at 05:57 AM


      Public-service information, especially in North America, should always be available not only in English (obviously) but in as many other languages that are used locally as possible. The small-mindedness that we can witness in Quebec, which is falsely justified by the fear of assimilation, is both harmful to Quebec as a tiny minority-language jurisdiction and contributes to retarding its economic growth opportunities as well.

      Delete
    7. "http://tinyurl.com/n6xxjox"

      Il a les airs d'un gros pocelet amateur inconditionnel de Donuts :)

      Delete
    8. S.R, are you talking about this guy?

      Delete
    9. @p.darwinopterus

      no he's "talking" about this australian hick http://tinyurl.com/n6xxjox .

      try to follow it's easy with the time stamps.

      Delete
    10. Spitting on strangers is wrong.

      Delete
  19. I cannot possibly see even one province in Canada allowing sharia law any where near our justice system. There would be a huge outpouring of protests and I would be one of them.

    ReplyDelete
  20. It’s naughty to be an anonymous fibber; McGuinty never tried to introduce shariah law at all. He simply reacted to a recommendation made by the former attorney-general regarding religious arbitration decisions being enforceable in Ontario courts and promptly dumped all religious arbitration, saying there is one law for all Ontarians.

    Naïve is as naïve does. Nothing to see here, move along…

    ReplyDelete
  21. EDM, if Muslims want to practice their culture and way of live, perhaps they should migrate to other Muslim countries. Immigrants, regardless of origin, have no right to come to our home and demand accommodations all the while their home countries force immigrants to assimilate. If we accommodate everyone regardless of ethnicity, it will be the end of any self-respecting nation.

    A nation needs to be culturally homogeneous in order for it to flourish, or else we'll end up like London, Sweden and the Netherlands. Proper integration of immigrants leads to less racism, bigotry and a greater tolerance for global diversity.

    ReplyDelete
  22. You know, there are some parts of my country where you will see signs that read, "We serve fish on every day except Friday." What is the difference between this and the anti-kosher, anti-halal movement in Quebec? The answer is there is no difference.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    2. FROM ED
      The person posting under the anonymous title thinks he is head and shoulders above the rest of us. Editor has asked him to stop posting anonymously but he ignores the Editor's request to not do this and makes fun of our Editor and our blog. I suggest we support our Editor, the man who pays for and makes this site available to all of us by ignoring his posts. When you see anonymous with no I D don't read it and don't answer. He is obvoiusly below teenage mentality and not worth our attention. Ed

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

      Delete
    4. Ed... your concern is very touching but in fact there has probably been at least a dozen different people who have been posting as Anonymous recently in order to make fun of the Editor's completely laisser-faire attitude with regards to allowing disrespectful comments on his blog, something which he has already admitted that he doesn't particularly feel like moderating properly.

      If he doesn't care about his blog, why should anyone else?

      Do you think only the trolls should have all the fun? Let's all get in on the action, eh! Why not?

      Far be it from I to stoop to such nonsense, of course...

      The Editor has repeatedly stated that he is either unwilling or unable to moderate his blog properly.

      Obviously, with his everything-goes permissiveness, the Editor believes that his shall become the first blog in the history of the internet not to have been disrupted by trolling behaviour (well, either that or he sincerely encourages, if not relishes, such disruption by people who have no constructive contribution to make).

      Failing the will or the ability to moderate the blog properly, the next solution would appear to be posting without commentary, which is something that trolls apparently desperately seek since they have long clearly shown they aren’t engaged in the topic and have no edifying commentary to propose themselves.

      Certainly, they would see this as being a victory of sorts, since they have not been brought up in our glorious British tradition of respectful debate and are situated rather lower on the scale of intellectual development. Yes indeed, without a doubt, trolling belongs down there.

      Delete
    5. @Edward J Cunningham
      Nothing. That is totally disrespectful and wrong. I am against anyone who wants to discriminate against someone's religion.

      Delete
    6. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTTuesday, July 30, 2013 at 4:50:00 PM EDT

      @EDM
      Be advised that Islam is about hate and intolerance.
      Islam is all about converting all human beings to its hateful ideology.
      FYI Mohammad - the Prophet of Islam, was a pedophile, a murderer and a looter.
      http://thereligionofpeace.com/

      Delete
    7. @un gars bs de frankfort

      "Islam is about hate and intolerance."

      that's false.

      you are islamophobic. hence part of the problem. a big moronic part of it.

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

    ReplyDelete
  24. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is clear that the Editor’s original good intention was to allow people who can read his English commentary perfectly well but feel uncomfortable writing in English should be able to contribute as well. Similarly, they would follow his repeated requests not to post as “Anonymous” by goodwill alone.

      This farce has long ago been disproven. Over the past several years of this blog’s existence, not once has this situation ever been the case. On the contrary, the Editor’s well-intentioned open-mindedness has been subjected to nothing but invariable abuse.

      After many years of experimentation, it should now be about time to decree that people who are perfectly able to read the Editor’s blog posts in English and who earnestly wish to respond to the situation regarding anglophones in Quebec should be required to do so in English. Allowing anything else has long ago been proven to be fraudulent and deceptive, subject to nothing but abuse and completely unnecessary.

      By the way, Yannick, accusations of an “echo chamber” are equally fraudulent because unilingual francophones don’t read this blog in any event.

      Delete
  25. We again make headlines:
    http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/07/29/teen-takes-idiotic-language-war-to-youtube-after-quebec-says-company-name-wellarc-sounds-too-english/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Un jeune en processus d'assimilation vers l'anglais:Il représente ce qu'il faut éviter à tout prix.Évidemment,le camps adverse applaudie sa démarche mais malheureusement pour vous,avec une telle attitude,vous mettez en évidence que la loi 14 représente un minimum de protection contre vos attaques répétées sur notre langue et notre culture.

      Delete
    2. I love capitalism.

      May it carry out the will of Darwin and crush what little remains of a dated movement.

      If a language can only be preserved via legal coercion, it deserves to vanish.

      Delete
    3. "I love capitalism."

      Vous devriez déménager en alberta ou aux É.U :)

      Delete
    4. BTW, quite a few new people have joined since I initially published this link:

      http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/15/diary-of-a-5000-hours-per-year-internet-troll/

      One of the many reasons I waste no time on the trolls who litter this blog.

      Their inane key-tapping is nothing more than a sad, pitiful admission of defeat.

      Personally, I'd love to have one more referendum, just so we can treat them to one last humiliating defeat. :-)

      Once our work is done, this will be Quebec's new flag: http://bit.ly/18KNzff

      Je t'aime.

      Delete
    5. Neil Laverdiere (put canadian flag)

      Note this line in the National Post story about Xavier Menard:

      "And though he is fiercely opposed to the PQ government, he describes himself as a right-of-centre sovereigntist. He believes sovereignty is the best way for Quebec to ensure the survival of its language and culture."

      Oups!

      Delete
    6. Oups is not a very good argument, mate!

      Delete
    7. student, you're not supposed to post under multiple nicknames, "mate".

      Delete
    8. @equanimity

      i know. and i don't. do you, mate?

      Delete
    9. @Equanimity : student still can't use capital letters.

      Delete
    10. Re: the comment by "Anonymous" about the line in the National Post concerning Xavier Menard's support for Bill 101:

      I would like to make it clear that "Anonymous" has made a ham-handed attempt to cut and paste a comment that was posted by Neil Laverdiere (who I know well) on the Put Canadian Flag Back In Quebec Assembly page on Facebook. When I showed the above post by "Anonymous" to Neil, he was pretty pissed off that someone would falsely use his name on this blog. Neil Laverdiere is not "Anonymous."


      Delete
    11. Just to clarify, I meant "Re: the comment by "Anonymous" about the line in the National Post concerning Xavier Menard's support for SOVEREIGNTY."
      My bad.

      Delete
  26. Odd that there is no such thing as a culturally-homogeneous country, and yet there are plenty who manage to flourish.

    ReplyDelete
  27. From FB Unity Groups:

    Norman Simon 11:17am Jul 30
    So many are saying they are fed up with what they consider an intolerable situation here, in Quebec. Many have started to consider leaving or partition.

    I know you are fed up. But, hey, join the club. We are quite a large club now and growing. More and more of us are frustrated and fed up with the situation. Yet we can not give up or give in to the tyranny of the few. We have no choice but to fight for freedom of choice for as long as it takes as it is our families who are affected - especially the old and infirm who will be stuck here. It would be too hard for them to leave and start over again.

    Within the next week or so, we will be announcing the date of the coming event to stop Bill 14 from passing legislation in the National Assembly (assnat). At that time, we want to see EVERYONE come out to the event, no excuses please! This is a last-ditch effort to scuttle the PQ/CAQ plan to pass Bill 14, and we cannot allow it to happen! Francois Legault and the CAQ must understand that if he does not side with the opposition in this grave matter, we will all vote against him and his party at the next provincial election.

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. First off, I respect Norman Simon dedication. Although he is misguided. Francois Legault has made his alliance with the PQ. When his amendment to the Charter of french language pass, the party will split between separatist and federalist. At this point the referendum will be inevitable. The partition will be inevitable after a third referendum as Ottawa will be tired of all this political bickering. The Parti Quebecois will be forced to face the reality that separating with all the province will not be feasible, although they will be unwilling to accept this.

      Delete
    2. Well Liam they better get ready to be willing because that's going to be the final outcome of all this mess. Let them have the 35% of the land mass as long as those areas that vote to stay democratically are left to live in peace. They have to be made to realize that keeping land and buildings of people that have no intention of living in, is a stupid idea. If every federalist left the province following a vote on separation, the population of a new quebec would be around 2.5 million people as a tax base plus billions of homes, businesses and farms vacated and left to lie in ruin. The separatists think everyone would change their minds and would adjust to living in a new country run by a bunch of incompetent clowns that can't even run their own city councils yet want to make decisions required to run a country. They live in a fool's paradise.

      Delete
  28. "fight for freedom"

    ...Yes, where ever there's trouble!

    The Anglophones are there. It's the Anglophones against Quebec the enemy. We're fighting to save the day! We'll never gives up! We'll always be there, fighting for freedom over here and there! We'll never gives up.
    we'll stay til the fight's won. The Anglos will dare!


    ReplyDelete
  29. If La Ronde, thinks it is a good decision to alienate some potential customers, it's their prerogatives. Although, I would like to remind them that their park is much smaller than Canada's Wonderland, which by the way is much busier than La Ronde. Also, Canada's Wonderland offer Halal and Kosher meals. Wonderland would never such blatant racism to guide business decision.
    Good thing I have never supported La Ronde. I will continue to go to Wonderland, where at least racism doesn't determine corporate decision.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Wonderland offer Halal and Kosher meals"

      Y'a-t-il un kioske pour enfants avec vidéos montrant les façons atroces utilisées pour tuer les animaux qui se retrouvent dans leur hot-dog ou dans leur shish taouk?Croyez-vous que les ventes diminueraient?

      Wonderland?Vraiment?

      Delete
    2. I heard Six Flags is selling La Ronde, and it will be converted into a low cost housing for students.

      Delete
    3. @Duke

      Weren't they actually going to turn it into a gigantic latrine?

      Delete
    4. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTTuesday, July 30, 2013 at 4:10:00 PM EDT

      La Ronde... just another amusement park. No need to bash the place...

      Delete
    5. Canada's Wonderland (outside Toronto) offers not only kosher and halal food options, but also gluten-free, peanut-free, milk-free, egg-free and vegan options:

      https://www.canadaswonderland.com/plan-a-visit/special-dietary-needs

      Meanwhile, La Ronde says it offers some halal food at its Amir Lebanese food outlet and that’s it:
      http://laronde.com/larondeen/faq.asp

      One would have thought Montreal wouldn't be so backward in 2013.

      Delete
    6. I think that not being able to eat some food because the animals weren't kill the way God would of like is backward

      Delete
    7. @A.D. Minh

      Bienvenu au 21 ème siècle.

      Delete
    8. Eat your halal somewhere else. We dont care about 1% of the population. Or go open your own amusement park
      Mark from Ottawa

      Delete
    9. @A.D. Minh:
      Then I suggest that you don’t eat it; after all, no one is restricting your own ability to choose what you will eat.

      @Mark from Ottawa:
      You didn’t specify who this “we” is, on whose behalf you claim to speak, but apparently it’s you and your hubris.

      Delete
    10. @Equanimity : I don't care whether it's halal, kosher or "standard" because I know that there is no God to send me to hell because he doesn't like what I eat.

      Delete
    11. That's wonderful! I happen to agree. So what?

      That has absolutely nothing to do with prohibiting other people's dietary requirements, including allergens.

      Delete
    12. Yes we agree! I've never said anything about prohibiting Muslims or Jews from eating at La Ronde. As long as they respect our laws and security measures, businesses can do whatever they want.

      My replied was destined to R.S. What's more backward in 2013 : a business who doesn't serve halal or kosher or children who can't go to La Ronde because an invisible creature told them not to eat hot-dogs?

      Delete
  30. FRON ED
    NOT ANON
    The Editors "laissez faire attitude" as you put it has to do with the fact that he is only one human being trying to police the actions of a hundred so called adults who should be able to police themselves. I feel the best thing we can do is support him and convince others to ignore trolls. We can make this site troll free. In any case how the Editor controls his site is moot but the key word are "HIS SITE". There no need to be intellectual but at least intelligent. I'm glad you agree with keeping the blog rational. Thanks Ed

    ReplyDelete
  31. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTTuesday, July 30, 2013 at 3:11:00 PM EDT

    If Muslims want their own sugar shack, they can operate their own at their own will, etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Or, and you'll probably view this as a radical notion, they could simply find an establishment where the owner is willing to make small, temporary changes to accomodate a new group of paying customers.

      Delete
  32. More revisionist history being taught to our people in quebec:
    http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/flq-didnt-mean-to-kill-people-quebec-author-105014434.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTTuesday, July 30, 2013 at 4:54:00 PM EDT

      The FLQ, as much as the IRA, always intended to use full force of terror to drive its message.
      Funny that 40 years after there are apologists to the cause.

      Delete
    2. In that article you are getting a great insight into how the PQ indoctrination of the school system works.

      He "approves" the textbook. Well of course he does. He's Borg PQ. Cookie cutter self delusional academic that get to shape the official history taught for a generation.

      Appointed by other PQ hatemongers.

      The schoolkids read it and think it's true. They grow up and make politicians and civil servants (same ones at charbonneau?) with the same warped perceptions.

      Civilized people in Quebec don;t go around kidnapping people they disagree with.
      That alone should merit a dozen years of real jail and banishment from public speaking.

      Worse tho is somehow this idiot trying to pass it all off as somehow almost non violent minor event.

      Even worse yet as he says, he's a gatekeeper to a generation of kids learning this nonsense.

      "Officer, I didn;t start out to kill her, I was only going to rape her, but then she started screaming and screaming. What could I do."

      Delete
    3. From the Unity Group on FB:
      The Future of Education in Quebec:
      The vast majority of career opportunities in Quebec require bilingual candidates, yet the majority of high school graduates are unable to attain fluency in both English and French due to a failed system of education in this province.
      English school students do not, for the most part, attain fluency in French unless they have been in a French immersion programme that began in elementary school. French school students cannot attain fluency in English as they are denied the opportunity to participate in an English immersion programme of study.
      The average parent would like nothing better than to see their children learn both languages fluently so that when they enter the job market, they will have access to the careers that require bilingual candidates. English graduates have the opportunity to apply for positions practically anywhere in the world as English is the language spoken as either the first or second language in most countries. French graduates, on the other hand, are restricted to jobs available only in Quebec or other French-speaking countries; where even then, many positions require English as well.
      I propose that all students in Quebec be given the opportunity to learn both languages, by allowing parents to choose from three basic options: 1) English schools that have optional French immersion programmes;2) French schools that have optional English immersion programmes;3) Bilingual schools that teach all subjects in both languages, alternating from year to year, or perhaps from semester to semester (to be work out)
      In order for this system to be successful, parents would be given a choice of which option would suit them best; and based upon the number of students entering a specific option, schools and staff would be established to accommodate each choice.
      School boards should either become regional rather than be based on language as they are at the moment, or be abolished completely. The school board system, as it is today, is antiquated and inefficient, costing taxpayer too much money to operate.
      The end result will be that all Quebec parents will be satisfied that they were able to choose what they think was best for their children and more graduates will have achieved fluency in both of Canada's official languages, English and French. And, Given the choice, the vast majority of parents will opt for bilingual schooling.
      by, Norman Simon, executive member, The Unity Group

      Delete
  33. FROM ED
    Francois Legault is not concerned with the English votes. He knows he has already lost us. His campaign is for French votes. He knows the Francophones are fed up with PQ. He wants to replace them with a
    'separatist if you want us to be party' He is playing to French Seps and Feds. He is smart enough to know
    that there is a lot more of them than us. He will campaign on 'good government'. He will pass the portions of 101 that will please as many French voters as possible. Ed

    ReplyDelete
  34. Montréal,ville bilingue?Précisions des candidats à la mairie

    http://www.radio-canada.ca/widgets/mediaconsole/medianet/6777029/?seektime=undefined

    ReplyDelete
  35. LordDorchester

    A sugar shack is basically a restaurant operation and their owners can do whatever the hell they want with the menu. These aren't state owned enterprises that have to obide by some code written in stone. Airlines offer Veg and Kosher meal options to clients that want them. I see NO difference between the two. If a group of clients want meat free options for what ever reason and are willing to pay for it, how is that anyone else's business? If anything, it allows even more people to partake in a uniquely Quebec experience.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you're right. and it's exactly what happened in the story reported by the editor. so is there a version of this scandal in real life or does it just burn in your head lorddorchester?

      Delete
  36. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTWednesday, July 31, 2013 at 6:25:00 AM EDT

    Montreal attracts less tourists?

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/montreal/201307/30/01-4675589-moins-de-touristes-a-montreal-en-juin.php

    Weather is a poor explanation for this. It reminds me when I was looking for a condo in Calgary while sales were down during the winter; realtors explained this by saying the record bitter cold kept people indoors. BS.
    Maybe Montreal needs to give itself a closer look. In any case quebec city is a better destination if one needs to see "Europe" on the cheap. Asians and Japanese are extremely attracted by the Rockies and the Arctic (for the northern lights)while many americans choose the Niagara valley as a destination. Only French nationals choose montreal/quebec to go and visits "leurs cousins canadiens".
    In any case I am not surprised tourism is down due to all the bad news exposure in the past 12 months... One month does not establish a trend but 5 or 6 will. Let's wait and see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LD

      No wonder the Delta Hotel on University street (which also happens to be joined at the hip to the Montreal Stock Exchange tower) is being converted into low cost student housing. By them selling that iconic building to a dorm room company rather than renovating and upgrading it speaks volumes about their future outlook of Montreal. Shit like this doesn't happen in up market cities on the move like NY or Toronto. Also, having the Quebec Government hang out a sign that essentially says,"if you speak English, Fuck Off", doesn't help matters at all either. We live within a 10 hour drive of a 100 million Anglophones and tourism Quebec would rather focus their energy on cheap ass Frenchmen from France that blow their budget flying here.

      Delete
    2. "if you speak English, Fuck Off"

      Est-ce que je peux vous l'emprunter?

      Delete
    3. I saw a TV segment a few days ago, I believe it was on The National (I could not find a link to the story), where they were explaining how the rich Chinese are going crazy for real estate in Canada. They were looking at 4 million dollar homes and were wondering why the houses were so cheap. What was sad was that they were most interested in buying these homes in the Toronto area.

      Delete
    4. From that La Press article:

      La clientèle américaine est également difficile à attirer au Québec...

      I was in New Hampshire in May and got to chatting with a restaurant owner about Quebec and the situation here. I explained to him that it was only a minority of people who are separatists and not welcoming to anglophones. He said that if he came to Montreal and anyone refused to speak to him in English then he would be insulted and never come back and would make sure to spread the word.

      Delete
    5. Laurie,

      I would think that the market Asians sought most is in Vancouver (BC Lower Mainland). That is why real estate there is the most expensive in the country.

      Delete
    6. "he would be insulted and never come back"

      C'est pourquoi les amerlocs sont tant appréciés dans le monde:Pour leur ouverture sur les différences et la diversité culturelle.

      Propriétaire d'un "Donut shop" votre ami hyper cultivé?

      :)

      Delete
    7. @ Troy

      I agree, I would have expected the same thing and was surprised that it was Toronto that was on their radar rather than Vancouver.

      Delete
    8. Found the link!!

      Chinese buyers set their sights on Canadian real estate. "If I go to Canada, it`s for sure I buy in Toronto"

      http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/TV+Shows/The+National/World/ID/2398821574/

      Delete
    9. Laurie, your friend in New Hampshire expects everyone, everywhere, to speak English?

      Delete
    10. He may not expect everyone, everywhere to speak English. He probably hopes that he won't be insulted, bullied or spit upon for speaking English himself.

      Delete
    11. That's not what she said!

      Delete
    12. "your friend in New Hampshire expects everyone, everywhere, to speak English?"

      Bien possible,l'arrogance de certains peut effectivement atteindre ces proportions.

      Delete
    13. "your friend in New Hampshire expects everyone, everywhere, to speak English?"

      First he was not my friend but a restaurant owner with whom I happened to strike up a conversation.

      That is such a dumb comment, I don`t know why I`m even bothering but of course that is not what he meant. If someone is helpful and accommodating then why would he be angry? He meant if someone was rude about it. I thought it was obvious.

      Delete
    14. It was Laurie - another troll obviously. Ignore same.

      Delete
    15. Premium Outlets opening their first Canadian outlets in Toronto this coming weekend.

      http://www.torontopremiumoutlets.ca/

      I have been to many Premium Outlets in New England and they are always FULL of Quebecers. Now we no longer have to cross the border, we can just go spend our money in Toronto instead.

      Very sad indeed.

      Delete
    16. "I explained to him that it was only a minority of people who are separatists and not welcoming to anglophones"

      Vous avez induit ce pauvre touriste potentiel en erreur.

      Guide touristique : Fail

      Delete
    17. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTWednesday, July 31, 2013 at 5:04:00 PM EDT

      ""your friend in New Hampshire expects everyone, everywhere, to speak English?"

      Bien possible,l'arrogance de certains peut effectivement atteindre ces proportions"

      LOL LOL LOL LOL
      Notre ti-coune national de 16 ans qui est choque par l'arrogance des unilingues anglos
      Pi toi, mon amateur de Chardonnay t'es un cas de "fais ce que je te dis (en francais LOL) mais ne fais pas ce que je fais moi-meme mon supreme uber-unilingue franco???

      T'es vraiment un petit con de faible envergure. Si je serai ta maman je t'expulse de mon sous-sol presto!!!

      LOL LOL LOL LOL

      Delete
    18. Moi j'aime bien les Vermontois,ils parlent notre langue et ils sont courtois.Le New-Hampshirois font aussi de grands progrès.Ils ne sont pas si attardés (pour des ruraux) comme certains le prétende.J'aime bien commercer avec eux.

      Delete
    19. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTWednesday, July 31, 2013 at 5:29:00 PM EDT

      Rares sont les zamarikins vermontois qui parle "notre" langue. Surtout la vieille generation qui ont 90 ans. Arretes de rever...
      Trop de Chardonnay a cette heure?

      Delete
    20. @Equanimity : I don't care whether it's halal, kosher or "standard" because I know that there is no God to send me to hell because he doesn't like what I eat.

      Delete
  37. More negative exposure of quebec and it's politics:
    http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2013/07/language-canada-0

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tourist complaining about french only safety instructions at La Ronde:
      http://behindthestudio.com/2013/07/31/safety-precautions-should-be-for-all-not-just-for-the-francophones-period/

      Delete
    2. Good stuff...the more people know how racist, how bigoted the french are, the more people will stay away, will not spend money...keep getting the word out... well done...

      Delete
  38. The future masters of a future Democratic people's Republic of quebekistan or: "Republique Populaire du bien petit quebec" will be unilingual french, xenophobic, introverted and socialist. A result of this will mean isolation from the rest of the world. A kind of french style North Korea but without the jolly, fat little guy. A union boss could be quebekistan's first Emperor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "jolly, fat little guy"

      Comme celui-ci : http://tinyurl.com/n6xxjox ?

      Delete
  39. "A union boss could be quebekistan's first Emperor."
    A much better candidate for God of les quebecois could easily be Guy A. Lepage, the guy reeks quebecois nationalism big time!!! And he works for Radio-Canada; that means tons of popular, communistic support!!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. For all that live in Montreal especially: Sign the petition and see if you can't change the status of Montreal to a bilingual city! The petition is in both official languages.

    We now have 6,000 names. Congratulations......
    The following is a quote by Marvin Rotrand, a City Councillor in the City of Montreal - Snowdon. it is important to note paragraph three and its contents. Note also this was from an email sent out on June 5, 2013.

    Resolved that Montreal should be a bilingual City..................
    "You should note the linguistic status of the City of Montreal is defined by the City Charter which is a provincial law and can only be altered by legislation at the National Assembly. The City Council has no legal authority on this matter.
    Several years ago at my request, the City adopted a Bylaw on the Right of Initiative which allows citizens to petition in favor of a public consultation.
    Should 15,000 City of Montreal residents petitioning the City Clerk, the City is obliged to carry out a public consultation. The Right of Initiative By law, restricts the issues that can be submitted to those under municipal jurisdiction but It is likely that a formulation can be found that would allow for the petitioners to request a consultation.
    To date this bylaw has been used successfully only once when more than 29,000 signatures were received requesting a consultation on urban agriculture. The consultation that was held did lead to several bylaw changes."
    On another note, on July 22nd the Gazette reported that Mario Beaulieu, a mayoral candidate and the president of the Mouvement Quebec Francais, wants to ensure that language is one of the issues in the upcoming November elections. He says Montreal is becoming more and more anglicized, and he denounces the fact that no municipal party has proposed solutions to counter this.
    We must counter this with our names on this petition. Let's get 10,000 more names and let our voices be heard.

    This message was sent by Peter Kovac using the Change.org system. You received this email because you signed a petition started by Peter Kovac on Change.org: "Guarantee English as one of the two official languages in Montreal - Une garantie à avoir l'anglais comme l'une des deux langues officielles à Montréal.." Change.org does not endorse contents of this message.
    View the petition | Reply to this message via Change.org
    Unsubscribe from updates about this petition

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is the link to the petition that Cutie failed to provide: [link]

      The associated comments make a refreshing, positive read compared to the negative, sourpuss separatists.

      (Cutie: Cutting and pasting only transfers text. You can easily insert clickable hyperlinks manually by following the steps described in "Using formatting in your Comments" in the green bar at the top of the page.)

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    2. Thank you RS - strictly passing on information for people in case they're interested and I'm not a very computer savvy person I'm afraid. You guys are much more up on this stuff than I and thank you for the assistance.

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  41. I visited the small town of Ogdensburg in New York state a few days ago. It is located in Saint Lawrence county, which has a large Amish community. The local Walmart and Lowe's stores have some reserved parking spaces held aside for their horses and buggies. There is also a large water tank for their horses at the Lowe's. So apparently these businesses are trying to accommodate their Amish customers.

    The Amish culture is far more unique and distinct than the Quebecois culture could ever claim to be. There are some Amish communities in Ontario but I am not aware of any in Quebec. They probably wouldn't be welcome here anyways, given that they speak German and English - not French - and are deeply religious Anabaptists - not Roman Catholics. In Quebec, there would likely be an uproar with petitions started to block any accommodations made for the Amish by businesses.

    In Ogdensburg, the Lowe's store also has all signage in Spanish as well as English - and there aren't a lot of Spanish speakers in rural upstate New York. Many American businesses are doing their best to accommodate their Hispanic customers even though Spanish isn't an official language in the U.S.A.

    In Quebec, the reverse is happening. All languages other than French are undesirable and all religions except Roman Catholism are unwelcome. That is how intolerant this place has become.

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    1. and tell me about the chances of survival of the english language in the usa durham. that is if you want to complete the analogy. or maybe you prefer not to mention the relevant part?

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    2. I see that there is no denial of Quebec’s increasing intolerance being made by the student, who is still attempting to rely on the old chestnut of the threat to survival of French. Maybe he prefers not to mention why he never bothers to try to explain why French has thrived in Quebec for 400 years without any discriminatory, draconian laws.

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    3. @true montrealer

      "...why he never bothers to try to explain why French has thrived in Quebec for 400 years..."

      ten kid per family. and no tv. wow lucky you, you just made a big step towards understanding quebec.

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    4. @ student,

      So exactly how does being open and accommodating of other religions and beliefs impact the survival of the French language in Quebec???

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    5. Max

      "Ten kid per family and no TV". You also forgot to mention no education, hence no francophone manager Class until the 1960's when they finally "woke up".

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  42. So the Gatineau Fire Department came around yesterday to inspect house alarms and to pass out safety information on carbon dioxide poisoning and guess what? Information on the cards were in FRENCH only! Told them that the warning were of no use to me - I don't understand french. They were very nice about it and spoke to me in english but what the hell is going on when safety is in jeopardy in this province because they decide to ignore every other language. Should something happen over all this, I hope they are taken to court and have their asses sued off. Just a warning everyone - write to your city councilors and object to this shit happening. I have done so. Road signs, emergency alerts, safety notices, etc. should be provided in both official languages of Canada!

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    Replies
    1. "Told them that the warning were of no use to me - I don't understand french."

      now here's a good reason to learn french cutie003. or maybe safety is not your main concern here.

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    2. Or, perhaps municipal services should try to better reflect the linguistic makeup of their municipality.

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    3. @True Montreal : Even if Cutie003 moved to a place where she would be the only English speaker, I bet she would still ask for services in English.

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    4. Even such a purely hypothetical case would be a far cry from the real-life extremist, Michel Thibodeau:

      http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/07/27/air-canadas-biggest-mistake/

      http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/07/14/barbara-kay-michel-thibodeau-needs-a-case-of-7up-and-to-grow-up/

      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016305/Michel-Lynda-Thibodeau-win-8k-Air-Canada-staff-speak-English.html

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    5. @Troll Tremblay - as do all the francophones that leave quebec and move to other parts of Canada? They have started their own communities all over Canada and receive lots of documentation in french. I am not asking for the world here - mutual respect of each others language and culture would be appreciated. You freezing us out of our own communities is your goal and I will fight it every step of the way. Selfish, intolerant and nasty people - all of you separatists. And that is the last time I will respond to any of your nonsense.

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