All over the television and across newspapers were alarmist stories about an English invasion, so shrill and panicky were the reports that they took on the proportions of the reaction to Orson Well's radio broadcast of the "War of the Worlds"
It seems every French newspaper and every television news channel was filled with frightening stories of Anglos invading Quebec like an alien life force determined to suck out the lifeblood of the indigenous population.
The Journal de Montreal devoted a quarter of a page to denounce a French hospital for having the audacity to use a linen basket that was labelled in English only.
So deep was the insult that the paper elicited a reaction from Jean-Paul Perreault, the president of the militant Imperatif Francais, who said that "It's unpardonable! With the tax money we pay our suppliers, they mock us!"
A slight sur-reaction, one would think?
Then there's the story of a Young Turk who went on the radio to rant and rage that an usher asked him to remove his feet from the chair in front of him, in English, notwithstanding that he was in an English language theatre, attending an English movie.
His complaint--He couldn't understand what the usher said in English and so demanded to be served in French.
Anybody see the flaw in this unlikely story?
A report on TVA's curent affairs show J.E, has a story about an ederly patient suffering from Alzheimer's, placed temporarily in an English seniors residence, unable to get service in French.
In Sept-Iles a gateway town to Quebec's northern mining region, it seems there's nobody to take service jobs, because the mining industry is paying so much. There is actually a critical labor shortage here, despite the province's 9% unemployment rate.
The Journal de Montreal devoted a quarter of a page to denounce a French hospital for having the audacity to use a linen basket that was labelled in English only.
So deep was the insult that the paper elicited a reaction from Jean-Paul Perreault, the president of the militant Imperatif Francais, who said that "It's unpardonable! With the tax money we pay our suppliers, they mock us!"
A slight sur-reaction, one would think?
Then there's the story of a Young Turk who went on the radio to rant and rage that an usher asked him to remove his feet from the chair in front of him, in English, notwithstanding that he was in an English language theatre, attending an English movie.
His complaint--He couldn't understand what the usher said in English and so demanded to be served in French.
Anybody see the flaw in this unlikely story?
A report on TVA's curent affairs show J.E, has a story about an ederly patient suffering from Alzheimer's, placed temporarily in an English seniors residence, unable to get service in French.
In Sept-Iles a gateway town to Quebec's northern mining region, it seems there's nobody to take service jobs, because the mining industry is paying so much. There is actually a critical labor shortage here, despite the province's 9% unemployment rate.
"In Sept-Îles on Quebec's North Shore, McDonald's customers are struggling to get service in French. The reason: the restaurant is so short of staff it had to hire immigrants from the Philippines.
The shortage of employees is explained by economic growth of the region and the fact that the locals prefer to work in the mining sector which offers higher hourly rates. To counter this problem, the restaurant was able to get employees in the Philippines through a program of international recruitment.
The contract stipulates that the employee is hired for two years, his ticket is paid, he/she is housed, and that the hourly rate ranges from $ 9.60 to $12 per hour, and the first grocery store order is paid for.
The Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste as well as many clients find this unacceptable.
"I know they take courses in French, except that she was not able to speak French. A youth who is not able to speak French should not be hired, said Manon, a client.It's been 42 years since I live here and there is no question that I won't return to a restaurant where I can not get served in my language. "Mario Beaulieu, president of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montreal this is a very disappointing situation.
"It's disrespectful for Quebecers. I think knowledge of French would be an essential criterion to be engaged. French is seriously threatened right now, especially in Montreal, but it extends throughout all regions. " Link{Fr}
And so outraged clients are fuming that they cannot purchase their 'Beeg Macs' in French.
It's a big problem because, let's face it, there aren't many fast food alternatives in Sept-Iles and 95% of the clients actually don't have enough English to order a glass of water. I'm not kidding.
French language militants from the south were lining up to remind the northerners that now they too finally have a taste of what it is to live under the relentless wave of Anglicization.
But wait.....
Montreal has a large surplus of immigrants who speak French, but supposedly cannot find a job because they speak no English....
Sept-Iles has decent jobs going a begging, where the only skill requirement is speaking French.
Readers, can you think of a solution? Think hard... Tick-Tock ......Tick-Tock.......Tick-Tock.......
I know, here's the perfect Quebec style solution!
Import English only immigrants from the Philippines and send them to Sept-Iles where they will be given French courses.
Give the French speaking immigrants in Montreal English lessons so that they can join the local job market.
No joke....this is Quebec. And who is to blame for all this...
The Anglos who are forcing English down everyone's throat........ Sigh..
At any rate can I offer this much easier solution;
Send the unemployed French-speaking immigrants from Montreal to fill the jobs in Sept-Iles......or this nifty Chinese solution;
If nothing is done to thwart the insidious spread of English it soon may come down to this;
All this hysteria is having a very sad impact on the general francophone public, teaching them through a relentless campaign of hate that English is an evil enemy which will engulf them if not checked.
It's a big problem because, let's face it, there aren't many fast food alternatives in Sept-Iles and 95% of the clients actually don't have enough English to order a glass of water. I'm not kidding.
French language militants from the south were lining up to remind the northerners that now they too finally have a taste of what it is to live under the relentless wave of Anglicization.
But wait.....
"Francophone immigrants are at an impasse as soon as they start looking for a job in Montreal: no English, no job. They understand that they must quickly learn the language which, in their eyes allow them to earn a living in Quebec.Let's see......
That's where Quebec comes to the rescue, devoting millions of dollars of public funds to teaching francophone immigrants English, according to research by The Associated Press.. Link{Fr}
Montreal has a large surplus of immigrants who speak French, but supposedly cannot find a job because they speak no English....
Sept-Iles has decent jobs going a begging, where the only skill requirement is speaking French.
Readers, can you think of a solution? Think hard... Tick-Tock ......Tick-Tock.......Tick-Tock.......
I know, here's the perfect Quebec style solution!
Import English only immigrants from the Philippines and send them to Sept-Iles where they will be given French courses.
Give the French speaking immigrants in Montreal English lessons so that they can join the local job market.
No joke....this is Quebec. And who is to blame for all this...
The Anglos who are forcing English down everyone's throat........ Sigh..
At any rate can I offer this much easier solution;
Send the unemployed French-speaking immigrants from Montreal to fill the jobs in Sept-Iles......or this nifty Chinese solution;
If nothing is done to thwart the insidious spread of English it soon may come down to this;
All this hysteria is having a very sad impact on the general francophone public, teaching them through a relentless campaign of hate that English is an evil enemy which will engulf them if not checked.
In the meantime, Quebec's immigration minister, Kathleen Weil, is preaching tolerance towards minorities, or so it seems;
"Quebec’s immigration minister, and herself the daughter of a doctor who immigrated to Montreal from the United States, has had enough of constant suggestions by Yves-François Blanchet, the Parti Québécois language and immigration critic, that newcomers embracing English threaten Quebec’s French character.“I find it really destructive to constantly target the other, the person that has come here,” LinkBut the minister is getting set to to release a new declaration;
- Promote French as the common language and an instrument of social cohesion.
- Pay constant attention to the quality of the French language.
- Reinforce the use of French as the language of the public administration, work, greetings and service, signs, shopping, business and education.
- Reinforce the knowledge and mastery of French by immigrants and communicate with them in French to favour their integration into Quebec society.
- Facilitate the full participation, by all, in French in the democratic, economic, social and cultural life of Quebec.
- Consolidate the identity of Montreal as a francophone metropolis, cosmopolitan, diversified and inclusive.
- Ensure respect for the Charter of the French Language.
- Build together our future in French. LINK
But not every francophone is drinking the kool-aid.
Read this beautiful piece about being a modern, confident and successful francophone, living in Montreal, by Lise Ravary.
