Monday, December 9, 2013

Activist Knocks French Language Militants For a Loop

One thing political commentators, social observers and especially advertisers cannot predict, is why some campaigns fizzle, some are ho-hum and some catch fire.

If somebody could bottle and replicate at will, the essential elements of a formula that would fire the public's imagination and interest at will, they could become fabulously successful and wealthy, perhaps displacing Don Draper of Sterling Cooper as the top adman on Madison Avenue.
If somebody could with any accuracy and consistency, tap into the public consciousness and produce a positive response, he or she could ask for millions in consulting fees as a strategist on any presidential political campaign.

In fact I do recall one presidential campaign which largely turned on a television commercial that captured the nation's attention and turned enough voters away from Michael Dukakis to give George H. Bush the presidency.
That commercial featured a mugshot of a black criminal, convicted for a brutal murder,  who while on weekend furlough from prison, raped and robbed once again, outraging middle Americans and igniting a negative reaction towards Dukakis. Read the story.



That commercial was perhaps the most famous and successful attack ad ever run and nobody could have foreseen that it would become the key element in giving George Bush the presidency.

As I said, it's well nigh impossible to predict or understand why some things capture the public's imagination, like the success of PET ROCKS or the RUBIC CUBE or advertising slogan's like "WHERE'S THE BEEF?"

These last months in Quebec we've witnessed a multitude of public demonstrations by citizens, for or against the Charter, against world domination, unemployment insurance cuts, electricity rates, police brutality, etc. etc., all sharing the ignominious fate of being irrelevant the day after.
Whether those demonstrations were well-organized or produced ad hoc, whether attended by hundreds or thousands or a few dozens, other then to those who participated, the story lasted barely one news cycle, soon forgotten and largely without impact on public opinion.

So what is it about a tiny demonstration by a committed activist leading with a handful of cohorts protesting the lack of English signs in a Montreal shopping centre that has so gripped the French media and raised the hackles of the mainstream media as well as radical French language militants.

Murry Levine took offence to the fact that stores in the giant  Fairview Pointe-Claire mall, where the majority of customers are anglophones, were posting signs in French only, despite the fact that the law allows for bilingual signage.



The tiny demonstrations consisting of under a dozen protesters would have largely gone unnoticed if not for the virulent reaction in the French media over the issue, which somehow triggered a certain outrage at the 'impertinence' of Anglophones demonstrating for their rights.

First there was the expected blowback from French language militant groups like Impératif français;

Francophobia : a shopping Centre boycotted

"Anglophone  residents of Dorval are upset that Quebec is French.1. They are offended with customer service in French in Quebec, specifically in Dorval,2 Fairview Mall. They are demanding the anglicisation of commercial establishments.3What Murray Levine and his acolytes don't understand in calling for a boycott of the mall, is everything in Quebec is French in and any and all residents must understand  French, otherwise one must learn it urgently! This, in addition, is fully consistent with the law.4Refusing to learn or speak French,5 these supremacists,6 seek, through a system pressure to impose systematic anglicization on Quebec to accommodate 3% of unilingual English Quebecers. What do they expect ? They have the right and duty to learn French.Impératif français encourages customers to monitor this situation closely and demand  that the Fairview Mall accelerate its good business practices in all its stores. As for us, we encourage all residents of Quebec to ensure that French is everywhere and at all times, without exception the language of public use in Quebec and also to share and spread this message:In Quebec French is where it's at!The economy and the Quebec nation does not need to undergo this type of defrancisation pressure. " Link

Now I've taken the liberty of offering a few critiques;
  1. Nowhere, but nowhere has Mr. Levine and his group made any such statement. This is fantasy, an attempt to frame the rest of the screed.
  2.  The shopping centre is not in Dorval. This goes to fact-checking, something utterly lacking in any missive from Impératif français
  3. Nobody is demanding that stores become anglicised, they are asking for a few English signs allowed by the law. Blatant hyperbole and exaggeration.
  4. Just totally false.  No law forces anglophones to speak French.
  5. Who says that Murray Levine and his group don't speak French? (they do) Did anyone at Impératif français bother checking befor making the assertion or is publishing untruths just par for the course. Again, as they say in court, 'entering facts not in evidence'
  6. Is a Francophone in Ontario or New Brunswick who demonstrates for their legal rights, a 'supremicist?'
Now  Impératif français is a lobby group  and so can be excused its extreme position, but when bias creeps into mainstream reporting, it's important that the practice be denounced.
If newspapers want to write articles for or against certain issues, they should restrict themselves to the editorial pages.
Here is a story by Louise Leduc from La Presse, a newspaper which should know better than to editorialize within what should be a straight news story;
"There is too much French in the Fairview mall. That at least is the view of a Dorval resident1 demanding more bilingual signs and to achieve its ends , there will be demonstrations and calls for boycotts. Fairview mall as in others like the names of the stores are mostly in English and English only, in contravention of the Charter of the French language.2

But the posters announcing sales, such as " Buy one , get one free" are all in French or nearly so, and this is what makes  Murray Levine
wince."We must respect the majority of customers and the majority of customers in the west of the island speak English ," he said in an interview ......
.....The Charter of the French language does not prohibit the display in English, but states that the French must be predominant.Finally, note that the Quebec Office of the French language has made ​​several representations in recent times for shops to add a description in French to store names in English."
.3 Link
  1. Absolutely false and misleading, Mr. Levine's contention that there is not enough English at the mall cannot be construed to mean that there is too much French. It is like asserting that because there is too little salt in a dish, there must be too much sugar.....Does not compute.....
  2. This bit of editorializing is completely out of line and demonstrates an attempt to sway opinion. Could you imagine a La Presse story about student demonstrations over tuition starting off by reminding readers that students pay the lowest rates in Canada?
  3. Same argument as in the second point I made. This is editorializing and has nothing to do with the issue at hand, a sad attempt to deflect. This is definitely not an unbiased report
 Strangely the same article was reprinted in Le Soleil without attribution to the original author, certainly a breach of ethics, because the name André Pichette seems to be attached to the story .
Link {fr} Link{fr}

At  any rate it was the granddaddy of all whiners, Gilles Proulx,  that waded into the debate with this fine missive in Le Journal de Montreal. A sublime exercise in sarcasm, self-pityand wit;
Mon pauvre petit Gilles.....
"Perhaps inspired by Howard Galganov's uplifting bestseller, a book published in 1998 called 'Bastards,' about the bastards that Quebecers are, one certain Murray Levine protested outside a shopping center in the West Island demanding more signage in English!
The fight of a lifetime!
When will our oh so very aggressive Quebec government, once and for all stop harassing, diminishing and trampling on the beautiful culture of our good friends the Anglo-Quebecers, so much in peril and so badly abused, it no longer makes sense. Especially when you consider that the poor shoppers of the Fairview Pointe-Claire shopping centre are forced to fight to save their language, constantly weakened by the ruthless and powerful government of Quebec. The wicked Bill 101 would change the name of 'Fairview' into 'Centre de la Juste-Vue'(sic)- which would just be terrible. Let us rejoice that Murray Levine is rallying his minions to his crusade. In fact, at the beginning of the initiative, there were but two or three valiant defenders of the Anglo-American culture, now its grown to a few hundred supporters. Let's all rally behind Murray!
PITY ON THE ENGLISH
By launching a Facebook group and alerting the sleeping English media in the face of  this harmful francisation, Murray reminds us that enough is enough. So, through this newspaper and its hundreds of thousands of readers, I ask you once again, dear friends, I repeat: do something to help these victims of the arrogance of the people of Quebec who threaten to invade America and obliterate all traces of anemic Anglo-Saxon culture.
Actually, the ideal would be to eliminate French at home. It would be in our own interest. Then we could succeed in the North American life .
Understand once and for all that Fairview Point Claire is not in Pointe-Claire. Long live Claire Point City!"
LET'S  SUPPORT MURRAY
Luckily, the municipality of Hampstead has denounced the Charter of values ​​, calling it "racist and immoral !" What is the relationship with bilingual signs ? There is none. But ... any or all  reasons are good to trash Quebec. Fortunately Justin Trudeau also condemns the unjust Bill 101 which poses a serious threat to the universe. Fortunately there are people who stand up to the supremacy of Quebec. It is important that newcomers not speak our language, not fit in, not identify themselves, stick together, locked in their communities. It seems to me that bilingual signs could help them understand that fluency in French is not more important than the future of Quebec. Come one and all to sing in chorus to show our love of endangered English.  Let's support Murray Levine and his friends. Their epic demonstration will continue today and tomorrow from 11 am to 13 pm, in front of the 'View Point Claire City' mall

Ha1 Ha!
What a hilarious screed.
Nobody, but nobody plays the whinging victim like Gilles Proulx who associates a few English signs with the utter destruction of French in Quebec.

The only comment I'll make on the piece (It speaks for itself) is to say that like most francophone writers who choose to add English in their pieces, they invariably muddle it up.

'Fairview Pointe Claire' does not translate (if a translation is required) into; View Point Claire" it would be  Clearpoint Mall.

Now in all this, not one francophone commentator actually addressed the real issue at hand.

Given that Bill 101 provides for English signage (as long as it is smaller than the accompanying French text,) is it reasonable to provide such signage in areas where anglophones are clearly in the majority?

We know what the answer is from the likes of Impérati français, which wants English completely abolished in Quebec, but I'm interested in the position of La Presse and even Mr Proulx, both of which and whom expertly avoid taking a position.

As for Mr. Levine and his small band of followers, their success could not be predicted. By luck or design, they struck a nerve and accomplished something all of us could not do before.

That is to bring an English language argument to the mainstream French press in a significant and meaningful manner.

240 comments:

  1. Nothing wrong with what this man is doing. He's not fighting the law at all but rather asking stores follow it in a way that shows courtesy to its Anglophone shoppers. If the likes of Proulx et al have a problem with that, too bad. Had he asked that French be removed, I would have been completely against him. Good for you, Murray!

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  2. Fairview Shopping Centre was built in the 1960s, in the very heart of English Quebec, as a single-level mall, with Eaton’s and Simpson’s being the anchor tenants at either end (today, Eaton’s is Sears and Simpson’s is The Bay) and with Woolworth’s, Pascal’s hardware store and Steinberg’s grocery store being other important lessees, in addition to the Fairview Cinema, which was located where the Rona store is today. Fairview’s very existence, not to mention its enduring success, is greatly due to its anglophone community that has always supported it since the day it was built. It is impossible to understate the importance of the anglophone community for the success of Fairview.

    Here is an image of the entrance to Simpson’s that many of you will likely remember from Fairview’s glory days: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darrellinyvr/4965546063/. My family had a souvenir booth there during the Montreal Olympics (the long-distance cycling competitions on the Trans-Canada started and finished at Fairview in 1976) and I had my first after-school job there in the early 80s.

    And now today, we find ourselves with a Fairview management that makes absolutely zero effort at responding to the disrespect that its retailers are now showing for the local community with its artificially unilingual signage, consistently using the following (ungrammatical) “cut-and-paste” response as its standard response to *everyone* who is complaining about the utter disappearance of bilingual signage from its stores, where the majority of customers are anglophone (even today, even after all the attacks that have been aimed at eradicating us from existence):

    Fairview Pointe Claire Thank you for your comments.At Fairview Pointe Claire our objective is to serve the shopping needs of the communities we operate in. We value all our shoppers, anglophone and francophone. This is why all communications by Fairview Pointe Claire have always been bilingual (in conformity with laws) and will continue to be. These include: shopping directories, website, signage, Facebook page, etc. We will share your concerns with our retail clients however, we must inform you that we cannot dictate how they choose to operate their business.

    This is the most tone-deaf response to the loss of its potential customers that I have ever seen in my entire life. They are actually telling their potential customers to individually contact each of the hundreds of retailers that lease from them. This is a total cop-out by Fairview.

    Fairview cannot pretend that because "they cannot dictate how [its retailers] choose to operate their business", they have no influence on them whatsoever. That is phony and reprehensible, not to mention disrespectful of its clientele.

    That is, unless Fairview’s rental situation has become so undesirable lately that they are now desperate to retain literally anyone that willing to operate there. If this is the case, it should inform them that they are doing something wrong in their business operations.

    Given all the other options that are now available to us, I hope everyone will keep in mind Fairview’s new dismissive attitude toward its local anglophone community that is responsible for their existence when it comes time to making their shopping decisions.

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    Replies
    1. By AnecTOTE

      Ever since this situation surfaced I took a little poll and asked around, people's reaction is always the same.
      "English signs have disappeared at Fairview, really...since when?" Speaks volumes, doesn't it?

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    2. It really is insidious, the way it's been done. Little by little, bit by bit, our language has been removed from sight and no one noticed - sad that our population is so blind as to the politics of this province. I've noticed it here over the past two years or so, little by little, bit by bit, just like our rights and freedoms under every damn provincial government that has been in power. As I said, no democracy in quebec. Not one party stands up for Canadian values - they should all be shot and pissed on!

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    3. By AnecTOTE

      @Cutie

      Well they certainly cannot sell themselves as a democratic, tolerant and inclusive society. It would not surprise anyone if suddenly we find out that the head of admin at the mall is a seppie, OR it may come down to $$$$. Whatever the reason, it is unacceptable. Anglos no longer have any service in English in this province. Even when you respectfully request it, they still deny you reminding you that as far as they are concerned, they don't need to provide it. That said, not sure where some are getting the myth that services in English are readily available to Anglos, this is a Lie again, as we now witness in the most Anglo community in this province, The West Island, there is clear and evident opposition to deny it, simply on a whim and because they can, not because the Law prescribes it. It is rather arrogant an inhospitable of them, isn't it?

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    4. "Anglos no longer have any service in English in this province."

      Vous auriez dû suivre les conseils de votre père.

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    5. Just a note that it is a Reno Depot and not a Rona beside Fairview.

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    6. Simpson's is now Simons, , Morgan's became le Baie but has just changed back to Hudson's Bay, Les Ailes which took over Eaton's premises has just gone under.

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    7. "in addition to the Fairview Cinema, which was located where the Rona store is today"

      Oh, the memories..
      If you happen to have/find any other old pictures of Fairview, I'd love to see them.

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    8. @quebecker of tree stump

      dude it's just a mall. i don't think this object deserves so much nostalgia... would you say the fairview shopping center is part of your culture?

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    9. It was at the Fairview Cinema that I went (underage!) to see John Travolta dancing in his white suit to the Bee Gee’s awesome new music in “Saturday Night Fever” with my cousins. (And yes indeed, I meant it’s now a Reno-Depot, not a Rona!)

      People have become so accustomed to Quebec’s stagnation that they can barely remember anymore when Montreal used to be a booming place the way Toronto and Calgary now are… in fact, Montreal was the centre of the universe during Expo ’67.

      Quebec nationalists continue to swear up and down that the fact that the beginning of Montreal’s decline coincided exactly with the first election of the PQ in 1977 had absolutely *nothing* to do with them and is simply happenstance, a pure coincidence. They assure us this is so, so don’t be inquiète! Because, as Marois says, we will all “chare this rishness” together! Right…

      And meanwhile, Longueuil is now commemorating the man who did far more to help build up Toronto and the economy of Ontario than any mayor or premier of Ontario ever did in history…

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    10. Oh boy! Fairview is where I first saw “Saturday Night Fever” too… and I also saw “Star Wars” at Fairview, the same year that SNF came out… and here we are, to this day, almost 2014, and we’re still talking about it (despite the awful dreck that Lucas made of the SW prequels). There were plenty of outdoor movies at the Dollard Drive-In on Sources Road too (where today’s Marché de l’Ouest is now).

      Watching the ancient but highly original for their time Saturday Night Fever or Star Wars trailers today is still entertaining. Sure, they may seem amusing now, but I don’t think that anything these days compares to the excitement that they generated then (certainly, Harry Potter and the Hunger Games pale in comparison).

      And so busy Pascal’s has now become the so-so Best Buy, busy Steinberg’s is now the empty Deco-Decouverte, Woolworth’s (and its famous diner counter) were located about where The Gap is now. On the other side, the W.H. Smith bookstore and the Discus record store chains are now long gone, as are the centre-aisle United Cigar Store tobacco store (near Reitman’s) and the Compu-Centre computer store (near the dentist and the SAQ… err, I mean the Commission des Liqueurs!). I think that only Birks and the Fairview Deli still remain in their original locations.

      It was such a novelty to finally get MUCTC buses at Fairview in November 1980, despite the crappy, unsheltered outdoor bus stops that they built atop the old parking lot (doing away with the yellow schoolbuses that had provided spotty service previously). I forget when Fairview’s second level was added (sometime in the 80s or 90s) but it certainly does seem like now, it’s always pretty empty these days, certainly compared to its heyday.

      And then there was the West Island Mall on Sources’ Road (today’s blah “Galeries des Sources”)… I remember my aunt taking us as kids across the bridge to go have lunch at the Pic-Nic in the centre of the fountain, opposite the giant Miracle Mart…

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  3. Many people have been making inquiries with Fairview management, asking them to provide a list of which of their retailers provide bilingual signs for the community, in order to select where they will be spending their money. I haven’t seen one so far.

    Given Fairview management’s trite response to their local community’s complaints, and now that French-language militants who don’t even live in the West Island are making threats against Fairview retailers if they should offer any bilingual signs, perhaps you should inquire with them as well and ask them which of their stores care about your custom:

    Guest Services – serviCentre: (514) 695-1610

    Fairview Pointe Claire – CONTACT US

    http://www.facebook.com/fairviewpointeclaire
    http://www.facebook.com/groups/BoycottFairview/

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Joseph - I too shall send an e-mail. The more they receive the better. I hope everyone follows suit! Are we ashamed of our language? Not I.

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  4. Murray and his group have been very active in insisting that English not be extinguished by the language militants in quebec. They certainly deserve a big "thank you" from all of us that are being perfectly reasonable asking that our language not be abolished. How to ever get a fair shake from any of the French newspapers is the big question. There is not one that is in support of the anglophones - in fact they are dead set against us just as is the PQ government. Some journalists - not at all one-sided reporting! How they can ever think that we are out to kill off the French language by requesting that there also be some English provided for their customers is beyond comprehension but there it is. Anyway, carry on the fight Murray! Way to go - at least you garnered some attention to the discrimination of the both the PQ government and the journalists in this backward province!

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    Replies
    1. By AnecTOTE

      @Cutie

      To obliterate English, they create drama around the French language and spreading Lies yet again. They wanna sell a load of trash that if there is any posting of English anywhere in this province, it automatically means that French is threatened, and we all know that isn't true.

      I hope they do keep making a fuss over this in French media, at the very least, we are not being ignored, at the very best, it heightens awareness for our cause, safeguarding 'Rights and Freedoms".... win win!!

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    2. @hands off my hijab

      "They wanna sell a load of trash that if there is any posting of English anywhere in this province, it automatically means that French is threatened, and we all know that isn't true."

      quebec french is threatened even if there's no english posters mate.

      "I hope they do keep making a fuss over this in French media..."

      one mainstream article, one impératif francais post and a one-timer on radio don't make a fuss. no mate the fuss is on anglo media.

      by the way that levine dude supports bill 101. what do you think about this?

      also, why do you keep the by anectote brand? it kinda harms the cedibility of your new superhero character.

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    3. Murray is thrilled with all the publicity! Bad or good, it's out there for all the world to see - obvious discrimination yet again by the PQ government and the French language newspapers. Social media is making sure none of this is going unnoticed any more. They are a sick bunch - these languages militants that care about no one but themselves. They need to take a good long look at themselves and their treatment of the minorities that help build this province since the beginning. There are many good people being persecuted for no good reason. French is not threatened in quebec! What a farce.

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    4. @cutie003

      "...the French newspapers is the big question. There is not one that is in support of the anglophones..."

      false. la presse editorial board is full on pro-anglo federalist. and many columnists from many different newsroom keep pleading your case: dubuc, aubin, marcotte, duhaime, jerome lussier and many more bad ones. of course it's columnists, not journalists as these have a code of ethics that prevents them from being totaly biased. your perception is really skewed on that one, what filter are you using?

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    5. @cutie003

      "Murray is thrilled with all the publicity! Bad or good..."

      really? you think is thrilled with bad publicity?!? i doubt it.

      "There are many good people being persecuted for no good reason."

      who's persecuted mate?!? and please what would be a good reason for a people to be persecuted?



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    6. By AnecTOTE

      @Cutie

      I couldn't agree with you more and we should start demanding they actually prove French is in danger. Let's start with that 'burden of proof' ...if they can't prove, it should be easy to blow down their little house of cards. Not sure why it has taken this long to realize this. How we got here however, is that we all rode the 'train of guilt' They drove outa the station back in the 70's, without ever questioning, ...everyone got on and everyone began..blindly drinking THE JUICE. Let's all understand this, cause it is pretty important.

      Now we are becoming aware that there is some rotten ingredient in the juice and it is making us sick...still, we have a small window of opportunity to save ourselves...Fists Up!

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    7. @ student

      "quebec french is threatened even if there's no english posters mate."

      Please provide proof that French is threatened in Quebec. Any studies or empirical evidence would be appreciated.

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    8. "Please provide proof that French is threatened in Quebec"

      Vous en êtes la preuve vivante Jean-François.

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    9. "Please provide proof that French is threatened in Quebec."
      He doesn't have any. Just deflections and insults.

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    10. @jf

      here's the proof: french canadians represent 1.6% of the north american cultural bassin. their culture will always be threatened. add to this the latest numbers that show a declining trend for french as primary language in the workplace in montreal and the low birth rate and you've got all you need to conclude as i do.

      @liam

      please liam stop being like you are.

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    11. @hand off my hijab

      "Fists Up!"

      fisting now? you pervert.

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    12. @ student

      Still waiting for evidence French is threatened in Quebec. The number you cited is meaningless. I could give a rat's ass what percentage French Canadians make up in North America or even the world. My request to you was to cite STUDIES AND PROVIDE EMPIRICAL PROOF that Quebec French was threatened in Quebec. Please provide some HARD DATA to back up your claims. Thank you.

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    13. @jf

      well my opinion is the numbers i cited are meaningful. if you think the culture of 6 million french canadians is not threatened by the presence of 390 million anglophones around them then nothing will convince you. to see the light you'll have to let go your bad faith.

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    14. @student

      Right, you can't provide data that states French is threatened in Quebec because it isn't. You failed to cite even one study that backs your claim. Instead you revert to that old,"surrounded by a sea of English" argument. To correlate what language someone in Kentucky speaks to the status of French in Quebec is dishonest. The fact is, there has never been as many French speaking Quebecers as there is now. More people can speak the language than ever. Your statement that French is threatened in Quebec absolute nonsense.

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    15. @jf

      yes it's an old argument. that doesn't make it a bad one. you will always here it repeated. everytime you put the fragile status of french canadian culture in doubt. again and again. until you change your tune and ask for studies about how to ensure it doesn't dissolve in the melting pot, or becomes just another canadian folklore amongst others.

      Delete
    16. @student

      You're a troll to this site, that's well established. I've seen you repeatedly ask posters for proof backing statements they've made on this blog then dismissing them when you weren't satiated. Now when someone asks you in turn to do just that you balk . Remember that as you troll this blog in the future.

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    17. "please liam stop being like you are."
      "yes it's an old argument. that doesn't make it a bad one."

      More deflections. Never provide facts to your opinion. Answer this question: Why does the presence of 300 million americans in North America affect the status of french?

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    18. Student, who is famous on this blog for insisting on data, data and yet more data (and still more data, should anyone be foolish enough to reply to him) is completely unable to provide any data whatsoever for his untenable, fear-based emotions.

      Case closed.

      Delete
    19. @the cat & @liam & @jf

      1.6% is a statistic. it is hard data. it is exactly what you asked for. data is not enough though. you also need an interpretation, which i've also given you: 1.6% is small enough a number to instill fragileness.

      let's take it from your point of view. you think it's possible for a culture that represents 1.6% of the continent's population not to be threatened. ok then what is the percentage at which said culture would be threatened? is it 1.4%, 0.9%? what is the magic number if not 1.6%? after you figure out your number tell the community why it's a better number than 1.6%. there. now we have a discussion. sorry cat, the case is opened.

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    20. You would think that since Finland has a tiny population with a culture and language that is unique in the world, they might feel particularly fragile or threatened.

      Oh wait, no they don’t.

      *Fail Quebec*

      Delete
    21. More deflection Student. "1.6% is a statistic." The statistic is true, but not relevant, since it includes the population of the United States. I asked a question: Why does the presence of 300 million americans in North America affect the status of french? Since you can't answer the question, you deflected the answer, as you always do.

      Delete
    22. Demand proof? We dont need to prove anything! Our Québec our rules! If you dont like it, the next train to toronto is coming in about 20 min.

      Delete
    23. @liam

      "The statistic is true, but not relevant, since it includes the population of the United States."

      you forgot to mention why one shouldn't include the population of the usa when assessing the weights of the various cultural influences around the quebec province.

      "Why does the presence of 300 million americans in North America affect the status of french?"

      why? well the answer is in the question mate: they are present. and they are a huge culture producer.

      "Since you can't answer the question, you deflected the answer, as you always do."

      no i didn't, but you sure dodged my question. how minuscule does a population needs to be in order for its culture to be considered threatened in your very humble opinion liam?

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    24. @joseph

      "You would think that since Finland has a tiny population with a culture and language that is unique..."

      your example is shit for two main reasons. first finland is an independant country and quebec is not. secondly finland is not stuck in a single-language sea. it's got a myriad of distinct societies around them. two major differences that invalidate your "argument". bye bye.

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    25. "you forgot to mention why one shouldn't include the population of the usa when assessing the weights of the various cultural influences around the quebec province."

      We shouldn't include the Unites States since they are a separate countries. Should we include Chinese and argue that english is threatened, no.

      "they are a huge culture producer."
      Do you understand the relationship between production and consumption?

      "how minuscule does a population needs to be in order for its culture to be considered threatened in your very humble opinion liam?" less than 1 million members in my book.

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    26. @liam

      "We shouldn't include the Unites States since they are a separate countries."

      doesn't matter. you are asking yourself about the survival potential of a culture. you need to consider the surrounding influences. usa is one of them, whether you like it or not liam.

      "Should we include Chinese and argue that english is threatened, no."

      well it depends. if you are studying hongkong's anglophone culture then yes you should include chinese. if you are wondering about usa culture's survival then probably you should study something else. they are quite safe in my humble opinion.

      "Do you understand the relationship between production and consumption?"

      yes i do what about it liam?

      "less than 1 million members in my book."

      now that's irrelevant. you need to give us a relative number. 1.6% is big enough a presence not to be worried according to you (!!!). when will it be reasonable for french canadians to worry about the perennity of their culture liam? 1.4%? 0.8%??

      Delete
    27. Joseph: Good one! Same goes for other languages like Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandish, Dutch and its disciples, Flemish and Afrikaans, Luxembourgish, Latvian, Creole, and-oh yes-Yiddish and Hebrew, of course. All languages where there are less than ten million speakers of these languages in the whole world let alone a host of French speaking nations, and they don't seem threatened to me. Right U R, Joseph. Joseph 1, Quebec 0.

      Delete
  5. Le problème : Être unilingue anglophone au Québec...Comment est-ce possible en...2014?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. By AnecTOTE

      Now now s.r...don't Lie to the nice people who come visit and read this blog. You know that we are not discussing being unilingual in 2014. We are discussing giving English, the other official Language of Canada, it's rightful place ALONGSIDE French in the West Island community where the majority is Anglo. It is simply a question of Respect. You certainly wouldn't want to deny us that now would you? A province that wants to be its own nation and doesn't respect it's own citizens tsk tsk.. is really not promoting the 'quebec' brand ..you will admit.

      Delete
    2. Ça fait 40 ans que nous travaillons à ramener un équilibre linguistique chez nous,il n'est pas question de revenir en arrière,désolé,

      Delete
    3. By AnecTOTE

      Why Thank you s.r. for sharing that...preoccupation with us, but the equation can hardly be considered 'balanced' when one language is wiped out and obliterated in favor of the other. Especially considering that BOTH languages are the official Languages of Canada. We are no longer riding the train of guilt you see...we got off. Oh and ...we are not drinking THE JUICE you serve on board anymore...it's detrimental to our health...and mostly...ilk...it tastes really bad. Lol

      Lastly..the argument that quebec shouldn't provide services in English because some services in French are ..maybe ..perhaps a little lacking.. in tha ROC.. Is..well...rather petty, spiteful and provincial behavior of a province that seeks to be a nation one day. I think they call it....'conduct unbecoming'. It is after all, something to consider as the eyes of the world are upon you...during this...'probationary' time of your history...savvy?

      Delete
    4. Comment allez-vous renverser la vapeur ... ? Vous n'avez pas le poids politique nécessaire.

      Delete
    5. By AnecTOTE

      I am not that ambitious s.r....I don't wish to do anything except.... contribute..in some small way to the 'quebec brand'..for all those watching to see, notice and realize..how...exceptional...'made in quebec' is...LOLOLOLOLOL. But you know, in the spirit of pastagate...lol, that is all the political weight we need really, as IT proved to be ..far-reaching...savvy?

      That is the extend of what we seek to accomplish for now...that is enough...lol

      Delete
    6. Pourtant l'équivalent français pour le mot spagetti est bel et bien "pâtes" et non "pasta".

      Delete
    7. By AnecTOTE

      Spaghetti is Pasta Everywhere, the rest of the world is not as obtuse as this province fortunately, but come now you know this. Incidentally the very thing you just brought up ...is why the world laughed.

      Wait till they discover the other video circulating on Instagram, the one where the guy yells at his dog to bark in French...lol...more..."made in quebec". This province has become a bit of a ..punchline ...mm...keeping the masses entertained.

      I am not sure how all this will play out one day when quebec wishes to establish...it's own currency and be taken seriously as a young..'nation'. Still obsessing over what to call spaghetti ....is for dilettantes.

      Delete
    8. La France (63 000 000 de population) utilise le mot pâte...Croyez-vous que la France est la risée du monde entier?

      Delete
    9. Okay then, since spaghetti is pâtes in France, I wonder what word they for macaroni, linguini, cannelloni, rigatoni, capellini, fusilli, lasagne, rotini, tortellini, and manicotti.

      Delete
    10. Ce sont toutes des pâtes alimentaires avec leur nom spécifiques.Pâtes est un terme générique* pour désigner le type d'aliment,comme "pasta".

      Si un anglo va dans un resto italien et demande des "pastas", le serveur va lui demander : Mais lesquelles monsieur?

      Nous savons tous que les anglos sont très limités en matière culinaire mais je crois que la plupart savent distinguer un macaroni d'un ravioli...enfin,je l'espère.

      * Fruit est aussi un générique

      Delete
    11. @SR Pourtant l'équivalent français pour le mot spagetti est bel et bien "pâtes" et non "pasta".

      You said it, not me.

      Delete
    12. Pourtant l'équivalent français pour les mots spagetti, macaroni, linguini, cannelloni, rigatoni, capellini, fusilli, lasagne, rotini, tortellini et manicotti.est bel et bien "pâtes" et non "pasta"

      Si vous préférez

      Delete
  6. Si seulement les francophones du ROc avaient les mêmes services que les anglos au Québec...On peut toujours rêver.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aren't you people sick of the same old, same old stupid arguments when the francophones that have left this dumb place have established themselves happily all over the ROC? If they want, they can have their services; there are no laws preventing that unlike this stupid province.

      Delete
    2. You can insist on being served in French if flying from Vancouver to Toronto.
      I'm not allowed to be served in English if taking a bus from Kirkland to Fairview.

      -Kevin

      Delete
    3. By AnecTOTE

      @Kevin

      Can the STM be sued for not providing service in English, since it is an official Language of Canada? A guy sued a Canadian airline cause he wasn't served in French a while back and made loads of money over a 7up.

      Delete
    4. Kevin,

      You can insist on being served in French if flying from Vancouver to Toronto.

      Not if you are flying WestJet.

      AnecTOTE,

      A guy sued a Canadian airline cause he wasn't served in French a while back and made loads of money over a 7up.

      In the case of Air Canada, unfortunately there is a piece of law obligating Air Canada to provide bilingual service. It is specific to Air Canada. It does not apply to Porter or WestJet, for example. I flew WestJet from Montreal to Calgary and the cabin crew were all unilingual English. The French instructions that they had to recite were recorded.

      Delete
    5. Interesting question AnecTOTE - Wonder if one of our lawyers out there can answer this question?

      Delete
    6. By AnecTOTE

      I guess we now know who the real spoiled minority in Canada really is, don't we? Imagine being entitled to make a buck because an airline doesn't provide service in French. But Anglos in Quebec can't sue because English is being denied as a service to them, but they call Anglos spoiled? Mmm, well Thank you Troy, for clearing that up.

      Delete
    7. "I'm not allowed to be served in English if taking a bus from Kirkland to Fairview. " That right here is the hypocrisy of the separatist movement. They insist on being served in french in Ottawa Transit but deny the right for anglophones!

      Delete
    8. @liam

      it would be hypocrisy if it were true. but the truth is you and kevin are "allowed to be served in english" on the kirkland bus. of course it won't be possible though if the bus driver does not master your language.

      Delete
    9. @student
      Oh, parsing, parsing statements to attempt to justify discrimination. Niiiice. Jefferson Lisée would be proud.

      How about "I cannot legally demand to be served in one of the official languages of the province while taking a bus in a predominately anglophohone neighbourhood."

      Equally true, since English is a required, legal language in this province due to the British North America Act, and the reason why ALL legislation in Quebec must be provided in English as well as French (In fact, it is the reason Bill 101 is 101 -- the PQ wanted to make it bill 1, but their lawyers informed them the English translation was not ready, so they had to wait...

      -Kevin

      Delete
  7. Est-ce qu'un unilingue francophone peut vivre au canada?...Je ne crois pas et pourtant l'inverse est possible.Hmm

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/demo15-eng.htm

      Around 66,000 in New Brunswick and 43,000 in Ontario speak French only.

      Delete
    2. J'espère bien...Le N-B est une province officiellement bilingue...Pour l'instant.

      Delete
    3. "J'espère bien...Le N-B est une province officiellement bilingue...Pour l'instant."

      Canada is a bilingual country...

      "Wow, that many idiots..."

      It's not about being idiots. It just shows that you don't need to speak English in certain parts of NB and ON. A uniligual Franco in Ontario is not necessarily an idiot, evil, or a supremacist. Just like a unilingual Anglo in Quebec. Right SR?

      Delete
    4. Ne pas confondre deux langues officielles et bilinguisme.

      Delete
    5. "Wow, that many idiots...
      ESL dummies, wake up bigots!!!"

      Definitely a classless statement.

      Delete
    6. "Ne pas confondre deux langues officielles et bilinguisme."

      I'm not. NB is officially bilingual and so is Canada.

      Delete
    7. Please! People! Why are you not stopping it? The troll is not at all interested in your responses. He already knows that francophones are being favoured in Canada and he is simply revelling in reminding you about it. He has been doing this for the past four years, at least.

      Please. Stop. Answering.

      He doesn’t care about whatever blather you choose to make, and neither does anyone else. It is completely meaningless. Stop it already! You are not accomplishing anything (other than being made fools of by the troll).

      Delete
    8. "Please! People! Why are you not stopping it?"

      Le besoin d'évacuer leurs frustrations,Editor.Ce qui est fort bénéfique selon plusieurs spécialistes de la santé mentale.

      Delete
    9. Editor: Good 4 U! U beat me to the punch, because had I been the one saying anything, I would have faced rebuke from someone, and I don't even mean the trolls. Anyway, because everything here is in writing, I decided to simplify by going down the list of entries until a sense of normalcy returns to the blog.

      Delete
  8. Mr. Berlach,

    One critical typo. The 1988 U.S. Presidential election was between Michael Dukakis and George H.W. Bush.

    ReplyDelete
  9. From Ann,
    Last week I wrote an email to the Royal Bank of Canada. They sent me their Visa Card promotional junk mail in French only. I told them that there are plenty of English speaking people in Quebec and they should be sending out bilingual French and English mail, not just French only. I told them that I shouldn't have to specifically request for the English version and I would not give them my business if they don't have the courtesy to send bilingual mailings. It is so bad that even Canadian companies are caving in to the bullies who think that the English language should not be seen in Quebec.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "I would not give them my business"

      Pauvre RBC...Que vont-ils faire sans vous?Vous vous prenez pour Paul Desmarais ou quoi?Mdr

      Delete
    2. I just reply to them for free using their business-reply envelope, including a note to this effect: "I might be interested in your offers if you respected us enough to provide bilingual mailings. But since you don't, I'm not."

      Delete
  10. Good for you Murray Levine and friends.Keep up the good work...

    Take that anti-English language franco'phony' bigots.

    Boycott any company, or business that does not post signs in English and offer service in fluent English, all across the country.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been doing that too Ann - No longer will I take this garbage without fighting backs. I pay taxes to two governments and expect to have my rights respected. The GD IM and SJBS can stuff themselves - nasty A$$holes!

      Delete
  11. Loi sur les mines: le PQ impose le bâillon avec la CAQ

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/politique-quebecoise/201312/09/01-4719115-loi-sur-les-mines-le-pq-impose-le-baillon-avec-la-caq.php

    Enfin la CAQ sert à quelque chose.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Just a quick comment which is off topic...

    RAMQ "La Régie vous informe qu'elle communique d'abord en français avec sa clientèle``

    514-864-3411, Call them and ask for your own personal language test. Don`t forget to press 9 for English.

    It`s interesting how I used to be glad to call any government office and speak to them in French. I was proud of my language skills. Now they just make me want to vomit. They sure know how to make their language attractive and appealing!!!

    I will call them now and ask for that language test.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @laurie

      now have you got to be bored to call ramq for no reason... by jove.

      Delete
    2. I just called that number to see what they were up to. After having listened to their message all the way until the end, when they finally deigned to say “For information in English, press 9”.

      So I pressed 9.
      And I got:

      “Au revoir… et merci d’avoir appellé la carte-soleil parlante !"

      Delete
    3. @ Cat

      Haha, why am I not surprised.

      I told the woman who answered me what I thought about it, in French. It probably was not one of her better days at work.

      Delete
  13. UN GARS BIEN SYMPATHIQUE DE FRANKFORTMonday, December 9, 2013 at 11:19:00 AM EST

    Thank you EDITOR for censoring my latest post. Very professional of you. Please carry on your criticism of all things ( PQ, french, quebec, etc) you hate!!! Censor at will, Saddam.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Cutie003, on Monday, December 9, 2013 at 8:53:00 AM EST, you wrote:
    "It really is insidious, the way it's been done. Little by little, bit by bit, our language has been removed from sight and no one noticed - sad that our population is so blind as to the politics of this province. I've noticed it here over the past two years or so, little by little, bit by bit, just like our rights and freedoms under every damn provincial government that has been in power. As I said, no democracy in quebec. Not one party stands up for Canadian values - they should all be shot and pissed on!"

    I won't call it eloquent, but it is eloquently succinct.

    Too, what you wrote clinches my case. If you've followed for the last week, and you have, you'll recall how complicated took a shit-fit and was offended about my indifference to the minorities. As you put it, these "little-by-little" and "bit-by-bit" changes are exactly what I meant by "testing the limits".

    Every single Quebec government, going back to the U.N. with Bill 63, has been a test. After Bill 63 came Bill 22, then Bill 101, Bill 104, Bill178, Bill 86 and the Great John James "Goldilocks" Charest with his revision to Bill 104. Failures along the way were Bill 1, the forerunner to Bill 101 (seen as too stringent by the Francophone business community let alone the Anglophone), Bill 40 (Louise Beaudoin's failed foray to enable the language gestapo unannounced invasions into even home-based businesses seeking out "illegal English"), Bill 195 (Mar-wad's first attempt at Bill 60), Bill 14 (the second attempt) the latest chapter is now the Charter of Hate (a composite of Bill 195 and the currently pending Bill 60.

    Fascism is alive and well in Quebec, and there is no end in sight. If THEY (and we all know who THEY is) can't have it roasted, they then try to fry it and if not that, then broiled, grilled , seared, steamed, sautéed and poached. They hope eventually, enough of THEM will munch on it. As far as I'm concerned, THEY can all CHOKE on it! Given they will eat it eventually, THEY will choke on it.

    This is why I've grown indifferent to Quebec separation, and in fact, badly want it now. I've observed the minorities and the complacency, so I figured back in my adolescence that if our people don't care, I care even less...to the point in now couldn't possibly care less. Sorry, Cutie, complacency and Ed et al., you all made your bed, now lie in it...or at long last, strip the bed and start the hell over!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. From Ann
      Actually you do care otherwise you wouldn't be on this forum venting about the same thing over and over again, trashing the Anglophones living their life in Quebec. If you didn't care you would be busy living your life not even paying attention to what is going on here and you wouldn't be filled with this much rage. It goes deeper than just Canadian tax money and the transfer payments because many people are upset about that too but don't spew out the amount of venom you do at anglophones who still remain in Quebec.

      On a technical note, I think a robot would be better able to read those letters that we must type to prove we are not a robot. It is very frustrating.

      Delete
    2. I agree Ann. Mr.Sauga seems to spend an awfully large amount of time on this forum for a guy who left Quebec 40 years ago and has made a successful life for himself in Ontario. Ontario has a lower debt, lower taxes and a brighter future than Quebec does and yet he is still not happy. He pretends its about equalization yet says nothing about the higher equalization payments to 4 other provinces.

      He is one of these bitter and twisted old timers who will never forgive the PQ for having forced him out of his home city. He wants to see Quebec and Montreal literally burn to the ground even if it hurts the thousands of anglophones and allophones who still live there. He would rather hand over thousands and thousands of high paying jobs to francophones in Montreal than have anglophones or allophones work in them. Hence he would rather have the rest of Canada support a 100 percent french city of Montreal and all its large companies and federal government departments that derive much od their income from the rest of Canada.

      Instead of offering support and concrete ideas to improve things here he proposes extreme policies that would lead to a PQ majority which would make life very difficult for the remaining anglos and allos here. And on top of that he loves to boast about how smart he was leaving when he did..even though he was a young and free man at the time unlike many of is who have family, children and not easily replaceable jobs.

      You would think Mr.Sauga would just count his blessings and forget about Quebec but no he has to come in here day in and day out and pour more oil on the fire. We live here and we are the ones who have to deal with Quebec..the rest of Canada really isnt affected nearly as much as we are. We are as Canadian as Mr.Sauga is and have just as much right to live and work in Montreal as anywhere else..we should not feel like we need to leave because we are not francophone. Keep in mind that the vast majority of people who fled Montreal in the 1970s did so because their work was transferred elsewhere such as Toronto or they were young and free and could easily move. As long as many of us have our work here its not so easy to just pack up and leave.

      Delete
    3. Well Mr Sauga I certainly hope not all Canadians feel the same about their fellow citizens that reside in quebec as you do. As ALL of us have told you, there are various reason why we can't just "up and leave" at will and without us here, I would guess that quebec would have separated long ago. I'm not Ed - he has an apartment that he can leave and leave the headaches of this place behind him along with his pension. Not all of us are in those same circumstances so it's very easy to look through the window of others and pass judgement on us without a second thought. I have faith in other Canadians that will look to help us should things go from bad to worse here and it becomes even more of a pressure cooker than it is right now. I have hope that they will understand, much more than you do, why it was not possible to leave when YOU think we should leave. Being forced from our homes, by anyone or any government, should never be acceptable to any citizen of a free country and at least I'm sure there is more empathy from many others than from yourself.

      Delete
    4. @cutie003

      " I have hope that they will understand, much more than you do, why it was not possible to leave when YOU think we should leave."

      why can't you leave mate?

      Delete
    5. Ay-yi-yi! Ann, comp & Cutie: The three of you just slay me.

      For the umpteenth time:

      1. Are you telling me you didn't see anti-English legislation for the last 40 years in Quebec? In fact, the U.N. brought in Bill 63 in the late 60s, but I'll let that one go because it didn't forbid anyone from going to English school. Ed would have been in his mid to late 30s when the legislation came out. I'm assuming the other two of you are much younger, but even a truck driver can work out of any city. Whatever. Early in the game, perhaps this was seen as a passing phase, but how can it be called that when the so-called federalist party passed the unconstitutional legislation first? Hmmm...

      (2) I've stated before and I'll state it again. I'm fine with Quebecers getting in federal services what you and THEY pay into the federal coffers, but no more. Incidentally, complicated, it's FIVE other provinces that receive equalization payments, one of them being Ontario, but that's misleading because Ontario, despite its unfortunate reversal of fortunes in recent years, is still the largest net contributor to the equalization program, and that especially bothers me that struggling Ontario is paying for a jurisdiction that has done all it could to abandon Canadian values. Canadian flags in Quebec are few and far between being seen, with federal government properties carrying the lion's share of the raised flags. Other than the National Assembly, the only other two provincial legislatures I have ever visited are the PEI and Ontario legislatures. Both fly the Canadian flag, and hang portraits of the Head of State, i.e., the Queen. Quebec absolutely does not. I have stated I'm not pro-monarchy, but until such time Canadians are asked to vote to remain part of the Commonwealth or not, the status quo prevails. I can and will live with that. What I cannot live with is supporting a jurisdiction that does its best to endlessly pursue the smiting one of the two official languages of Canada, especially when that targeted language is my mother tongue--and that of over a million other Quebecers.

      I've lost sympathy because too many of my fellow Anglophone Quebecers chose to, as stated in the brown-lettered link above, "contently tend their roses", i.e., let the vindictiveness of the anti-English language legislation exhaust. Forty years later, it hasn't exhausted, and no Quebec political party, whether governing or in opposition, has neither opposed the legislation nor stood up for the minorities. The last three individuals to do so did so in early 1989, three excellent cabinet ministers who then resigned for not supporting their leader. How reprehensible! They fairly and completely represented the will of the majority of their constituents and had to resign in doing so. That's just plain sick.

      (3) Do you all suffer from Battered Spouse Syndrome? I'd say so. You stay where you are, take a battering and do nothing but write into this blog. What does it accomplish? Are the shops at Fairview Center Pointe Claire posting more English signage? Have you regained the right to post commercial signs in any language you like, or at least with equal prominence as French? Can anyone who chooses to send their children to English school do so? Does the Quebec government speak back to you in English when you address them in English?

      I can write on, but I previously have, so enough said. You don't like my reasons for taking aim at Quebec? That is just your TOUGH LUCK! I can choose to love or hate anything and anyone as I see fit, and that goes for the rest of the world. If all the monies paid to Quebec except what Quebecers have put into the system are suspended, I won't care anymore and will not have anything negative to contribute to this blog. That's not my first time stating that.

      Delete
    6. Sauga, don’t listen to the others and please continue commenting on this blog site. Many Anglophones and Allophones forget that we are Canadians first and that our Canadian born rights are not being respected. We (Anglos, Allos and true French Canadians) are unfortunately still living in Quebec and need support from the ROC to counter this ant-Canadian legislation. I’ve said it in the past and will say it again, ROC DO NOT VOTE for another Quebec born Prim Minister again. A Quebec born PM will do nothing to protect my rights and will do as the other have done and simply conform to Quebec’s demands. Trudeau, Mulroney, Chrétien, Martin all failed in protecting the Canadian Charter of Rights.

      Delete
    7. Mr.Sauga..

      What I said is that there are four other provinces who receive MORE per capita from equalization than Quebec does. So in fairness you should be complaining just as much or more about these provinces.

      Do you honestly believe every anglo and allo should leave Montreal?? What you are proposing makes no sense. Fine..if you want me and thousands of other anglos to leave then please convince our employers to move our jobs outside of Montreal. Until then many of us will be staying put..some of us have francophone spouses who want to stay..some of us have children who are at a very difficult age to move..and there are countless other reasons that make it hard to move. You on the other hand were young and free..good for you..many of your compatriots who were young and free left..there is a strong likelihood that some of my children will leave at a certain point.

      For one thing I have almost never been refused service in english in Montreal..so lets stop with the hysterics. It is normal to be served in english on the west island and downtown..the east side is another story. So an anglophone can live in english quite easily in Montreal. My kids went to a francophone school but they were eligible for an anglophone school..we decided we wanted them to speak french well. The reality is that most of the kids at their school were anglophone hence they still spoke english a fair bit which is great..they know both languages inside out which very few Canadians have the luxury. In fact many people speak three or four languages in Montreal.

      The signage whining at Fairview is somewhat overblown..everyone gets served in english there all the time. Yes many of the large signs are in french only but who doesnt know what solde means. Its a business decision..most retailers have chosen to have signs in french only to cut down on costs and since the majority of people speak french the signs are in french. If you cant understand a few french words then you arent trying too hard. The irony is that many of the names of the stores are in english. I have never had a problem being served in english by the quebec government..I have called them numerous times and have spoke in english to them..same story at hospitals and so on. I suspect its a lot harder for a francophone to be served in french in Ottawa than an anglophone in english in Montreal. So believe me Mr.Sauga english is still alive and well in much of Montreal.

      Having said that the PQ and their militants would love to stamp out all anglophones. In fact what you are proposing is exactly what they want. They want all anglos and allos to leave so that they can have their 99 percent pure french province then vote to seperate. As an added bonus this would allow the francophones to take all the thousands of pretty good jobs that the anglos and allos have now and to buy houses at cheap prives as all the anglos flee to the ROC,. Is this really what you want Mr.Sauga..I think its in the best interests of Canada that there is a strong anglo presence in Montreal to buffer the fanaticism of the PQ.

      Delete
    8. @complicated: Please have the courtesy not to refer to these people as "whiners" = they are doing what they feel is right and justified and personally I agree with them. Watching their whole history as anglo quebecers being wiped out on a daily basis, they feel they are being attacked after hundreds of years of contributing to the quebec society. You are a relative newcomer; most of these people have families going back generations and are standing up for what they believe in. Whiners is what the separatists call them; I don't believe you are a separatist so please refrain from using the term. Thank you. Much appreciated.

      Delete
    9. Ok..I see your point..wrong choice of words. I do believe the Fairview issue is pretty minor. The reality is that you hear more english in Fairview than pretty well any other place around and there is no problem whatsoever being served in english there. And obviously the vast majority of anglos agree as only about 15 people were marching on the street. Plus the mall is jam packed. If anglos were really upset I would suggest they shop elsewhere. I believe many anglos used the same argument when francophones complained in the past about not being served in french. Although in this case anglios are still being served in english..its just that many signs are in french only. I find this article sums it up abour right for me..

      http://westislandgazette.com/blog/just-between-us/story/2013/12/04/lets-discuss-the-protests-at-fairview/

      Delete
    10. Thank you complicated - I'm glad you see my point. That is exactly what they were objecting - the removal, yet again, of everything English - as I stated previously, it is done deliberately and with malice by the IF and SJBS insistence. All of this is being paid for with our tax money and the anglophone community is sick to death of it. They have every right to object to this insulting and degrading of their language, IMHO. I too cannot complain about really having too much problem being "served" in English in Gatineau but the removal of everything related to my language I find very hurtful and insulting also. What is wrong with English? Absolutely nothing and I feel, as a taxpayer, that I should have a right to also see my language, albeit smaller in print (by law), but what's wrong with it? As a property owner and taxpayer, I fail to understand the necessity of removing everything to do with MY language. This is all a part and parcel of making us feel insignificant, (a psychological war) like having to "press 9" rather than the usual "press 2". The majority francophone population is insisting on services in french all over the ROC but are out to erase us in our own home province. Having something added is a much more pleasant way to do things than reversing what has already been established for hundreds of years. This is what's wrong.

      Delete
    11. To be fair though francophones typically have way less services in french in the ROC than anglos do in Montreal and probably Gatineau. And it is a sore point with them when they hear english all over the place in Montreal and yet anglos are still complaining.

      I think we need on both sides to step back and take a breath sometimes. Yes its frustrating that there are no english signs in Fairview but the bottom line is that we are all easily served in english. On the other hands francophones who flip out every time they hear a word of english also need to relax and accept that Montreal has always had a significant anglo population and its time to deal with it. Also Bill 101 and other efforts have very well defended the french lanaguage and enough is enough.

      I really dont believe there is a conspiracy to remove english signs from Fairview. Its a reaction by an anglo population that is on edge since the PQ have been elected. I really think the signs are in french only because its just easier and less costly for the businesses and they dont want any hassles with the olqf. And in todays world the vast majority of anglos know what these signs mean.

      Delete
  15. BTW, it's Michael Dukakis, NOT George Dukakis...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In all due fairness, the Editor is not American. I don't think I could even name, nor come close to naming, the Canadian opposition leader who lost in the election year closest to 1988. (That was the first presidential election I voted in.) I'll give myself a pat on the back if the PM was indeed Brian Mulroney as I think it was.

      Delete
    2. Mr. Cunningham,

      The U.S. Presidential Election - including its primaries - is an event that is followed all over the world. I am not even American and I arrived in North America less than 10 years ago, yet I know that - without looking up - that the losers in the elections are:

      Mitt Romney
      John McCain
      John Kerry
      Al Gore
      Bob Dole
      George Bush
      Michael Dukakis
      Walter Mondale
      Jimmy Carter
      Gerald Ford.

      Delete
    3. @troy

      your most useless comment ever troy. there is no point in claiming you knew something that you could have looked up. now you know.

      Delete
  16. http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/12/09/bob-plamondon-the-heavy-hand-of-trudeau/

    """During his academic studies, Trudeau did not reject violence as a means to an end. “Terrorism,” he wrote as a student, “does not constitute political violence if it is absolutely needed to attain the accepted political end of a given nation.”""

    Quebecois logic.

    Destroying everything and anything is acceptable to the dream of a francophone only Quebec. This is what passes for logic and education in the province.

    Is it any wonder the PQ embraced bombs and violence, outright lies and manipulation etc. Look what a "regular Quebecois" considers acceptable decades ago.

    ReplyDelete
  17. FYI - Not sure if you have heard of the new book, Why now is the perfect time to say bye bye Quebec…one can only hope...lol

    http://www.lowellgreen.com/

    ReplyDelete
  18. "Mr.Sauga seems to spend an awfully large amount of time on this forum for a guy who left Quebec 40 years ago and has made a successful life for himself in Ontario. Ontario has a lower debt, lower taxes and a brighter future than Quebec does and yet he is still not happy."

    This goes to the heart of the matter. Whose home is it? The "culture" in Quebec needs to be protected - but not the culture people like Mr. Sauga thought they were part of and thought they were helping to make one of the most unique and best in the world, a bilingual, multi-cultural, international culture - but a different culture they (we) were not a part of and can never be a part of. Moving away from your home isn't something people do lightly, no matter how nice the place you move to is.

    We will, of course, die out, those of us who had a very different idea of what Quebec and Montreal were all about and our decsendants will move on and Quebec will have been one stop on our way from Scotland or Ireland or Italy or Poland or Lithuania to somewhere else where we will be "home."

    But for a while, even though we live here, we're going to be annoyed that Toronto has become what Montreal could have become.

    ReplyDelete
  19. @SR

    You (and other sovereignists) have been saying that Harper is good for the sovereignist movement because his nasty nasty politics will push Quebecers to want to get out of this awful Canada. Well, he has been there for 6-7 years now, when is this wave of popularity for independence coming? This last poll has sovereignty at 33% (page 7), much lower than even the historical 40% average.

    http://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/sondage7decembre.pdf

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @am

      "...when is this wave of popularity for independence coming?"

      i don't know. hopefully soon.

      Delete
  20. FROM ED
    As I move on to other things, here's a look back at your last post, EDITOR. The thread opens with comments by a whole four people about the fairview situation mentioned by you EDITOR. From then on Liam, Anectote , Cutie and Laurie play with the trolls helping them make inane remarks about things like 'pasta in France' and who is an idiot. Have you ever heard such stupidity as asking a troll to prove French is in trouble? With an odd inject from Cebeuq and James Wolfe who appear to be one and the same, the rest of thethread winds up with everyone trying to get through the thick head of Mr Sauga that his thinking isn't wanted here. Was it worth your time to write it Phil?
    The reason that real writers have left is because there is no longer any debate to take part in. I couldn't find anything that I cared to comment on. Apart from good comments byn Joseph, Cat Kevin and Malaka the rest is crap. I can see the blog winding down and I suspect you must be tired and fed up trying to sustain it. It was once a great gathering of minds with intellectual people bringing to life thoughts so deeply astute and resourceful, they came up with things the press never imagined. You yourself are incredibly informed on so many subjects you amaze me. This blog would have been an important thing to have with the possibuility of an election coming up but unfortunately the few that have hijacked it along with the trolls are too selfish to share with others just like the Seppies that they complain about.
    It was a great ride Phil, thabnks a million. Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ed

      ed you forgot mentioning ed toping it off with yet another bogus threat of leaving the blog.

      Delete
    2. Ed, I propose a solution: Create your own blog and feel free to strike from it any responses by contributors that you don't like. Make so you see what you want to see, much like Vigile.net and others like it. Will that satisfy you?

      It's no skin off my nose if you contribute or not, and I imagine the most of the readership shares my sentiments. Your view of the PLQ is the stuff Fairyland is made of. At best, they're marginally better than the PQ insofar as they don't try to manufacture contentious issues to try to separate at all costs, but they don't help English speakers either, i.e., they're marginally the lesser of two evils.

      Seems you liked to take somewhat subtle cracks at my being Jewish, but when you're attacked on all sides by Cutie and me, amongst others, your skin turns thin and now you want to run away. If your mind is made up, Ed, that is your prerogative. Goodbye and good luck. I won't say good riddance because you're still entitled to express your opinions, views and beliefs whether on this forum or anywhere else with whom you choose.

      Delete
    3. From Ann
      @Ed, this blog is very important to the community. I am sure a lot of people read it even if they don't comment. This blog is very informative and adds a dimension not seen in standard print media (newspapers). Go to CTV, The Gazette, Journal de Montréal or any online article from around the world and you will see good comments, bad comments and responses to people's good and bad comments. Does that mean there should be no more articles printed online because the comments section is a waste of time? No. It is the article itself that is important. This blog provides a great service to the community and I look forward each week to reading what the Editor has to say.

      Delete
    4. @Ann - Hi Ann - I gather you're pretty new to the blog but I have been here since around August 2012, and I can tell you you are are right - the blog is important to the community and I'm glad you and others have joined but I can assure you that Ed has quit the blog approximately once a month, for various reasons, just about as many months as I have been contributing. He gets angry at someone or something, be it legitimate or not, quits, waits and hopes that people will tell him he's missed, and then comes back to start all over again. He is not at all reasonable if you don't agree with him about the church or the liberal party of quebec, insults many people for being Jews, women, francophone, or infers that contributors that were here before us were much better informed and more intelligent. When he has complaints about the trolls (and who doesn't) instead of e-mailing the editor, he attacks everyone that decides to debunk the myths that they spread and tells everyone what to do and whom they should be speaking to. Not to worry - this is my experience with the man and he may or may not be back but if he does return, it will be after someone tells him he is missed. Won't come from me I can assure you. He's stubborn and very pigheaded if he does not agree with you - just his personality I guess.

      Delete
    5. Cutie and Ann: It's a shame when anyone other than the trolls leaves the blog, because there were some who constructively contributed their views; nevertheless, I'm not going to stroke egos hoping anyone who leaves comes back. That is fully a personal decision.

      I don't apologize one iota for my views. For those who have stayed, there are pros and cons. Similarly for those, like me, who left, there too are pros and cons. In my case, I get too many Leaf games and I only know one really good true Montreal style deli. Too, real estate in Toronto is much more expensive--naturally--more people want to live in Ontario than Quebec.

      I'm old enough to remember when Montreal was thee place to live, and could've still been had it not been for the bigoted nationalism. THEY made their decision, THEY decided that having the lion's share of a much smaller pie is more important than having a lesser share of a larger pie, ergo THEY made their bed and THEY have to lay in it. Unfortunately, those of you who chose to stay, or feel you are committed to stay, have to lay in THEIR bed as well. It's all decided...unless you change your mind.

      Delete
    6. Ed, my presence on this blogs clearly annoys you. My post are always well researched and factually correct. I have never lied, nor have I been censored by the editor. I may engage the trolls, but have always done so in a polite fashion. What is the problem?

      Regardless, Malaka, Cat, and Joseph have all made contributions to the blog today, and I didn't see your name in the tread started by Malaka. Maybe you should participate in their discussion instead of trolling my comments.

      On another note, Ed, message to the editor should be emailed to him directly.

      Delete
    7. @liam

      "My post are always well researched and factually correct."

      haha. that is so false. you're amongst the worst in here. just up there you claimed that anglophones "are not allowed" to be served in english on the kirkland bus. this is badly researched and factually incorrect. next.

      Delete
    8. No student. I have already demonstrated that anglophones are not allowed to be served in english on Montreal Transit. I had previously referred to an article where the sign said: "Au Québec, c’est en français que ça se passe !"

      http://www.vigile.net/Une-plainte-d-une-allophone-contre

      Learn the fact next time.

      Delete
    9. thanks for the link liam. very good article by barberis-gervais. i don't see how you can stretch this particular incident and generalize to the whole stm and back down to a particular kirkland stretch. you're not demonstrating anything here apart from your bad faith. if you are honest you'll admit your previous interpretation of the fact is totally crazy.

      i'll take complicated's opinion over yours, as he's a montreal resident and you are a remote pontiac dude. and he says he doesn't have a problem living as an anglophone in montreal.

      Delete
    10. Deflection again Student.

      You see I provided a link from a website (too make you happy, a separatist website!) and your reaction is to dismiss it without providing another source. Another source: http://gjnashen.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/bilingualism-for-stm-workers-a-phone-call-away-jean-francois-lisee/

      "The Gazette recently revealed that the STM’s policy of not requiring bilingualism among bus drivers and métro ticket takers."

      The second deflection is : "you are a remote pontiac dude." No I'm not from Pontiac. I often go to Montreal to visit family and have used Montreal transit system quite often. Great way at deflection, though.

      Delete
    11. @liam

      you provided a link from a website that tells the story of a stm ticket clerk in villa maria station who posted au quebec on parle francais. nothing to do with anglophones "not being allowed" english service by the stm. and even less than nothing to do with service on the kirkland road. so yes i dismiss your source, with good reason. the idea is not to provide just a random link liam, it's to provide a good one that will back this up: "I'm not allowed to be served in English if taking a bus from Kirkland to Fairview".

      as for your second link it's much better, and brings up a question: should fluency in english be mandatory for stm bus drivers? i don't think so, the number of unilingual anglophone stm users is just too small to justify this.

      "I often go to Montreal to visit family and have used Montreal transit system quite often."

      but you speak and read french, so what's the problem? complicated, a montreal resident, claims he has never had a problem getting by through the stm being an anglophone. do you think he lies? either you or him is dishonest here liam. and all clues lead to you mate...

      Delete
    12. Liam, two significant things to note:

      (1) You don't owe Ed or anyone else an apology for your views;

      BUT

      (2) Please, pretty please, don't fall into the fatal trap of debating with student, S.R., Frankfort, or any other trolls that present frivolous debates because they'll keep going as long as you do. They mostly state meaningless jibborish and gobbledygook for no other reason than to antagonize. The Editor intervened further up the list of comments on this. They'll keep going as long as you do, and when I see these garbage debates start, I ignore them and go down to where normal, proper debate resumes.

      Delete
    13. Liam,

      Please remember my story about you and the dogs.

      Delete
  21. By AnecTOTE

    I thought I would pass on the link for this Letter, worth reading. It draws the point home that people see right through PQ agenda and true motivation..blinders are off. It is an important point to make as their popularity and support keeps plummeting.

    With Mandela passing, a man who embodied, inclusion, tolerance, acceptance and peace, he truly left us a beautiful Legacy. It seems racism and xenophobia have never been more unpopular in the world.

    It is remarkable what you can accomplish with the right vision. It would have been a completely different History if, after he was freed from incarceration, he would have been bitter, ful of rage and out for revenge for the injustices he had been subjected to. What a noble and honorable soul he turned out to be. If one imagines he the victim of oppression and yet emerged transformed, promoting the positive message of Love. ...Humbling really.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/Letter+What+should+think+about+over+Christmas/9264359/story.html

      Link above for Letter

      Delete
    2. AnecTOTE: What you wrote about Nelson Mandela is all very true, and this is why world leaders, past and present, and a host of other dignitaries are heading for that rugby stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday, and then Sunday for the funeral. He earned enormous accolades all over the world and the events going on there this week will make world history, and probably the single biggest gathering of dignitaries on the African continent of all time.

      Quebec right now could certainly use a leadership with the mind and diplomacy of a Nelson Mandela, maybe our entire nation.

      I hope the examples Mr. Mandela, like Mahatma Gandhi before him, will resonate in the coming years; however, I received a frightening link from a South African expatriate just yesterday to show how volatile things could become with Mandela now gone. Read the answer to Question 7. What this guy proposes will put South Africa in the same horrific economic fix Zimbabwe went through for the last decade and longer. This last bank note could buy perhaps three eggs when it was circulated. This could be the road South Africa is heading down, and Quebec with its nationalization tenancies could destroy its economy the same way should it separate and indubitably have to produce its own currency.

      Delete
    3. @hands off my hijab

      " It would have been a completely different History if, after he was freed from incarceration, he would have been bitter, ful of rage and out for revenge..."

      you mean like sauga?

      Delete
    4. No, like all of the members of the Parti Quebecois.

      Delete
    5. @durham

      oh! you mean sauga is like all of the members of the parti quebecois?!?

      Delete
    6. by AnecTOTE

      @Sauga

      I appreciate your conciliatory tone finally, Mr. Sauga, so TY for that. My reference in mentioning Mandela and what he achieved as a peaceful and tolerant Leader was intended primarily as a Lesson for the seppies, though obviously, we all can learn from the examples he put forth.

      With Editor’s permission, (since this is his political blog, not Facebook), I hope he allows me to impart the following.

      Over the weekend, I borrowed a page from your book and opened up a little about myself. It is something I don’t ordinarily do because I feel that 'The Message' is the only thing that should matter, and not who is delivers it, especially on a blog such as this. In any event, here it goes:

      I had a very unconventional upbringing if you consider my origins. Girls in my family did not sew, cook and knit, (not that there is anything wrong with that), we were taught to read, analyze and discuss. The very first Christmas gift I ever recall getting from my parents was a Globe. And the following year, it was the "World Book" Encyclopedia. These were our toys.

      Having lived in France for almost a decade (prior to coming to Canada), my Father taught us French first as a Language. He was skilled Labor and in his time, greatly contributed to his Union Chapter. He completely believed in making working conditions better and gave himself to this whole-heartedly. It is because of the work he did, and his contributions, along with others, that there are protocols for Safety today at Quebec work sites. He worked tirelessly to make a difference and he thought Unions were the answer. He got as far as the 8th grade back in the old country, but was self-educated and highly accomplished. Sunday was his day to study and he was not to be disturbed. He practiced Yoga and Meditation way before they were The "In" Thing. He discussed physics and metaphysic with the most gifted intellectuals and more than held his own, as it was my privilege to bear witness many times. Today, as it turns out, in his mid 80’s, he’s lost most of his Faith in god and leaders and has become an agnostic and an anarchist. The only things he believes in are his vegetable garden and his wine cellar. It still makes for interesting times and very interesting chats. Why am I suddenly sharing all this? (and btw, I am completely aware of what I am doing, regardless of what entails), I'm reminded of that Amanda Marshall song "Everybody's Got a Story". It occurred to me that even though, the Messenger should never supersede The Message, if we are given 'Context' sometimes, about someone..like where they're comin' from, there's a chance we can better grasp what they trying to convey, and thus, The Message.

      Finally, I realize I have a tendency to be animated, forceful and impassioned, but I was taught it is best to have these qualities and attributes, if you are ever going to succeed in changing anything.

      (Thank you Editor)

      Sincerely,

      AnecTOTE

      Delete
    7. @hands off my hijab

      "It occurred to me that (...) The Message, if we are given 'Context' sometimes, (...) there's a chance we can better grasp what they trying to convey, and thus, The Message."

      what part of your speech did you feel needed to be put into this context? what is it that you think will now be better grasped by our community?

      i don't understand what pushed you to reveal your father's life as a union boss. your hate speech is always crystal clear to me. what's up mate?

      Delete
    8. AnecTOTE: I generally am a conciliatory individual, and thank you for sharing your story. I have often done the same because I was often told about my uncle in the Eastern Townships. He was deeply loved and respected by all his siblings, especially those who were younger than him because he became both brother and father to many of them, busted his ass, his back and just about every part of himself to support his family.

      The burden of responsibility went on for over 30 years and for this his reward was an early grave at age 52. That's not fair. He left a wife and toddler son of his own as he married very late in life for all he did to keep the businesses he ran going and support his mother, wife and son after the siblings left the nest, and he still was a very generous person to all of us. I was only five when he died, but I do remember his kindness.

      Your father sounded like a family legend not unlike my uncle, but I'm sorry to learn he grew sour on his faith after all those years. Then again, I think when we age and have the privilege of becoming an octogenarian, we finally think about ourselves first because we don't have the vitality we had in our youth, we often have ailments or maladies that chip away at our quality of life so little else matters.

      Unlike Nelson Mandela, I'm embittered by what Quebec has become because of how my grandparents came to Quebec (very much a part of Canada a century ago), started from nothing and flourished through their hard work and dedication to their work and families. My maternal grandfather started as a rag-and-bone picker making a meager living doing so, but it was his start since he came to Canada from Russia with whatever he could carry and little else. From that meager income he saved enough to send for his wife and three children born in Russia. Hard work, VERY hard work, VERY long hours, little reward. These unappreciative lazy-assed Québécois of today would rather die than work for minimum wage. After all, they're entitled to something-for-nothing, right? We in the RoC owe Quebec the taxes of our hard-earned money so they can sit on their asses, watch TV, smoke cigarettes and drink Bière Laurentide and even send their kids to $7-a-day daycare that exists nowhere else in Canada, right?

      Wrong, AnecTOTE,WRONG! Not acceptable to me, AnecTOTE! Not now, not ev-ver!

      It is for all this that I am embittered, AnecTOTE. I unfortunately never had the pleasure to shake Mr. Mandela's hand let along set eyes on his person. Had I had the opportunity to do so, I think in light of my ill feelings for Quebec, I may have felt compelled to say to Mr. Mandela, "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!" Sadly, at this point in my life, I think I can handle taking that to the grave.

      Delete
    9. By AnecTOTE

      "Your father sounded like a family legend not unlike my uncle, but I'm sorry to learn he grew sour on his faith after all those years. Then again, I think when we age and have the privilege of becoming an octogenarian, we finally think about ourselves first because we don't have the vitality we had in our youth, we often have ailments or maladies that chip away at our quality of life so little else matters. "

      Mostly, Mr. S, he is just really disillusioned that men can be this weak. And that...for the most part ..everywhere you turn there is no strength of soul, which is something, he said, he cultivated his entire life. One day, when he was over and we were watching confessions and declarations, one after another, on the Charbonneau Commission, he was completely and utterly disgusted. So I remember saying to him, that we shouldn't judge since we don't know how we would react to someone waving millions of dollars in our face, not that I was condoning any of it, but if so many people got caught up in it, there is obviously something we are overlooking. He responded that it was Greed pure and simple and nothing more, and it's like cake to a fat Lady, and when it comes to money, we are all fat Ladies! "Why do you think Gluttony is a cardinal sin" he asked, cause everything in excess is. It is our responsibility to force ourselves to practice self restraint and walk away from the dessert table. Finally he said..."And who says no one ever waved serious money in my face?, it comes down to what you are prepared to live with, that's it, it is as simple as that."

      It was an interesting day!

      Delete
    10. AnecTOTE: I confess there are times I'm disillusioned with the fact my employer's CEO is paid about 250 times what I'm paid, that politicians are very generous with our hard-earned tax money, often pissing the money against the wall, and take bribes with clock-like regularity. Electing politicians gives them a license to steal. Heaven knows the "family business" in North Korea passed down from grandfather to father to son, and will go to his heir. He lacks for nothing he desires while his people starve and live in squalor. Personally I hope somebody assassinates him and his minions, much like what happened to the French monarchy. What is the Francophonie but a composite of small country dictatorships with a few exceptions?

      I confess these injustices will likely annoy me until I go to my grave, but what can I do about it? As Madiba said, if the bitterness rules you, you're never free. I feel strongly about the injustices going on in Quebec and while I'll take the time to write my MP and/or PM about my views and what I'd like to see done, I will not be consumed by it. My passions run pretty deep, but the don't consume me. I'm on holiday this week so I have some time to devote to this blog. There are times I won't at all, or maybe add one comment. It depends how important it is at a given time.

      Delete
    11. By AnecTOTE

      If you get a chance Mr S. please read the Letter in The Gazette Editorial today from Letter-Writer Al Wiebeing, regarding the demolishing of the Big O. A civil Engineer by trade and now retired, he rams the point home how, once again, looks like we are being lied to so that "someone" makes a buck. It never stops. I would send link but can't locate, I really hope you have access to hard copy.

      @Mayor Codere's

      You should give Mr. Wiebeing a call.

      Delete
    12. Unfortunately we dont really have a democracy in this country. Elections are based on antiquated first past the post systems which skew the true wishes of the people. In the last provincial election the PQ received 31.9 percent of the vote versus 31.2 percent for the Liberals and I believe 27 percent for the CAQ. Given how hated the Liberals were this is a pretty pathetic endorsment of the PQ. Yet they are running the province as its their own.

      Same story across Canada..we have 40 percent of Canadians who voted for the Cons and they have a solid majority..most Canadians want a left wing government. And of course when these politicians get in power they more or less do as they please.

      In many ways though Canadians deserve the government they have. Many Canadians cant even be bothered to vote. The ones who do vote often do for spurious reasons and which leader will give them the most. Most Canadians dont want their leaders to do what is right. What is right would be placing debt reduction as the number one goal. Its not glamorous and it would be painful but long term the benefits wouold be the greatest. Look at how irresponsible most Canadians are with respect to their own debt levels..we now have record debt loads in this country caused by a real estate bubble that few acknowledge.

      Quebec is in the worst shape of all..we really are heading towards a Greek style crisis here soon. Since I have lived in Quebec not one government..PQ or Liberal has had the political will to tackle the real issue..debt. Once interest rates rise within the next 2 years or so then it will be game over..big cuts are coming and even Canada wont be able to rescue Quebec.

      Delete
    13. AnecTOTE,

      Now you wrote that you father has been practicing Yoga and Meditation for a long time, is it the reason why your family does not eat meat - even though you do eat sea food?

      Delete
    14. @Troy

      Back in the day, dad was more a vegetarian than anything else, od'ing ion raw Onions and Échalotes lol..mum use to luv him, lol. Today he has calmed down, he eats meat and seafood. But Troy...you know Christmas Eve for Catholics is Fish and Seafood..don't you?

      Delete
    15. I knew about abstinence but I understood that that practice had been abolished by Vatican II, except for Lent. I never knew any Catholic who practiced that fish and seafood diet on Christmas. Canadian Catholics, for example (franco and anglo alike) have roast meat (turkey, ham or beef) as the centerpiece of their Christmas Eve dinner.

      But then I looked up and found Festa dei sette pesci. You mentioned before that you were of Sicilian descent and it makes more sense. With that, buon appetito e buon natale.

      Delete
  22. This is when you know the sovereignist movement is dead:

    http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Macpherson+charter+values+deal+with+devil+hasn+paid/9265013/story.html

    Even with it's hardest punch, the PQ fails to deliver a K-O.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Le mouvement indépendantiste ne peut pas mourir,il dort simplement...Comme un volcan.

      Delete
    2. The PQ swore to do an end run around the former ADQ so they wouldn't get upstaged once again but they wound up fucking it up…

      Delete
    3. @Joseph

      That is one mighty fuck up, but it's to be expected. What do you expect when the entire party is made up of C and D-grade politicians.

      They have no vision or acumen, yet they're just smart enough to see the writing's on the wall.

      There was a time when the people of Quebec swore by the Catholic church. After seeing how poor and badly they were for doing it, they rejected it. Same thing with sovereignty. People are sick of being the deprived of the same quality of life in other parts of the country.

      The BQ died a very brutal death and the PQ, despite the Liberal's stark lack of popularity could only eek out 30% of the vote.

      Delete
  23. Neil Young revient à la charge contre les sables bitumineux

    L'artiste canadien Neil Young reprend sa campagne contre les sables bitumineux de l'Alberta en annonçant quatre spectacles en soutien aux Autochtones inquiets des répercussions de l'industrie pétrolière dans leur région.

    http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/alberta/2013/12/09/006-neil-young-sables-bitumineux-concerts-autochtones-alberta.shtml

    Je l'aime bien ce canadien.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Young is an old pot smoking hippy.

      Suggest that if you are so concerned about the oil sands that you contact your buddies at the PQ and tell them to return all of the equalization payments back to Alberta. Quebec happily takes the welfare from Alberta and then complains about the source of the funds. Hypocrites with a capital H.

      Delete
  24. West Island francophones tend to be very successful and therefore by and large do not suffer from the perpetual victim illness that afflicts the typical unhappy minority Quebec pequiste from rural areas.

    Perhaps our rural folk should try this test out:
    http://www.oprah.com/spirit/The-Are-You-Happy-Quiz_1

    ReplyDelete
  25. Perquisition de l'UPAC chez la soeur du grand argentier du PLQ

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/justice-et-affaires-criminelles/201312/10/01-4719478-perquisition-de-lupac-chez-la-soeur-du-grand-argentier-du-plq.php

    La série noire continue encore et encore...

    ReplyDelete
  26. Food for thought:

    There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba's struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people. And there are too many of us who stand on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard.

    Barack Obama's speech during the funeral of Nelson Mandela.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. From Ann
      Sounds like the PQ...gushing about Mandela while they trample on the rights of anglophones and minorities. Also sounds like the population of Quebec who are quite content to watch the rights of their neighbours taken away as long as they naively think their own rights will never be taken away by those same leaders (and not actually being aware that their rights are also being taken away albeit a bit more subtly).

      Delete
    2. Spoken a man whose job, as the president of the imperial power, is to quash dissent to the Washington consensus all over the world.

      A man who stepped up the NSA activity way beyond the levels of his predecessor Bush in order to spy on his own population in an effort to sniff out dissent, is now chastising other leaders for "not tolerating dissent", and chastising us for "standing on the sidelines" instead of dissenting.

      I know that being a hypocrite is part of their job description, but today's "leaders" are definitely setting new records.

      Delete
    3. By AnecTOTE

      @adski

      I often think that it isn't Obama really running things behind the scenes. He's got Nixon clones advising him, and he goes with the flow more likely than not...it is my impression anyway. Hey...Reagan has Nancy after all..lol

      Delete
  27. "A nation that mandates the primacy of one ethnicity over all others will eventually become psychologically dysfunctional. The racist state becomes increasingly paranoid, its society closed and insular, intellectually limited. The state lashes out in a crazed effort, lacking any sense of proportion, to reassure itself of its strength. The society no longer recognizes any boundaries, geographical or moral". Michel Warschawski

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. M.Warschawski was referring to another state, but the quote fits Quebec like a glove.

      Delete
    2. Sounds like a wise man adski - Thank you.

      Delete
  28. Fact of the matter is if you are UNILINGUAL in the Greater Montreal Area, you're FUCKING IRRELEVANT, ANGLO OR FRANCO. All you fucking 45+ quiet revolution era peasants need to die in order for these non-existent language problems to die out and stop poisoning the younger generations with your shitty bitterness. All the millennials are bilingual now and have no hang ups over what language they speak!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps you're right, but I really don't think so. It started with the "Westmount Rhodesians", and not it's religious garb. I guess as long as the rest of Canada is willing to put up with layabout whiners who don't embrace our values and outlaw one of Canada's official languages. Once they come up with a final solution to religious garb, what's next? Click on the brown 'next' for the link that will give you the answer.

      Delete
    2. @sauga

      english is not outlawed in quebec. but french is mandatory. and you are a liar.

      Delete
    3. @Jack Reality - do you kiss your mother, father and grandparents with that mouth? Are they now "irrelevant"? What we are fighting for is exactly what you are brought up - the right to be able to speak either and/or any language without laws in place to prevent it! PQ, IF and SJBS will fight you on the very idea that anyone should be bilingual so you are cursing at the wrong group. Put the same statement on Vigil.net and/or Imperatif Francais and see how many agree with you.

      Delete
  29. @ student

    "english is not outlawed in quebec. but french is mandatory. and you are a liar."

    Bill 101 mandates french only billboards and unsolicited advertising delivered to the home.

    So you are a moron, ma petite coquette.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. please quote bill 101 mate. i don't recall the articles you refer to.

      and in case you're as lazy as i think you are here's a link to the english version of the law: http://tinyurl.com/3b5u58

      Delete
    2. 2 cents: Please don't respond to student or any other trolls. Too much of this already on this particular blog. Here is a reprint of what the Editor wrote way up the blog:

      Editior Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 6:07:00 AM EST

      Please! People! Why are you not stopping it? The troll is not at all interested in your responses. He already knows that francophones are being favoured in Canada and he is simply revelling in reminding you about it. He has been doing this for the past four years, at least.

      Please. Stop. Answering.

      He doesn’t care about whatever blather you choose to make, and neither does anyone else. It is completely meaningless. Stop it already! You are not accomplishing anything (other than being made fools of by the troll).

      Delete
    3. @ student

      "please quote bill 101 mate. i don't recall the articles you refer to."

      Not as lazy as you.

      Section 58 on Signs and Posters:

      58. Public signs and posters and commercial advertising must be in French.

      They may also be both in French and in another language provided that French is markedly predominant.

      However, the Government may determine, by regulation, the places, cases, conditions or circumstances where public signs and posters and commercial advertising must be in French only, where French need not be predominant or where such signs, posters and advertising may be in another language only.

      The regulations below modify the effect of section 58.

      http://www.citcan.ca/Language%20law%20regulations.htm

      The regulations:
      DIVISION III. Public signage and commercial publicity:

      15. Commercial publicity of an enterprise presented on advertising billboards, on posters, or on any other surface with an area of sixteen meters square or more and visible from any public road…must be written only in French, unless the publicity is actually on the premises of the enterprise.

      16. Commercial publicity of an enterprise must be written entirely in French on or in any method of public transit and its stations, including bus shelters.


      As for unsolicited advertising delivered to the home:

      DIVISION II. Exceptions to Section 52 of the Charter of the French Language

      10. Catalogues, brochures, folders, commercial directories and any similar publications may be in 2 separate versions, one exclusively in French, the other exclusively in another language, provided that the material presentation of the French version is available under no less favourable conditions of accessibility and quality than the version in the other language.

      For retailers (such as IKEA or Best Buy) distributing unsolicited flyers and catalogs to an english speaking territory, they must distribute both english AND french copies to the same household (a tremendous waste of resources). Which is why most retailers distribute french flyers only.

      Oh, let's not forget unilingual french driver's permits, medicare cards, automobile registrations and other government documents that used to be bilingual.

      Delete
    4. By AnecTOTE

      @Mr. Sauga

      Do you really think that was Editor? It didn't really sound like him...in any event..we shall take it under serious advisement.

      Delete
  30. In case anyone is interested:

    Jean Francois Lisee will be on CJAD 800AM tonite for a full TWO hours! So prepare your list of questions for him at 514-790-0800 or 514-790-0991. You can also text him on air at 514800.

    ReplyDelete
  31. "Paula Kruk

    I complained but I see some francophones on their fb page saying that they will boycott Fairview if English becomes more present. I make a complaint the other day to HMV by email. I haven't heard anything from them. I am going to check out cote vertu center in the next few days."

    L'absurdité des angryphones...À suivre

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It will be no great loss if Francophones boycott Fairview because most of their welfare money already goes towards buying poutine, lottery tickets, cigarettes and cheap beer.

      Delete
    2. @durham

      you are a racist. how do you feel about this fact?

      Delete
    3. Haha, Durham, you made my day.
      Only in Kebek, telling the truth is being racist while being racist is law.

      Delete
    4. Trouvez-vous un pseudo Anonymus...C"est la règle sur ce blogue.

      Delete
  32. Thanks for the link Cutie, listening now and loving it.

    Dan's really leaning into JF hard and fast.

    I really love how Lisee just admitted that French is NOT under threat. Héhé!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Changing gears to one of our preferred subjects:

    Imagining Montreal as a city-state

    This article is from the National Post

    Apparently 74% of Montrealers are in favour of special status for Montreal. Considering 50% + 1 is OK to separate form Canada, there is a clear majority that wants to be freed from the burden of Quebec laws.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. By AnecTOTE

      @MTL1973

      Thank you for that link, I love how mainstream media (and the National Post no less) picks up news leads from this blog. That was a great piece and it re-iterating what we keep saying and repeating...Montreal is a City-State and that is how we should refer to it...going forward.

      Delete
  34. Lisee: "We restrict individual rights as a group, because we feel it's what's right."

    Uh...wow???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. By AnecTOTE

      @AC

      Betcha tomorrow he claims he was misquoted.

      Delete
    2. @AnecTOTE

      Hope you caught the interview - Delmar laid the boots to him hard and Lisee had a lot of trouble explaining himself on very key matters (such as la Charte des Voyous).

      Sad for the PQ and its herd - Lisee's the best guy they have and he came up snake eyes tonight.

      When he stated that public employees should not foist their opinions or beliefs on the public (be it related to religion, saving the whales or being vegetarian) he got called to task on the police strike where they wore their funny pants...

      ...(and best of all, ahem!) certain public employees wearing the red square.

      #FAIL, #FAIL, #FAIL!!!

      Delete
    3. By AnecTOTE

      @AC

      I was on conference calls, can we catch it on CJAD website? Would love to hear it.

      Delete
    4. Like Tweety Bird used to say, Sylvester Pussycat could be quite the hypotwit. Substitute Sylvester with Jean-François Lisée.

      Delete
    5. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/millionaire-immigrants-invest-in-quebec-and-then-move-on-1.2458162

      NO MORE POWER TO QUEBEC, FOR ANYTHING, - EVER

      Delete
    6. By AnecTOTE

      What is bothersome is the realization that they didn't anticipate something like this would happen and curtail problems from the get-go by introducing effective measures way back....gees...what do we pay these bozos for? Now they have to solve a problem that should never have been.

      Delete
    7. Yes, for sure. You think they would know by now how quebec acts when it gets any power whatsoever. It's all them, them and them and screw the ROC for everything they can get. That's why I really object to quebec having any more power; they abuse everything continually. Hateful bloodsuckers. And before I get any flack - I'M REFERRING TO THE SEPARATISTS!

      Delete
    8. By AnecTOTE

      @Cutie

      Do you have a link for that interview yesterday on CJAD with our minister for Montreal, btw he was christened a Knight Of Montreal, recently I read somewhere (gag). Thanks Cutie.

      Delete
    9. Sorry Anectote - perhaps if you try the CJAD 800AM site they may have a link. Knight of Montreal! Who thinks up these things? They are obviously deluded. The poll for separation is, apparently, at 44% with the highest number being made up by votes from those with education of Grad 10 or less. Guess the new country is to be run by the uneducated. This province is such a wasteland of idiots.

      Delete
    10. Lisee: "We restrict individual rights as a group, because we feel it's what's right."

      That's Quebecois thinking for sure.

      Some would call it a dictatorship, communism, it's certainly not a democracy.

      The two solitudes for sure. How can you even start a discussion with somebody who feels you should be subservient to his beliefs.

      Delete
    11. By AnecTOTE

      "How can you even start a discussion with somebody who feels you should be subservient to his beliefs."

      You can't.

      Well ..Mussolini would be proud...though I think he pales in comparison to these guys ...with their malicious Lies, manipulations, divergences, subtle subterfuges and blatant hypocrisy.

      Delete
    12. Bon...Mussolini maintenant,vous aimez le "name dropping" n'est-ce pas ToTo?

      Delete
  35. Pauline Marois termine l'année en lion

    Pour la première fois depuis son arrivée à la barre du PLQ, Philippe Couillard risque de voir le pouvoir lui échapper. Véritable douche écossaise pour celui qui vient d'être élu dans Outremont, un sondage CROP constate que Pauline Marois termine l'année en lion. Si des élections générales avaient eu lieu cette semaine, le PQ aurait formé le gouvernement, peut-être même majoritaire.

    http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/politique-quebecoise/201312/10/01-4719761-pauline-marois-termine-lannee-en-lion.php

    Héhé!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Pauline Marois termine l'année en lion

    Yes, you must like the article as it talks about you. You are from "en région" although from your comments, I wouldn't be surprised if the second part applied as well:

    "Selon lui, ce retour en grâce est «pour beaucoup attribuable à la Charte de la laïcité». On observe que le PQ a fait des gains en région et chez les groupes moins scolarisés, «des gens généralement favorables à la Charte». "

    But seriously, I really find it interesting that those least exposed to people who might wear religious clothing are most in favour of it.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Depuis quand le jugement d'un individu est proportionnel à son cursus académique ?

    Je ne vous direz pas comment le dernier turban qui s'est perdu dans mon rang est retourné dans la Cité.Nous gardons toujours du "duct tape" et de câbles dans nos "pick up"...Au cas.

    (sarcasme)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Judging people by their education is much more reliable than their appearance and their French. But you are correct S.R., the greatest invention of Kebec is poutine so education level does not matter anyway!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Having different political opinions to yours does not mean it's stupid. for many Quebecers, having a corrupt liberal party in power is worst than having a PQ gov't....and I would admit they have a point!

      Mais semble-t-il que les anglos/allos (et quelques fédérastes/droitistes québécois) cosidèrent la corruption comme un détail sans importance.Nous avons peut-être évacué l'église de notre société mais avons tout de même conservé une certaine morale...Un grave défaut selon certains.

      Delete
  39. By AnecTOTE

    http://www.cjad.com/cjad-news/2013/12/11/kirkland-becomes-latest-town-to-oppose-pqs-charter

    Mm...oh yeah...there really is a bright future for this charter with this many kicks in the "pants" lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Croyez-vous réellement ToTo que nous n'avions pas prévu l'opposition systématique de ces quelques petits groupes réfractaires et belliqueux?

      C'mon Totty!

      Delete
  40. By AnecTOTE

    In line with Editor's blog post, thought I would share. I encourage you to read the comments section for link below...people crack me up!!

    http://westislandgazette.com/news/story/2013/11/26/activist-granted-permit-to-demonstrate-outside-fairview-pointe-claire-shopping-mall/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Jérémie Patrick

      Hey guyz .. what wrong with u … in wold war II french canadian have any instruction in french and was sent first because they was second class of people .. did you know it was illegal to speak french in haut Canada .. Cmon dont beleive bilingual . its hyprocrisie from the root . Im son of Irish ancestor who spoke only english .. Im in Québec , In Québec we speak French .so our family became French because we are in Québec that normal .. if not happy it’s your probleme. did you catch it or english media influence your point .. just think about it ..."

      Delete
    2. @ S.R.

      Where do you find these letters? They are too funny!
      Thanks :)

      Delete
    3. http://westislandgazette.com/news/story/2013/11/26/activist-granted-permit-to-demonstrate-outside-fairview-pointe-claire-shopping-mall/

      Delete
  41. Religious people are less intelligent than atheists, according to analysis of scores of scientific studies stretching back over decades

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/religious-people-are-less-intelligent-than-atheists-according-to-analysis-of-scores-of-scientific-studies-stretching-back-over-decades-8758046.html

    Même les moins scolarisés de notre société l'avaient constaté :)

    ReplyDelete