One of our readers did just that and sent this letter to the Foreign Policy Association, an organization in New York that Marois addressed on a visit last week. Link
To whom it may concern:
I understand Quebec Premier Pauline Marois addressed the FPA very recently to attempt to entice investment in Quebec.I was born, raised and educated in Quebec, from kindergarten through university. My mind to leave Quebec was made up when I was just 16 years old, in grade ten high school. That was in 1974, the year the first language legislation was passed, called Bill 22. The most embittering aspects of that bill were that French was required on all business signs, and cruel language tests were imposed on little children to determine if they would be able to attend English school, or have to go to French school. The examiners were so biased that children who made a single mistake on the test were considered not to be proficient in English and thus forced to go to French school.The separatist government, the same one Pauline Marois leads today, was elected for the first time in late 1976. About three months after being elected, that government tabled its first piece of legislation, Bill 1, the Charter of the French Language. It was so racist and stringent, it had to be toned down, and by May 1977, new modified legislation, a.k.a. Bill 101 was tabled and passed into law on August 26th. The reason for passing it into law then was to ensure its more stringent educational aspects could be law before the start of the first full school year. That law made French school mandatory, except for children who were legally attending English schools when the law came into force and for future children, only those whose parents had at least six years of English elementary schooling, in Quebec, could apply to place their children in English schools. This excluded children coming from other provinces in Canada, plus other English speaking countries, like the U.S., U.K., Australia, etc.In 1982, Canada repatriated its own constitution (formerly our "constitution" was the British North America Act of 1867, the year of Confederation), and through strenuous constitutional challenges, much to the separatist government's dismay, children coming to Quebec from other provinces in Canada where they were attending English schools were allowed, by the grace of the Supreme Court of Canada, to attend English school in Quebec. By the way, to attend English school in the first place, the parent(s) have to apply for a "Certificate of Eligibility" to attend English schools. Failure to do this disqualifies the child from being able to attend English schools. Since the law came in, enrollment in English schools has dropped from about 250,000 in 1977 to less than 100,000 today.Please realize that anyone considering relocation to Quebec (but not the rest of Canada) from the U.S. will not be able to enroll their children in English schools, except if adequate proof could be provided their stay will be for two to three years, and believe me, the separatist government is very strict and fanatically adamant about this proof. This concludes the ugly history on trying to get one's children enrolled into English instructional schooling, public and private.Next, I'll move into aspects of doing business in Quebec. Please be aware that this separatist government is about as anti-business as one you will ever encounter. First of all, if the employees manage to get a union into your business, LOOK OUT! Replacement workers, whether scab (outside) labor or management replacing striking workers is strictly against the law. Companies with 100 or more employees currently (but soon to be reduced to 25 or more employees) have to obtain a Francization certificate that confirms the business is complying with all aspects of French as the everyday language in the business, from the shop floor into the board room. If you want employees who speak languages other than French, it will be incumbent on YOU to prove the employee is required to use the other language(s) in that position. If you err and hire someone who speaks only French, or proves to be inadequate in other languages, you cannot release that employee. It is against the law to fire an employee for the sole reason he doesn't speak any languages other than French.If anybody, and I mean anybody at all, is dissatisfied with the level of French being offered to customers, or communicated to employees, is not to their satisfaction, they could report it to the Office Québécois de la langue française [Quebec Office of the French Language], a.k.a. the OQLF or "language police." This could be for the most minuscule violation, usually what some people perceive as "illegal English". Please look at the following hyperlink: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/12/05/ pq-pauline-marois-bill-101/ Here is another, and I can tell you now this lunacy has been going on for 40 years: http://putbackflag.posterous.com/oqlf- intimidates-and-harasses- montreal-ben-je In 1998, CBS newsmagazine 60 minutes did a segment on the lunacy: Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=qKOGgYaqwhg and Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch? NR=1&v=Iki-pwrCpE8&feature= endscreen In the second part, the OQLF representative in the piece, Gerard Paquette, lied through is teeth about a parrot that spoke English in a pet store. A complaint was indeed filed, but Paquette was too embarrassed to admit it. The players have changed. Mordechai Richler, an internationally famous author of many books plus magazine and newspaper articles is now dead and the government players have changed, but the ugly game has not changed at all. Worse yet, the separatist government is becoming even more zealous and bold in its enforcement of the language legislation. They aren't as polite as they used to be. Too, corporations in Quebeec at one time used to be able to file their Quebec tax returns in English or French. Not anymore! See the following on the Quebec government's official website: http://www.revenuquebec.ca/en/a-propos/ organisation/politique- linguistique.aspx Believe me, they will do their darnedest to get you to file any documentation, even if allowed in English, in French. The only reason, as mentioned in the piece, why English is allowed for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is because the federal government agreed to allow Revenue Quebec to act as the collecting agent for GST remittances. Federal tax returns and any other information may be filed in English or French. Aside from language and labor legislation, Quebec is still the most meddlesome in terms of business regulation. Very highly overregulated, but that's beyond the scope of this message. If you want to look at more of why investment in Quebec is not a good idea, I refer you to a very reliable blog called No Dogs or Anglophones: http://nodogsoranglophones.blogspot. ca/ The author of this blog is consulted by government, and you should know that while the editor/creator of this blog keeps his identity secret, he is consulted by government all over Canada, and for all he puts in his blogs, he hyperlinks to all kinds of newspapers, TV segments and a wide array of other periodicals. Finally, another e-mail follows this one. I'm sending you an attachment that came out two days after the 60 Minutes segment back in 1998. It too is quite an eye-opener.If any of your U.S. members want to discuss Quebec issues further, please don't hesitate to contact me.Regards,....
(name withheld on request)
Go ahead readers, is it a fair assessment?
I hope your letter has caught their attention, Mr. Sauga. If I was old enough, and knowledgeable enough on the situation, I would write and send a letter myself.
ReplyDeleteEDM, I just did see it. It is very well written with very cogent points. I can't improve on it. Just because you perceive yourself not to be "old enough" doesn't mean you haven't seen or heard other things not mentioned in this letter that need to be told. If you know of, or can think of anything to add to what you have read above, I would suggest you write to the FPA.
DeleteThe same goes for our other fellow readers and constructive contributors to this blog. If I can think of anything I could add to the above, I will - promptly.
Advice: do not address the letter to "Whomever" but send it to the Head/Chair/Secretary or some other prominent person of the institution
DeleteLord Dorchester
ReplyDeleteIf Americans knew what Québécois people really thought of them I doubt they would invest 1 thin dime here. My advice, unless you project making double digit margins, don't even bother with Quebec. More hassles than its worth. There is a reason that every major Canadian Head office in Montreal that could move has done so over the last 35 years.
You are conflating Quebecers with sovereignists. This is incorrect.
DeleteWhat should also have been mentioned is that the language legislation repealed English as an official language in Quebec, thereby depriving English speaking Quebecers of their rights. As well, quotes from Quebec's leaders, such as the election being lost because of the English and the Jews (Daniel Johnson), Parizeau's comment about money and the ethnic vote, Levesque's speech where he referred to "les autres", Landry's remarks to a hotel clerk and many of Marois' campaign promises.
ReplyDeleteWhat is interesting is that Marois' speech was delivered to the Foreign Policy Association, which has nothing to do with investment or finances.
DeleteEqually interesting is that there was no coverage of the speech in the New York newspapers.
In the previous thread, S.R., who has no understanding of finance (presumably because in his view it is not cultural, stated that France was supporting Europe. Nothing could be further from the truth. France is an economic basket case, with its highest marginal rate of personal income taxes being 75%, which is even higher than the 69.7% rate in Quebec in the 60's and 70's. See an example of the consequences for France below.
DeleteReuters) - Actor Gerard Depardieu, accused by French government leaders of trying to dodge taxes by buying a house over the border in Belgium, retorted that he was leaving because "success" was now being punished in his homeland.
A popular and colourful figure in France, the 63-year-old Depardieu is the latest wealthy Frenchman to seek shelter outside his native country after tax increases by Socialist President Francois Hollande.
Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault described Depardieu's behavior as "pathetic" and unpatriotic at a time when the French are being asked to pay higher taxes to reduce a bloated national debt.
"Pathetic, you said pathetic? How pathetic is that?" Depardieu said in a letter distributed to the media.
"I am leaving because you believe that success, creation, talent, anything different must be sanctioned," he said.
An angry member of parliament has proposed that France adopt a U.S.-inspired law that would force Depardieu or anyone trying to escape full tax dues to forego their nationality.
The "Cyrano de Bergerac" star recently bought a house in Nechin, a Belgian village a short walk from the border with France, where 27 percent of residents are French nationals, and put up his sumptuous Parisian home up for sale.
Depardieu, who has also inquired about procedures for acquiring Belgian residency, said he was handing in his passport and social security card.
Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti said she was outraged by Depardieu's letter, adding that he had for years been supported financially by public money for the film industry.
"When we abandon the ship and desert in the middle of an economic war, you don't then come back and give morality lessons," she told BFM-TV. "One can only regret that Gerard Depardieu doesn't make a comeback in silent movies."
He said he had paid 145 million euros ($190.08 million) in taxes since beginning work as a printer at the age of 14.
"People more illustrious than me have gone into (tax) exile. Of all those that have left none have been insulted as I have."
The actor's move comes three months after Bernard Arnault, chief executive of luxury giant LVMH and France's richest man, caused an uproar by seeking to establish residency in Belgium - a move he said was not for tax reasons.
Belgian residents do not pay wealth tax, which in France is now levied on those with assets over 1.3 million euros ($1.7 million). Nor do they pay capital gains tax on share sales.
"We no longer have the same homeland," Depardieu said. "I sadly no longer have a reason to stay here. I'll continue to love the French and this public that I have shared so much emotion with."
Hollande is pressing ahead too with plans to impose a 75-percent supertax on income over 1 million euros.
"Who are you to judge me, I ask you Mr. Ayrault, prime minister of Mr. Hollande? Despite my excesses, my appetite and my love of life, I remain a free man."
J.K.: Your first major error, and everybody else's who has what to do with S.R., is responding to him. If everybody doesn't read the deliberate trash and drivel he writes, there will be no reason to respond to it. He is strictly contributing to this blog to stir the s**t, and anybody who can't figure that out by now doesn't get it.
DeleteTo all our readers, when you see his posts, ignore them. Don't take the time to read them. I do that and I don't respond. Like I wrote previously on several occasions, responding to his foolishness fuels the fire and take conversations off the topic at hand. As for the French, they are as big s**t disturbers as are the Québécois. Remember ex-president Charles Degaulle's sticking his world's biggest nose far from where it belonged into Canada's business in 1967.
Aside from moral support, then and now, France had zero intention of providing financial support for Quebec's separatist aspirations, and in light of what you wrote about France's financial woes above, there is NO chance they can financially support Quebec now, so Quebec can roll the dice to separate and see what happens. Without the well over $10 billion dollars in equalization and other transferred benefits the feds give to Quebec, they're finished!
Isn't Monte Carlo also an income tax haven for the super rich?
Nab, reading that Depardieu article made my blood boil.
DeleteI hate parasites.
That whole idea that the rich, who've clearly worked harder and are more responsible than the French majority should clean up the mess created by the socialist plebes is disgusting.
This is the point where we go beyond separatists and talk about idiots (in general) who don't take responsibility for their actions and are hopelessly addicted to entitlements.
Depardieu est un alcoolique qui pisse dans les avions.
DeleteSorry guys - I have to reply...
DeleteS.R, Depardieu has accomplished more in just one year than you ever will in your life.
You clearly have no idea how to make money, so you won't ever have to worry about the problems faced by a man of his caliber.
And as for that French politician who proclaimed herself to be "scandaliser" by Gerard's "desertion" all I can say is that's typical French/socialist melodrama right there.
New rule - if you don't know how to make money, stop fucking asking for it.
"If you don't know how to make money, stop fucking asking for it."
DeleteThat is the best line I have read all year! We should put THAT on our license plates.
laurie,une autre parasite qui profite de notre système et qui vient chier dessus au lieu de prendre la 401...Belle mentalité.Une parasite de parasites...Qui dit mieux?
DeleteYes, Instead of "we remember" it can read "we don't remember how to make money" - lol
DeleteSorry John Krug, but your facts on the taxes are all wrong.
DeleteIntervalles des revenus net imposable 2010 (€) Taux d'imposition (%)
Jusqu'à 5 963 0 %
De 5 964 à 11 896 5,5 %
De 11 897 à 26 420 14 %
De 26 421 à 70 830 30 %
Au-dessus de 70 830 41 %
And these increased for the first time since 2006 from 40% to 41% until that point they were dropping. There are some special taxes for the super-super rich in France, but the "deductible" is pretty high.
Depardieu a profité toute sa vie des largesses de l'état français,probablement le cinéma le plus subventionné au monde...Subventionné par qui?
DeleteYes, Instead of "we remember" it can read "we don't remember where is the 401"
DeleteLOLLL!
John Krug,
DeleteLevesque‘s “les autres“ speech, can you clarify? I don‘t doubt it for a second as he was a racist but I would just like to see it in writing.
John: When was English repealed of its official language status? Since the language legislation in 1974, English in Quebec was never recognized as official. Any means of repealing either of Canada's official languages in any part of Canada would and should be subject to a constitutional challenge.
Delete"Depardieu a profité toute sa vie des largesses de l'état français,probablement le cinéma le plus subventionné au monde...Subventionné par qui?"
DeleteOh no, you didn't! You did not just go there!
You dare criticize a human's right of self-determination, while promoting quebec's secession? And you actually dare referencing cultural subventions as a reason? Where do you think quebec gets the bulk of its subventions from, you effin' hypocrite?
Editor, I would have liked to call SR "you little shit" but settled for hypocrite. I hope my post will not be deleted.
Je crois que j'ai touché une corde sensible,n'est-ce-pas ?
DeleteNos artistes sont reconnaissants et demeurent au Québec et paient leurs impôts...Bang!
"Bang!" me arse.
DeleteYour "artists" (you actually have very few artists), are being heavily subsidized by the Federal government, to such extent that quebec receives about half of the total, for a population not even a quarter of Canada's.
For a bunch of bums to sit around and pick their noses and smoke pot - damn, and to think I worked my whole life and they still have it better than I do. It's no wonder they want a separate country; money grows on their maple trees and also produces their syrup.
DeleteWe need such "sentries" as S.R. to get to know the best of the pure-laine phyche...
DeleteJohn James:
DeleteI'm not familiar with the Levesque video talked about here. However, I have seen one (and can't locate it on youtube) of Levesque in the early '70s really laying into "WASPS" and anglo-saxons which is pretty much as racist as it gets. Going on memory here, but it had something to do with the Montreal Star.
"Nos artistes sont reconnaissants et demeurent au Québec et paient leurs impôts...Bang!"
DeleteCan you be anymore full of shit?
I used to hang out with one half of Dobacaracol and this scumbag would wake up at ten in the fucking morning, only to finally deliver her son to daycare at 11 am.
She would then moan about the fact that the daycare had a drop-off by 9:30 rule and chastised them...meanwhile, she was on welfare.
You've got nothing S.R...NOTHING you and all your seppie buddies are just a bunch of dependents.
Without us, you;d wither up and blow away.
Even your biggest "star" are broke-ass losers (and dead-beat parents). Thank god I grew up on Led Zep and not Daniel Bigras (hyper-loser).
"...Thank god I grew up on Led Zep..."
DeleteLedZeppelin?Ce vieux band de poilus?Pas jeune jeune mon hippie de Résident?
Héhé!
Today marks the passing of Mr. Laurier LaPierre, Canada’s first openly-gay senator, who is best remembered for hosting the controversial 1960s CBC show, “This Hour Has 7 Days”. Also considered for this role was a young man by the name of Pierre Elliott Trudeau. I found this fascinating video of him interviewing René Lévesque in 1964, where Lévesque denies being a separatist and justifies using violence in his cause!
DeleteI don’t think this is the video that John Krug was referring to but it certainly is interesting.
http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/parties-leaders/rene-levesques-separatist-fight-1/are-you-a-separatist-or-not.html
Especially jarring is the contrast of Lévesque’s ease in English compared with today’s minuscule péquiste politicians. And also smoking on black-and-white television half a century ago… heheh.
FROM ED BROWN
ReplyDeleteMr Sauga your expertise and smooth informative writing style jumps out at me. No one has to tell me who wrote it. I'm fed up with the 'downers' who only put down the people with phrases like 'open your eyes dummies' and put down our province with words like Quebecistan. We need intelligent people like you and Cutie/John Krug/Tony Kondas and EDM who give positive posts. When the say Howard tried and he coulldn't do it so it's no use they are wrong. The one thing that is decidedly in our favour is that the party Quebecois is destroying itself. There will be an election in the spring, even their faithful are turning against them.
My separatist neighbours are waking up and tell me their is no way they could live in a country with that government. They don't even want it here. This along with your idea, (it was originally yours) of waking up North America to what's going on. Emile Zola proved that you can get the people on your side with the
publishing of his letter, 'J'accuse' So let's get as many emails to different governments and news agencies as we can. We need the Liberals back wiith a large majority. Ed
Great work Mr. Sauga - We also have to inform, if possible, of the threats of Bill 14, which shows there is no end to this on-going abuse against the anglophone and allophone community unfortunate enough to reside in Quebec. I would also mention the hate-mongering SJBS and IF as further proof of the extent these separatists are willing to go to, to make the lives of the minorities miserable in any way they can. Our English language defender organizations are not at the same level of aggression as these French language bigots are, and I'm afraid that they are gaining the upper hand in the media because of their more outspoken haranguing arguments. We have to ensure that we become as outspoken as they are for the good of all of us.
ReplyDelete"...unfortunate enough to reside in Quebec."
ReplyDeleteVous pouvez prendre des cours de français (fonctionnel) à prix fort abordables.
Although we can't dispute most of the facts presented in that letter, I wonder what could motivate someone who doesn't even live here anymore to write such a letter. It seems kind of petty and (excuse me for saying this, but) a bit pathetic to me.
ReplyDeleteAre you still upset about the girl who dumped you in highschool as well? Maybe you could write a letter to her current employer telling them what a bitch she was back then.
You clearly have a lot against this province, and so you moved away, great for you. Some could say you have more courage than most of us who complain while not doing anything about it. But seriously, how many years have you been gone now? Move on with your life, this province isn't affecting you anymore. Maybe you'll say that your taxes are paying for our ridiculous programs, laws and corruption, but hey guess what, even with Quebec gone, you'd still be paying just as much, it would just be going elsewhere.
You even finish your letter by saying "
If any of your U.S. members want to discuss Quebec issues further, please don't hesitate to contact me.", as if you're some expert on the conditions in Quebec. You really do seem to know a lot about this province, I just wonder why you spend so much time and energy on somewhere you hate so much. Perhaps you'd be happier if you just moved on and forgot about this "terrible province", after all your life seems great in almighty Ontario.
I didn't want to insult anyone with this post, but I think that letter, coming from someone who doesn't even live in this province, is out of place.
Vous réagissez comme si quelqu'un allait s'intéresser au propos du 2 de pique de mississauga.
DeleteI had a similar impression overall of the letter. It comes across as someone who has a big axe to grind and is going out of his way to demonize an entity. I am no fan of the PQ and a lot of what has gone on but dont think this letter will have any real impact. Someone from the PQ could have written a letter that sounded equally impressive from the other point of view. Both letters would come across as equally biased..the truth is somewhere in between there. Once again shades of grey..too many people are black and white..
DeleteSurprise.
DeleteI am so outraged right now I do not know which end is up. For starters, that letter was eloquently written and completely justified. I cannot believe we have the audacity to reproach anyone for speaking out against Human Rights violations and let’s make no mistake THIS IS EXACATLY WHAT THAT LETTER IS DOING SINCE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. If this person has left the province but still feels involved and senses he has the obligation to speak out against what is happening in his country then he should. AS A MATTER OF FACT...THE ENTIRE COUNTRY SHOULD BE OUTRAGED AND SPEAKING OUT AGAINST IT. This is a huge pimple on the entire country’s behind and the fact someone actually stepped up to the occasion, and put pen to paper denouncing it should be admired not admonished. It is an act of courage and should be applauded and lauded. To passively sit by and allow what is happening to keep happening is to be just as guilty as those perpetuating this BS.
DeleteWe need more such people in this country. WE NEED People to speak their minds and render the powers that be to utter shame and shear embarrassment for what they have reduced the province to. Not to mention that especially in the case of the individual who wrote the letter, since he no longer lives in this province but speaks out against the injustice, I feel, lends total credibility to his letter and attention needs to be paid to it. AND I would also feel this way if it were the other way around and non-Anglophones and non-Allophones were on the receiving end of such a shaft. I am so sickkkkkkkkkkk of it. It is UNJUST...AND FUNDAMENTALLY ILLEGAL AND WE ALL KNOW IT. I don’t much care what laws we hide behind to rationalize this, it is completely outrageous that this is even happening in a country such as ours. Everyone, from coast to coast is responsible for enabling this subjugation that is continuously perpetuated on minorities. This shame belongs to everyone, every single Canadian Citizen.
Finally, what is unjust has to be called out, pointed out. This is not a proud time for anyone in this country I must say, and while we are still part of this country, this is everyone’s problem, not just this province’s. It’s high time we stop being passive about such violations. This is not what this country is about, and this province is part of the geography. IT IS TIME TO COME OUT OF THE COMA my fellow Canadians.
Yo, Stump: Here in Ontario, we have a real democracy, so if you don't like what I have to write, don't read it. Fortunately, I have my supporters so I can ignore detractors such as yourself, S.R. and others, and even more fortunately, they outnumber the likes of you.
DeleteAt least I took the time to write a constructive letter. What have YOU done in this fight, besides fight me?
YEAH AnecTOTE - Right on! EVERYONE BUT EVERYONE HAS TO TRY TO PUT AN END TO THIS HORRIBLE SITUATION IN OUR COUNTRY AND IT IS OUR COUNTRY - Not the seppies! We need public OUTRAGE and the more people involved the better it is to start a new country minus these seppies if they want to go and minus the "Notwithstanding" Clause if they are to stay a part of Canada. Action on everyone's part is necessary and wanted. Please do your part to stop these abuses of our constitution! Thank you AnecTOTE - I couldn't have said it better!
Delete"...AND IT IS OUR COUNTRY"
DeleteContinuez de le répéter,vous allez finir par le croire ... :)
Pauvre cutie,complètement déconnectée de la réalité.
Quebecer of the Tree Stump:
DeleteWhy shouldn't human rights be of concern to someone who no longer lives in Quebec?
On any given day on the streets of Vancouver you will come across a brigade of young people advocating for an organisation called "Because I am a girl" which provides some sort of program for girls of the third world, countries that these advocates have never even visited before, let alone USED to live there, as Sauga did in Quebec.
Should these young people be chastised -- as you do with Sauga -- because they don't live in the countries for which they tirelessly work for?
Hi
DeleteFirst I'd like to apologize if my post seemed like an attack on anyone, or if it offended any of you, that wasn't my goal.
I can't say I agree with you when you use the term "human rights violations", that seems pretty extreme to me. Maybe that's how you perceive it, I don't know, but I can tell you that I've lived in this province my whole life, both in an english area and a french area, and I've never felt like if my "human rights" were being violated.
Maybe if I had kids and I was told they couldn't attend english public schools, I might be more sensitive to the issue, but in my everyday life it's never been as big of a problem as some of you make it out to be.
And let's be honest here, was the letter's main intention to display the human rights violations in this province? Most of it is about doing business in Quebec, and why it's a bad idea.
Mr.Sauga, you're right, I haven't done anything since the 1995 referendum aside from posting my useless opinions on this blog. I hope you understand that I wasn't trying to "fight you" as you put it, I guess my post was just rude, I tend to do that and I apologize.
I hope you'll understand that even though I agree with the contents of the letter, I don't agree with it's intent. The idea of "making things worse so they can get better" is not one I can get behind, just like I could never support the idea of partition.
No, maybe I don't do anything, but still, can we work towards making it better instead of making it worse?
Let's not give the separatists the attention they want, let the issue play itself down, let's attract new investors and businesses, and make this province great, like it should be.
Let's write a letter telling them that most of us aren't separatists or language extremists, that we value diversity and multiple languages, and that this is actually a great place with some great people.
Sorry Quebecker - If this place starts thriving under the leadership of the PQ, they will use stats against us and take credit for it. This place will never thrive under the continuous threats of separation from Canada and the electorate has a right to know that and to act accordingly by never voting for a separatist party again. Companies will not invest here with all the problems associated in dealing with the language police and unions let alone the prohibitive tax structure so they will collapse upon themselves but meanwhile they are weak and now is the time to strike a blow for the federalist cause and reinstatement of our rights and freedoms. There will never be a better time. Making the province great under a government that wants to leave Canada would be a big mistake and I, for one, will not ever recommend that anyone invests here until the business owner can run his own business in the manner he sees fit. We have to make a stand and it's now or never time.
DeleteTree Stump, I suppose it is your prerogative to perceive this differently than “Human Rights Violations”, let’s agree to disagree. Some people say that ‘Perception’ like ‘Possession’ is 9/10 of the Law! The truth is this, when I leave my house in the morning, a switch goes on. I go into Francophone mode. I speak and communicate in French the entire day. I am actually so conditioned that when I am anywhere, in a bank, or especially in the subway, if I am enlisting the assistance of an STM employee for directions, or wherever, I will address people in French first and always. I am fluent in several languages. I was born, raised and educated in this province. I too, haven’t ever really felt like my ‘human rights’ were being violated because I get on extremely well in French, the fact that I am not pur-laine has never really hindered me in any way. Actually, if I’m not wearing a nametag, you wouldn’t know I am a Non-Francophone. HOWEVER, a few months ago, I was with my daughter at The GALS, having a conversation in a store when, out of nowhere, someone approaches us from behind and says...EN FRANCAIS SVP! I’m not quite sure what happened at that moment, but I swung around and in good ole’ quebecer ‘joual ‘told him exactly where to go! Not expecting my reaction and especially not in his lingo, he swiftly turned and headed for the door faster than you can say ‘poutine’. And then it occurred to me, that was my ‘ah ha moment’, how the hell did we get here? How the hell is it that someone has the bloody nerve and feels he has the undisputable ‘right’, and thinks he is completely entitled to barge into, and interfere in, someone’s else’s private conversation with their kid, and furthermore, chastise them for speaking something other than French? This isn’t about ‘Language’ anymore. This is about a ‘Canadian’ citizen suddenly not being “free” to have a private conversation in the language of their choice with their child anywhere they damn well please and happen to be, IN THIS PROVINCE. This is CANADA right? (Minority separatist government in power in the province, notwithstanding), this is still Canada, correct? So, that being said, (and with all due respect), I don’t give a damn if I’m in Quebec or Nunavut, I should feel completely free to speak in whatever language “I” choose to, with my child, without someone poking his nose in our private conversation and TELLING me what to speak.
DeletePS: This country has no business being anywhere overseas, fighting for other people’s rights and freedoms, when this BS is being perpetrated in its own backyard and they have yet to say BOO about it. I am a staunch Federalist, but I have never felt more let down by the Feds then presently. Again, this is everyone’s problem, not just ours, here, locally.
Not about “Human Rights” you say? I beg to differ.
Exactly - that is what is upsetting me also. What the hell have we come to - I already told the story of the 20 year old kid, when I was in the park with my dog and she with hers, both the same breed and my asking how old the dog was and she telling me, a woman 3 times her age, to speak french, this is quebec. That's what started my anger also. Who the hell does she think she is telling people what language to speak in my country, in my home area, and all with the provincial government backing her up on her demands through laws and insinuation that she should be proud to do so? I agree, this is Canada for Christ's sake. If she didn't want to respond to me, that's fine, but telling me what language to speak to her in, that's a different matter. Enough is enough! I would never tell someone what language to speak in even if it is not one of our official languages. It's none of my business what language other people are talking to one another in. Dammit, this has to end.
DeleteThe actions of one person or a few people don't represent a society as a whole.
DeleteHow about someone making a racist comment towards someone of a different skin color? I'm sure that happens each and every day, just about everywhere. Is that a violation of their human right as well, or just racists being ignorant? I know I'm probably oversimplifying things, but I'm sure you get where I'm going with this.
Unfortunately our current government encourages this kind of thing.. I truly believe that it's simply because it's the only card the separatists have left to play. Just like the for the Americans, fear is one of the greatest motivators, what better way to get votes than to scare the little sheep who can't think for themselves? To me, that's what all this is about, nothing more.
I'd truly love for someone to tell me what language to speak in public, just so I could tell them where I'd like them to shove it. I hope that's what both of you did in that situation.
I'm really glad that some of you actually replied to what I had to say.. Some people on this blog sure don't seem to like people disagreeing with them, a bit like the separatists... I guess maybe the two extremes aren't so different after all.
And I would agree with you but these kids see the government sanctioning these actions against the anglos and allos and think it's perfectly OK. I'm much more conscious of these incidents now than I've ever been and it's because it's happening so much more now. I'm like 5 miles on the other side of the Ottawa River and this area has always been totally bilingual with no problems but no longer. Again I mention the IF and the SJBS as shit disturbers in this area and things are now changing and not for the better. If they want to sell all these condos and houses their busy building (well until the election) they'd better change their attitude fast because no one from Ontario will move here with things the way they are going at the present time and with the outrageous taxes we pay.
Deleteshould read "they're busy building"
DeleteFROM ED BROWN
ReplyDeleteQuebecer of the stump, If you were a regular on this blog you would not criticize Mr.sauga. He is an expert
on our conditions and has done more in writing that letter than most of you on this blog. Wake up and see that this is exactly what this blog is all about, trying to find away out of this mess. What are you doing besides putting down those who do something positive. Son, your jealousy of him shines through here, I don't know how yu could criticize him for living out of province and not the buffoon who call himself une gars from calvary. Ed
Actually ED, I believe I've been posting here for longer than you have. I just don't post that often. But that's beside the point.
DeleteYes, M.Sauga is older than me, he has lived through a lot more of these issues than I have, and he clearly knows a lot more about this province, this country and their history than I do. That doesn't make my opinion any less valid.
That letter was not written with the intent of improving conditions in this province.. it was written with the intent of putting this province down, I don't know, maybe to scare off some potential investors. It's clear that it was written out of anger and frustration towards this province, not from a need to try to help us. If this is "doing something positive to help this province" for you, well ok, but I disagree.
What, are you expecting that our leaders are going to see that letter and realize the errors of their ways all of a sudden??
And just by the way, I'm sorry if I seem negative, but to me this blog is for discussion, and maybe sometimes a bit of venting.. I seriously doubt a blog on the internet will have any effect on an issue that's been going on in this province for 50 years now.
Again, I wasn't trying to insult anyone with my post. I just think that certain people might be happier if they learned to put things behind them.
For sure this blog will not accomplish anything if we do not reach out to the public! Good grief man, nothing will change is we sit back and do nothing. I will repeat - write letters, write your politicians both federal and provincial, write to any media outlet that will listen - if we do nothing, nothing will change. I didn't join this blog to sit back and do nothing but bitch on here - I'm trying to get the people who contribute and the people who read the blog to take action, dammit. The editor is putting in time and effort (probably even money) to help us get out of this mess - take advantage of it and do something!
DeleteWell, I for one wholeheartedly **applaud** Mr. Sauga for having the guts and courage in writing that letter. Not only is he one of the few people with wisdom enough to see through all the deception and smoke screens the separatists hide behind, he's taking an active stand in exposing the ugly truth. Canada as a country is greatly shamed by Quebec.
DeleteThis heavy handed abuse of human rights and freedoms in Quebec is simply criminal, period. I won't even get into Quebec's excessive animal abuse, environmental abuse, disregard for human life (e.g. sale of deadly asbestos to the third world) or out of control corruption.
The letter intent on putting this province down? FANTASTIC--I'M ALL FOR IT! Much like sanctions applied to countries like Iran or other abusive tyrants, this needs to be done. No positive can come out of allowing things to continue as they are, the only way to put it to an end is hitting Quebec financially. I hope to see federal transfer payments drastically cut too in the near future!
This criminal behavior from one province, and one province alone, been going on far too long to change. Drastic measures need to be taken. I honestly don't know what else can be done....chock it financially, kick it out of federation, or have a government coup? Anything else is akin to using band-aids to fight cancer.
Sorry - I do not agree with you at all. Mr. Sauga is a well written individual and I, for one, am more than happy for his assistance in this matter. I wish all Canadians were as involved because that is the only way we are going to reach out to the ROC about the loss of our rights and freedom in quebec. Pressure from all over Canada and the U.S. is a necessity to point out the discrimination and determination of the separatists to eliminate all traces of English in this province and to warn others not to invest nor think of moving here unless they understand all that is involved. All of you that don't reside here: please note that I'm sure that most of the feds in this province appreciate any and all assistance you can offer. I'm also sure that Mr. Sauga still has relatives and/or friends in this province that he is supporting as best he can. Thank you again Mr. Sauga!
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome Cutie and Ed...and others too!
DeleteThey'll fight and harass Anglo-American chains over every nonsensical detail, like descriptors for example. They'll complain about too much English in the workplace. They'll try to extend 101 to every single place of employment in Quebec. And then... they'll go to the US to attract more of Anglo-American and international business.
ReplyDeleteStrange things happen when you try to close up and open up all at the same time. This contradictory policy yields nonsense, for example when they say that "knowledge of English is ok but cultural exposure to the Anglo American culture isn't". As if there is a thick line you can put between the two.
Il est question ici du plan Nord,pas de wal-marde.
DeleteCutting them in on Plan Nord means that the profits will go south the minute they're generated, with a cut given to the comprador leaders who opened up the market to foreign (American) investment. That's how the US extracts profit from labor and resources of small countries all over the world.
DeleteOn its own, that's what QC is. A small state, therefore open to penetration of foreign influence. It would be much stronger by staying in Canada, but your ideological hang-ups prevent you from participating in it. Which is fine by me. You'll be America's bitch in no time, like the Central American countries.
http://www.quora.com/What-does-the-term-comprador-capitalism-signify-and-what-are-the-term-s-origins
You'll be America's bitch in no time...
DeleteComme l'alberta...Ou le canada en entier?
"Comme l'alberta...Ou le canada en entier?"
DeleteMore than that.
Comment est-ce possible?
DeleteGreat letter and bang on.
ReplyDeleteIts good that this information is getting out all across the world because the governments of Kebec and Canada have this racist, bigotry and xenophobia to continue fr decades and have done nothing about it.
Expose this hatred globally and boycott the province of Kebec period. Many of us in Canada will never step food in the province again until they repeal bill 101 and give us back our equal rights which we had from 1763 until the 1970’s.
People really have no idea how bad it really is in Kebec.
The Qlue Qlux Qlan has been in charge for a very long time. Not only is the province proudly racist but it is beyond corrupt as well.
Sadly this mentality spreading all cross the country thanks to Trudeau and his gang of corrupt scum bags from Kebec who forced a bilingual (French) policy all over the country while allowing our language to be banned in Kebec. They had a plan and they are still at it. The proof is all around you if you look for it.
“French power” folks, this is the term brought to Ottawa by Trudeau and his gang from Kebec, Marchand, Pelletier and the rest. They bragged about it and did it. You can find their quotes bragging about this online. I have read them myself.
.” ….Given these facts, should French-speaking people concentrate their efforts on Quebec or take the whole of Canada as their base? In my opinion, they should do both; and for the purpose they could find no better instrument than federalism”, Pierre Trudeau,.
“First Quebec, then we take over the rest of the country, one step at a time…through bilingualism…” PT, “How to take over a country through bilingualism…” SD. How ? First comes the right to communicate with gov’t in a minority language (ie French),then comes bilingualism, then comes the right to work in the language of choice(ie French), then comes a bilingual boss,(ie French) then comes a exclusively French department and on it goes until its all French. Its happening all over the country, Ontario, New Brunswick…That’s what’s really going on.
“My roll as Secretary of State of Canada is first and foremost to ensure that my French compatriots in Canada feel with deep conviction, as I do, that this is their country and that it reflects their image”. “I too had some difficult years as a politician; I’m still having them, in fact, because everything we undertake and everything we are doing to make Canada a French state is part of a venture I have shared for many years with a number of people”. “You know the idea, the challenge, the ambition of making Canada a French country both inside and outside Quebec — an idea some people consider a bit crazy, is something a little beyond the ordinary imagination”. – Serge Joyal, Secretary of State – Page 2 ‘ENOUGH’ by J.V. Andrew. – Serge Joyal – Now in the Senate.
Until the charter is repealed and we go back to our original constitution, the BNA act, this country will continue to be divided, will continue to further and further into debt, will continue to live the lie of being a bilingual country, and all the spin and propaganda that has come with it, yes the linguistic duality lie, the 2 founding nations lie, the french only Kebec lie…See what he really did? We have lived this lie for 30 years now and its about time someone starts speaking the truth openly about what really went on in regards to the forcing of this mess, Trudeau and Kebecs charter of rights and freedoms. We have fewer rights and less freedoms now because of this hoax, this fraud.
http://is.gd/ixMgMM
DeleteJames maybe you should read this and then see if the BNA was much better. I for one am glad to have charter rights despite their uselessness in the face of the notwithstanding clause. I sure don't want a constitution based on laws from the UK. The UK which has become a big brother nanny state.
BNA act, official in english only...
DeleteYannick,
DeleteFor what it is worth, The St. John the Baptist Society - one of hardline separatist groups - commissioned the composition of a new anthem for independent Quebec. The result? O Kebek.
People contribute money to this organization and for this nonsense.
DeleteJ'aimerais que tous les anglos sur ce blogue qui approuvent le geste de Depardieu fassent comme lui:QUITTEZ!
ReplyDeleteMais comme,ils ne font que parler,ils seront toujours ici dans 10 ans à répéter les mêmes choses...Misère!
Mais qui es-tu pour dire aux gens de quitter? …Ta gueule!
DeleteActually, that would be Kinshasa.
DeleteTo bring the conversation back on subject, it looks as if I've been busted! I can't fool my fellow readers and contributors as my writing style has been thoroughly recognized! I asked the Editor for anonymity to ensure my actual name was not accidentally displayed on this blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your support, gang! I hope many of you will take the time to send the FPA your own letters in your own words, even if much of the subject matter is repeated. It will confirm and give life to what is truly happening in Quebec.
Sauga,
DeleteYou forgot to mention the PQ's mineral tax.
Just that alone would be enough for the Americans to tell Marois where to stick it.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Delete@ S.R,
DeleteThat sounds threatening to me. I wouldn't be surprised if you have a criminal record. Someone should report you to the authorities.
Yes, it sure does. More blackmail from these separatists and their ilk. What terrible, terrible people. No more free speech allowed in their new country. I hope the authorities are keeping an eye on this blog as I'm sure they are. We have to figure out a way to get rid of these animals democratically. Municipal or Federal District Referendums and let those go that want to live with the SRs of quebec. We must get rid of them or ruin what is left of this province.
DeleteRien à me reprocher,je n'ai jamais voté "liberals" :)
DeleteJe crois que je vais débuté ma recherche du côté de Lennoxville...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteWell, I just took a screenshot of S.R's threat to Mr. Sauga and sent off a link to Sûreté du Québec. The Editor will have no choice but to turn over S.R's IP address if they come knocking.
DeleteI think we finally found a way to get rid of our little Bougon from Sherbrooke - having him arrested.
Nous voyons que vous connaissez la loi diablotin,
DeleteRetournez faire vos ménages dans votre immeuble à logements :)
I don't think Mr. Sauga would have much to worry about with you any how. I still remember how on election night something like THREE members of this blog called you out for fight and you backed out on each one.
DeleteAs for my apartment buildings, no work to be done as there are no vacancies. :-)
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteWell done Resident - They are now aware of the little rat. He still doesn't get it - no idea of what free speech is all about!
DeleteQuand même, le courriel est déjà rendue dans les mains de l'SQ. I'm not a lawyer, so I have no idea if what you wrote is an indictable offense, but personally, I really do hope you get arrested. I guess we'll find out within a few hours or so...
DeleteOh, and don't even think of emailing the Editor and begging him to remove your comment. It's already cached.
Il me semble que quelqu'un l'a déjà fait à ma place...
DeleteVous me semblez fort sensible pour un amateur de "Resident Evil",non?
"...no idea of what free speech is all about!"
DeletePourquoi se cacher alors?
Le seul blogue à caractère politique anonyme au Québec...Pourquoi?
DeleteAnybody else hear the crickets?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteNow if I call him a name Editor I'll bet you'll remove my comment. Please remove his TY That's the second time - is he banned after 3 strikes I hope?
DeleteResident Evil,
DeleteWhat exactly did it write?
No idea. "IT" has all the time in the world so I have trouble keeping up.
DeleteAll I can tell you is that it looks like he might not get arrested after all...but I can't say I'm surprised.
After all, this is a province where you can kill your 3-year-old and 5-year-old kids by repeatedly stabbing them and continue to walk the streets, free as a bird.
Think he was talking about the threat to Mr. Sauga about finding our where he lived with a little research and that he talks too much to outsiders.
Delete"After all, this is a province where you can kill your 3-year-old and 5-year-old kids by repeatedly stabbing them and continue to walk the streets, free as a bird."
DeleteVous allez laisser passer ça Editor?
Why would the Editor shoot that one down?
DeleteIt's a fact. Guy Turcotte pulled a measly 46 months in jail for murdering his children.
Imaginez le même double-meurtre mais avec un plombier.
DeleteResident Evil,
DeleteWell, I just took a screenshot of S.R's threat to Mr. Sauga and sent off a link to Sûreté du Québec. The Editor will have no choice but to turn over S.R's IP address if they come knocking.
So what kind of threat did it make to Mississauga? If you think that any Quebec-based law enforcement agency will take action on something happens on an English-right blog, you are dreaming.
PS: "It" is the pronoun I use in reference to the thing that named itself S.R. So you know.
What a treat to read the erudite comments here that ignore the emetic language of a certain someone.
DeleteTroy: You may be right. Resident Evil, may I suggest sending the information to the RCMP, especially since I live outside Quebec. Thanks. If this bozo is caught, I will press charges. If they want to come down to threaten me, I can tell you right now there is no loveloss between the Peel Regional Police and Francophones, but I shan't get into why!
DeleteMississauga,
DeletePeel Regional Police has no jurisdiction. Neither does the OPP. RCMP may, but I do not think the will investigate, considering the magnitude of the case. Best bet is the SPVM, assuming that it lives on the Island. But you need to make the complaint there.
I am going to prepare an e-mail to the FPA Mr. Sauga - just to let you know that I am willing to fight for what's right in this country and that is the repeal of Bill 101 and all poisonous roots that have developed because of it. I will send it tomorrow. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteI sent the FPA a note and a copy of the letter I sent to Mr. Penashue about two weeks ago about the situation in Quebec and the ongoing problem with the separatist. Also told them I wouldn't invest one cent in this place if I were them because they will have nothing but problems. Everyone else should do the same and Mr. Sauga and I and vent your frustrations in writing to anyone who will listen.
ReplyDeleteFROM ED BROWN
ReplyDeleteTREE STUMP
You have the nerve to say you were trying to insult anyone. What the hell is this then, (Are you still upset about the girl who dumped you in highschool as well? Maybe you could write a letter to her current employer telling them what a bitch she was back then.)
Totally unnecessary. Perhaps the reason I don't remember you on this blog is because you've never said anything memorable. His letter was not written to put the province down, it was to open the eyes of people in North America. We are trying to help Quebec, our home so if you won't join us at least don't attack the people who are doing something positive.
Ed
Ed.
DeletePlease calm down, you seem very frustrated.
I used the "girl from highschool" as an analogy for his letter. He hasn't lived in Quebec for a long time, so I don't understand why what happens in this province still bothers him so much. Just like an adult who's still frustrated at one of his highschool girlfriends, I think you need to move on after a while.
How exactly is that letter going to "help" Quebec? It was clearly written to discourage anyone from investing here or setting up a business here. It was written to give the province a bad image. You said it yourself, "it was to open the eyes of the people in North America".
So what exactly is your plan? Maybe if things get so bad in this province, the separatists / language extremists will realize the error of their ways? Might as well have another referendum and we'll all vote yes if that's the case. It's exactly the same as all the frustrated english people on here who say Quebec should separate just so we suffer. Maybe that's what you want, but it's not what I want.
There was nothing positive about his letter; please let me know how exactly this letter is going to "help" Quebec, and please be specific. I'll be waiting for your answer.
And by the way ED, you getting this frustrated by my reply and by my opinion is amusing. I guess just like separatists and union people, if someone has anything different to say, they're against you right? ...
PS: I couldn't care less if you remember my posts on this blog or not. I'm giving my honest opinion, not trying to build up some sort of reputation here. Sometimes I'll agree with what you have to say, and sometimes I'll disagree, too bad if you can't handle the latter.
"Please calm down, you seem very frustrated.
Delete"Malheureusement,comme la majorité des anglos sur ce blogue.
------------------------------------------------------------
La cause de Richard Bain reportée au mois de janvier
"Les avocats ont cependant indiqué à la Cour que Richard Henry Bain avait refusé de discuter avec la psychiatre désignée, qui s'était d'abord adressée à lui en français."
http://tinyurl.com/bwsypp9
Bain,un raciste frustré?
"Richard Henry Bain avait refusé de discuter avec la psychiatre désignée, qui s'était d'abord adressée à lui en français."
Delete"Bain,un raciste frustré?"
Why is it that whenever someone tries to make a connection between anglophobia and racism, you're the first one to mock the connection by stating that "language is not a race". But when francophobia is concerned (and Bain is a francophobe), you immediately apply the racism charge.
I think it's time for you to make up your mind on whether language is a race or not.
FROM ED
ReplyDeleteStump Thanks for informing me. I didn't know analogy was the new word for insult. Such bullshit.
No problem ED, I was trying to illustrate a point, but you can take it anyway you want.
DeleteAlso, thanks for taking the time to answer my simple question and explaining how exactly that letter is going to help our province.
Have a good evening.
Well we have sat back for 40 years and let the seppies have the lead in this province and look where we're at. If we don't get public awareness on this province, things are going to get worse and we will lose more rights and freedoms. We have already witnessed that with the introduction of Bill 14 so what more evidence do you need that this harassment will continue if we do nothing? Have we learned nothing from the lessons of WWII? Unfortunately the population sat around while more and more rights were taken from the Jews and did things get better? We have to speak out and to anyone who will listen to put pressure on these bigots to change their ways of political manipulation and point out their weaknesses to their electoral base. Their hatred has to be put into the spotlight and perhaps then their loyal followers (excluding SR) will see them as they really are - racist, anglophobes, hate mongers, stopping at nothing, including the destruction of their own province, to gain power and money.
DeleteJ'imagine que "little rat" et nazi sont des compliments Editor?
Delete"...things are going to get worse and we will lose more rights and freedoms."
DeleteTake the 401 asap!Il est encore temps d'obtenir quelques dollars pour votre bungalow Québekistananais.
Cutie003: Thank you for an actual reply with arguments to support your opinions.
DeleteI have to say I mainly agree with you, but here's a couple of things:
Firstly, I don't agree that we have "let the seppies have the lead in this province for 40 years". As far as I know, there has never been a proven separatist majority, so we're talking about a group of people who definitely don't represent the majority. What was the PQ vote last election, 35%?
In a way you're right though, because despite that, they have managed to impose some pretty stupid (they could even be qualified as racist) laws upon everyone. But in reality, things aren't that bad.
As for the ww2 thing, I've called my share of separatists "nazis", but we need to be fair, our situation is nothing compared to nazi genocide. They may try to destroy our culture and our language, but that will never happen anyways, no matter how many laws they come up with. Unlike the language freaks, I believe both our cultures (Canadian English and Québécois Français) are both too strong to simply disappear.
You're right though, making the rest of the world aware is a good thing. I don't think we should expect any outside help though, we're going to have to help ourselves first. What I completely disagree with, and which brings me back to the original "letter" from this post, is the "let's destroy the province so they won't have a choice but to change" philosophy. Sometimes when I get really pissed off at separatists, I think to myself "fine, just do it, separate already and then after you'll pay for it because you'll be in so much shit". But come on, that's immature, and unfair to the non-separatist majority (remember, seppies and crazies are NOT the majority, they are simply loud)
I still live here, and despite what SR might want, I'm not moving anytime soon. If you want the conditions in my province to get worse, well I'm sorry but I'm not on board. I love my province, and despite all the crap we have to put up with, it's still a great place to live and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. M.Sauga wouldn't agree, but hey we're allowed to have different opinions.
Here's exactly what I'm against, from a post further down:
"There should be financial and economic consequences for Quebeckers if they continue to support racist hate laws that discriminate against minorities."
So all of us should pay because of a minority? Or is it because we can't control that minority? What would you have us do exactly?
I agree with your idea of writing letters Cutie, and I'm glad that you are. I just hope they are positive letters, aimed at improving conditions in this province, rather than wanting to destroy it so that we can "pay".
I hope you understand my point of view a little better now.
Yes, I understand your point of view and I agree that the separatist government has not been in control for the past 40 years but our complacency has not stopped the near total destruction of our rights and freedoms so we have to start fighting back with all the energy we can muster against these language bigots and organizations such as IF. In my area, I really started noticing the changes about 6 months ago wherein the menus in the restaurants, e.g. were all in French, some of the clerks in the grocery stores stopped communicating with me in English even though the week before the same clerk had no problem serving me in English, the signs in our IGA, including the labels on meats were all of a sudden in French only, etc. and it was then I realized that the IF had been all over the city telling people not to serve anyone in English, and been to the managers of the stores insisting they change the way they do business, etc. Our unspoken consent has been to our detriment and the only way to change this is to stop going to these restaurants, grocery stores, etc. and informing them of why we are doing things like this. If this has an effect on the economy, the stores will start serving us again in the language of our choice not the choice of the IF. I know of no other way to get our point across that enough is enough except to pull my business from that location and go to Ottawa to shop if I must. If enough of us do this, the whole movement will backfire on the seppies and that is what we need. We have to stop this any way we can.
Delete"the whole movement will backfire on the seppies"
DeleteVous êtes dans l'erreur (encore),pas seulement les Seppies qui sont en faveur de la loi 101...Pauvre cutie.
FROM ED
ReplyDeleteSorry Stump. i don't answer trolls who simply want to start arguments. I have no more time foryou. Ed
Ed...
DeleteWhen people contradict you or have different opinions, they are trolls?
We're here to discuss issues, not just to pat eachother on the back. You might call them "arguments", I like to see them more as "debates". It seems that you aren't comfortable with having to defend your ideas though. Why is that?
In hindsight, my "highschool girlfriend" thing probably seemed rude, and it might have seemed like a personal attack on M.Sauga, and I apologize if it offended him or if it offended you.. but I won't take it back, because I believe it's still a perfect analogy for the situation. I have a feeling M.Sauga wasn't too bothered by it, in fact I'm pretty sure he couldn't care less what I think.
You can take all of this however you want; I do read all your posts, and I admire your knowledge of this province and its history, your stories are always fascinating. I agree with you on many issues. I simply disagree with you on this point: I don't think that exposing or focusing on all the negative aspects of this province will help us at all.
In my opinion, we need to ignore the separatists and language extremists (yes I know, easier said than done), and let their ridiculous out-of-date movement die out slowly. Focusing on it/them just gives them the attention they want, and trying to make this province "worse" so that people "actually realize how bad it is" is a terrible plan.
So again, I apologize if I have offended you, that was not my intention. I'm not going to pretend I agree with something if I don't however, and I think I've made it clear why I don't agree with you in this case. I'm still waiting for some counter-arguments, hopefully we can have a decent discussion.
ED: If you genuinely don’t have time to answer people, then please just don’t do it, rather than informing all of us that you won’t do it, by which you are actually doing it and thus contradicting yourself. Thank you.
DeleteYan....please, and seppies don't "reject" each other perhaps? See F. Legault, staunch seperatist in his time, (though temporarily pleading the 5th, so to speak),"rejects" the PQ and creates his own party! And BTW no one has "rejected" Tree Stump. We have different opinions and perceptions of things, and this is what is being exchanged here, though you would like to make it out to be something more ominous, to serve your little hidden agenda, no doubt.
DeleteYannick: "This blog was always something of an echo chamber, but I never would have believed it could have degenerated to the point where a staunch federalist, fierce PQ-criticizer like Quebecker of a Tree Stump would be rejected by the others."
DeleteI have to admit that my comment was rude and probably didn't come off very well, but at the same time there are clearly some people on this blog who don't like it when people disagree with their ideas. Some of them don't seem to want to defend their ideas either. It was an eye opener, as I expected that kind of attitude mostly from separatists. I guess we're all human after all.
Also, I wouldn't consider myself a "staunch federalist", and maybe that's why some people here don't like my ideas. I spent half of my life in the West Island of montreal, where everything is mostly english, and the other half in an entirely french town. I've seen both sides, and it has definitely changed the way I perceive all these issues. I'm completely against separation or language legislation, but I do believe the provinces could do with more power to manage their own issues, while maintaining the association that benefits us all.
Quebekistan now becoming mediocre. What culture if universities' funding are cut by PQ?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Universities+decry+unexpected+cuts+government/7710818/story.html
LOL!!!!!
Only morons cannot see that smelly place going down!!!
J'ai vu plus que jamais des robineux partout a Montreal que sur la rue Queen a Toronto!
Nicolas Marceau says restaurant & bar owners now have until Nov. 21, 2013, to pay a 25-per-cent retroactive tax hike on booze they stock.
ReplyDeleteRead more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Eateries+bars+holiday+booze/7705491/story.html#ixzz2FLosMDy7
-------
Taxes= job killers
Unions= job killers
Taxes & Unions= Quebec
Quebec= job killer
Readers should also write emails and letters to companies that are considering opening for business in Quebec and urge them not to do so. Or try to persuade companies that are already here to close shop.
ReplyDeleteThere is a company called Cabela's which is based in Nebraska, U.S.A. They are the largest retailer of outdoor equipment in the world. They have enormous retail stores throughout the United States and a website which lists tens of thousands of items for sale. They mail out millions of catalogs to countries around the world every year. Cabela's was planning to open its first Canadian store in Mirabel, Quebec but changed its plans when it learned of all of the language restrictions. So it opened its first Canadian store in Winnipeg instead and has since opened stores in Edmonton and Saskatoon. Its business is expanding in the U.S.A. and Canada despite poor economic conditions.
I wrote Cabela's a letter warning them about the problems with language and unions in Quebec. I don’t know if my letter had any impact on management’s decision but I like to think it did.
There should be financial and economic consequences for Quebeckers if they continue to support racist hate laws that discriminate against minorities.
Yes Durham - I would hate to be a part of fooling any of the employees of any company coming to quebec that it is at all friendly to outsiders. These people have to be made to realize the error they are making in insulating themselves from the outside world and still expecting that it will be business as usual. There are punishments for deviant behaviour and these seppies have to realize that it hits them in the pocketbook. If their leaders are made to face the consequences by stagnation in this province, which we are in now and it will get worse, they are the ones that have to face the electorate. When the public realize they are causing their own problems by voting for these racists, they will find other leaders to support.
DeleteHmmm wow. I get that the author wants to vent. To me, though, this letter reads like a grab bag of complaints most of which are irrelevant to anyone who would wish to start a business in Quebec. Any point you are trying to make (and personally I have no idea what gain you derive from writing such a letter) is lost by trying to compress almost 40 years of grievances in a page.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, while no an expert in the FPA, but I have started a few companies in Quebec and am not from this province originally — quelle horreur.
EXACTLY.
DeleteSeriously *drop the identity politics* grievances. We've done them for forty years. They do not work.The people who *might* be persuaded by those arguments side with Quebec nationalists.
It's not about racism. It's about freedom. Separatists oppose individual freedom and try to run people's businesses. Full stop. That's the only message that will grab a businessman's attention.
Dernier commentaire de M. Gerard Depardieu, un habile et talentueux genie du cinema francais, un monument qui n'a jamais sollicite un sou de son gouvernement. Bref, pas un de nos zaetiss quebekistanais, pas une sangcue de subvention, car, nous le savons, la culture du quebec est un mythe:
ReplyDelete"Je n’ai malheureusement plus rien à faire ici, mais je continuerai à aimer les Français et ce public avec lequel j’ai partagé tant d’émotions! Je pars parce que vous considérez que le succès, la création, le talent, en fait, la différence, doivent être sanctionnés.
Je pars, après avoir payé, en 2012, 85% d’impôt sur mes revenus. Mais je conserve l’esprit de cette France qui était belle et qui, j’espère, le restera. Je vous rends mon passeport et ma Sécurité sociale, dont je ne me suis jamais servi. Nous n’avons plus la même patrie, je suis un vrai Européen, un citoyen du monde, comme mon père me l’a toujours inculqué.
Je n’ai jamais tué personne, je ne pense pas avoir démérité, j’ai payé 145 millions d’euros d’impôts en quarante-cinq ans, je fais travailler 80 personnes dans des entreprises qui ont été créées pour eux et qui sont gérées par eux. Qui êtes-vous pour me juger ainsi, je vous le demande monsieur Ayrault, Premier ministre de monsieur Hollande, je vous le demande, qui êtes-vous? Malgré mes excès, mon appétit et mon amour de la vie, je suis un être libre, Monsieur, et je vais rester poli."
---------------------
Le quebekistan va dans la meme direction que la France socialiste: le quebec tue les opportunitees. Le socialisme tue les opportunitees. Le bien petit quebec surtaxes ces citoyens. Ces citoyens les plus productifs quittent ce terroir malsain.
Pas "ces" mais "ses" citoyens.
DeleteRTFM: “No grammar cops or spelling monitors, we are here for ideas.”
DeleteUne nouvelle qui devrait vous réjouir calgary man :)
DeleteKyoto: le Canada n'est plus de la partie
http://tinyurl.com/cas45hn
* Mardois had mandated Boisclair to lobby for sovereignity in NY. She can mandate whomever she wants as long as a) is not a member of the administration b) it uses PQ money for that. Why is Boisclair spending my tax money for this kind og lobby? And why I do not hear a peep from the Libs? If they want my vote, they should represent me properly.
ReplyDelete* Lisee wants to retain "French" families in Montreal (http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Opinion+Minister+Lis%C3%A9e+share+your+optimism+about+future+Montreal+your+vision+there/7706519/story.html). This is ethnical discrimination at best and ethnical cleansing at worst. Theorically there are laws in this country for such crimes?
LA Charte de la Langue "Francaise"
ReplyDelete1. We use Joual as a pretext to discriminate Anglos and Importations.
2. We use Joual to bar Anglos from government jobs and from management jobs. Those are for us pure-laine only.
2. We use Joual to humiliate Anglos and Importations.
4. We use Joual to racket the protection tax from everyone that wants to offer us jobs.
5. We use Joual to get fat paying Federal government jobs we cannot get by competence.
6. We need those pesky importations to pay taxes for our pure-laine on social welfare (government employees included).
7. We still need those pesky Anglos to blackmail the Feds into giving us the perequation money.
Toujours le même anonymous?Ou plusieurs anonymous?
DeleteWe must start pressuring the Feds to do something with these people. Ethnic cleansing cannot be excused under the "Notwithstanding" clause and if it can, we need a new constitution. Perhaps that's what we should be pressing for to settle these matters once and for all. Nothing should be in there that the Supreme Court should be able to override.
ReplyDelete"...we need a new constitution."
DeleteRien de moins...
Go cutie Go!
MDR!
A FEW COMMENTS FROM THE EDITOR
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons I decided to publish the above letter was the fact that the FPA was oblivious to the fact that Marois is a dyed-in-the wool separatist.
Look at the pre-presentation bio on the FPA website.... http://is.gd/GiNs55
Not a word about sovereignty!
As to S.R comments about finding out Mr.Sauga's identity, it is very telling.
To what end? Violence?
And then he asks us why we remain anonymous...
It seems this type of letter-writing campaign hits sovereigntist nerves.
If three protesters had gone down and picketed the event, it would have been front page news.
Pissing on Madame Marois' parade, a catastrophe at home.
We've always known that bad publicity in the States is the separatists Achilles Heel.
Perhaps it is time to develop a new strategy.
" what end? Violence?"
DeletePas du tout,simplement pour mettre un nom sur cette lettre que j'aurais pu faire circuler.
Le souci du respect pour les droits d'auteur.
Circulate to who?...the RRQ or the FLQ? Why would you need Mr. Sauga's address?
DeletePour lui faire parvenir des fleurs...De lys
DeleteWhat S.R is saying is that he wants the readers of this blog to publish his IP address as well as his home address as well as pictures of his son online so that he can enjoy recognition for his posts on this blog.
DeleteToujours daccord avec votre amie cutie r.e?
Delete"...we need a new constitution." -cutie
MDR!!!
Tous les Seppies publient leur noms et leur photo:
DeleteLes contributeurs de Vigile,Michel Patrice,Louis Préfontaine,etc.
Vous n'avez pas remarqué Diablotin?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteSaviez-vous que Montréal est couramment considérée comme la deuxième ville francophone dans le monde après Paris?Même Monsieur le maire reconnaît ce fait qui ne semble pas clair pour tous les anglos.Merci M....Applebaum.
DeleteActually, that would be Kinshasa.
DeleteReviewing the FPA website, I see that they are mostly concerned with American foreign policy (doh!), international development in developing countries, assuring American energy security and nuclear strategy, Middle Eastern issues and environmental issues.
DeleteThe blurb associated with her luncheon speech is exceedingly flattering, if not incorrect ($5/day daycare). There is certainly no mention made of her aggression against anything English. Finding the need to mention that she intends to be the “Premier of all Quebecers” in the years to come is particularly incongruous (shouldn’t that be a given?).
Mr. Sauga provided no credentials (such as in academia, foreign service, etc…) and thus comes off as sounding as having a personal axe to grind.
Unfortunately, I’m certain his letter went straight into the cylindrical file.
Perhaps so RS but we have to try. If we do not put any effort into this we may just as well accept defeat right now and move out of the province and leave all the votes to the seppies which is just what they want. Ethnic cleansing is going on daily and we must bring it to the attention of everyone we can.
DeleteOpen to suggestions everyone. I guess the more we embarrass the seppies and our Federal Government in the U.S., the more attention we will garner. SR showed his true colours today so we must be careful around some of these people.
ReplyDeleteWe've embarrassed the separatists before. Has it made them budge? No. Identity politics does not work for Anglos.
DeleteMontréal doit demeurer francophone, plaide son maire anglophone
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/regional/montreal/201212/17/01-4604757-montreal-doit-demeurer-francophone-plaide-son-maire-anglophone.php
BANG!
C'est vital que Montreal demeure francais.
DeleteC'est vital pour les zunions, nos zartiss subventionnes, le sous-emploi, les carres rouges et les casseroles.
C'est vital que Montreal demeure francais pour la corruption, les rues en ruines, les hipitaux croulants et les bseux Bougon de Hochelaga-Maisonneuve de meme que nos belles taxes pour faire fuir toute opportunite d'affaires.
Pour cela, Montreal doit demeurer en francais
BANG!
FROM ED
ReplyDeleteJosef, Alone the letter may not solve ny problems but it is a start. If we all send letters to news agencies and large companies it will eventually embarrass Harper to do something or look like he doesn't care about freedom. I'm trying to tell some that before you critisize do something yourself and be positive baout our chances. This is a perfecctb time since the PQ is self destructing. Ed
Everyone else should do the same and Mr. Sauga and I and vent your frustrations in writing to anyone who will listen.
ReplyDeleteConstruction Companies Australia
Sauga,
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to Levesque's use of the term "les autres": http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19810317&id=mzkyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vaQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5511,2858293
I remember it well. I watched him say this on television at the time. He was sneering and spitting out the words with contempt in his voice. It was very well publicized at the time. In my view it was a turning point in the perception of Levesque. Thereafter he was regarded as a bigot.
I had been in a meeting with Levesque a few years earlier when he was a Liberal. At that time he was a charming individual, but at some point his demons overtook him and he was never the same again, like some others whom I knew at the time.
"He was sneering and spitting out the words with contempt in his voice."
DeleteSounds just you`re describing Gilles Proulx.
Mr Krug,
DeleteOver our episodic discussions, you often refered to Lévesque's use of "les autres". I have been curious for some time to ask you to tell me more about it. I am glad to see this link, I will read it carefuly as soon as I have time.
I also find interesting that you met Lévesque. Perhaps you could tell a little more about it. Did you meet him once or many times? Did you hear him give a speech or did you have a discussion with him?
C'est vital que Montreal demeure francais.
ReplyDeleteC'est vital pour les zunions, nos zartiss subventionnes, le sous-emploi, les carres rouges et les casseroles.
C'est vital que Montreal demeure francais pour la corruption, les rues en ruines, les hipitaux croulants et les bseux Bougon de Hochelaga-Maisonneuve de meme que nos belles taxes pour faire fuir toute opportunite d'affaires.
Pour cela, Montreal doit demeurer en francais
Un gars sympa… you originally started off as sounding like a very sensible and successful individual but more and more, I’m sorry to inform you that you seem to be increasingly unhinged in your hatred of Quebec and are increasingly resembling our unfortunate troll S.R (who is very possibly mentally deranged, especially judging by his recent behaviour on this blog).
DeleteYou’ve only relatively recently become exposed to his weirdness but most of us have been witnessing it for a long time now. Please don’t let yourself sink to his level.
Mais oui,nous savons tout ça et ce qui fait que le Québec est le Québec et Montréal est Montréal et que nous y sommes si bien,nous nous sentons chez nous,même les anglos ne veulent pas partir :)
DeleteTM....
DeleteI was born and raised as a pure laine in both Quebec city area and Montreal south shore. I left after I graduated from HEC for Calgary. I do not hate the place, merely sarcastically elaborate on some of SR's foolish comments:)
I too have an MBA from McGill and have worked overseas and even in Calgary. Frankly, I didn't find it all that but I'm certainly glad that you enjoy it. I just wish you didn't feel the need to slag us off all the time, whether sarcastically or not.
DeleteBy the way, did you notice that there was no contradiction from S.R about his fragile mental state... héhé :)
Moi je dis à calgary man de ne pas suivre le modèle Mr.Suga,soyez heureux ou vous êtes, oubliez le passé et ceux qui vous ont fait du mal,regardez vers l'avant,demeurez positif...C'est ce que mon psy m'a conseillé.
DeleteFunny S.R says that Anglos can't let go of Quebec, but he can't let go of this blog. Who does this? Come to a blog daily only to get horse whipped and still keep coming back for more? I do appreciate his last post however, when he's not being a total d*ck he can actually express postive commentary.
DeleteYeah, except the seppies are the ones (and complicated) that keep bringing up old grievances and we are trying to move on.
DeleteQuebec to miss out on business opportunities yet again?
ReplyDeleteWe all know about the left leaning, good hearted and pro-environment of the quebecois and its governemaman when it comes to the exploitation of natural resources: Not in my own backyard, please.
From the cbc.ca: Canada's natural gas industry to add more than $1 trillion to Canada's economy over the next 24 years and support an average of 260,000 jobs a year over that time frame.
Here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/12/17/business-natural-gas.html
BTW... in 24 years, quebec will hopefully become independant and likely to be officially the "Republique Populaire du Quebekistan" and rival Haiti or Rwanda for GDP...
DeleteLOL!
Une nouvelle qui devrait vous réjouir calgary man :)
DeleteKyoto: le Canada n'est plus de la partie
http://tinyurl.com/cas45hn
Bin oui, SR.
DeleteDans quel monde utopique et idealiste vis-tu?
Les gros pollueurs i.e. la Chine, Russie, USA, etc representent la grande majorite des sources polluantes dans l'atmosphere. Le Canada - selon moi - moins de 3%
Pourquoi un suicide collectif alors que 3% est une goutte d'eau dans un verre?
Je suis assure que tu es assez intelligent pour realiser ceci. Kyoto est un echec, irrealisable, et ce depuis le jour 1.
Surtout nlorsque les emissions de l'Inde et de la Chine ont augmentes de 103% et 150% respectivement depuis 1992:)
SR = FAIL
Well SR and Calgary man are having quite the catfight here. My opinion on the oilsands..pretty damaging to the northern Alberta environment..no doubt there..but few people live up there hence its kind of out of sight out of mind. The rich boys in Calgary are far from the environmental destruction. On the other hand its pretty hypocritical of Quebec to bash the oil sands and yet take the 8 billion per year which is mainly funded from oil sands revenues..if you dont like dirty oil than dont take the money. And Quebec does have fossil fuel resources that it chooses not to exploit. This argument too that hydro is such a clean energy is somewhat misleading also..there is also huge environmental damage caused by rerouting rives and messing up river flows..but again its far away where few people live so nobody seems to mind.
ReplyDeleteI always found the Liberal government incredibly arrogant and hypocritical with their staunch support of Kyoto. Yes they signed Kyoto but then did absolutely nothing to achieve the goals outline in the plan..our emissions went up not down. And at the same time the Liberals..I remember Paul Marting making a speech in which he chastised the USA for not signing the accord. But at least the Americans were upfront about the fact they were not going to respect the emission targets with Kyoto. They were honest..wheras the Liberal led Canadian government went on and on about how important Kyoto was and did the opposite..incredible hypocrisy and arrogance.
And the tired argument from Calgary man about how much emissions China and India is a weak one. How can we have any credibility among countries like China and India when we dont even live up to the accord. We are one of the most developed nations in the world with huge energy resources..we are among the highest consumers of energy per capita in the world and we waste tons of energy..I see it all the time. And then we have the nerve to chastise two countries with a huge population and high poverty rates to lower their emissions?! If we cant lead by example then I dont blame China and India for weak pollution control standards. It pitiful how Canadians waste energy..how many times do I see people idling their cars waiting for their kid to come out of school even on nice days..how many times do people take their cars to drive a short distance away when they could have walked/cycled, how many vehicles are there going by me with one person in them, how many huge SUVS and vans do I see, people leaving lights on all the time, people not turning their heat down at night in their house, etc. We are an incredibly wasteful nation energy wise and we are the last people in the world who should be attacking nations like China and India for their pollution..we have the means to do much better but are too LAZY to do so. Oh and by the way we cant expect China to not create much pollution when 95 percent of the products we buy are made there!!! We are in effect also indirectly responsible for a lot of those emissions in China as we continue to voraciously buy goods made there.
FROM ED
ReplyDeleteComplicated, The point you make about energy wasting is incredibly important. hydro Quebec is honest about this. They don't tell people to use more which would be good for their business, they urge people to cut down. I agree about the cars idling to keep warm. If people drees for winter instead of driving thekids toschool intheir pyjamas a few minute shut down wouldn't harm them. you mention the cars with one person aboard, a very selfish thing. Unfortunately, with human greed and selfishness the only way we'll change it is when the government takes action. Toll roads and less parking space would help. Road money better spent on public transport, perhaps.
The reason Paul Martin could not meet the Kyoto was because the Americans would noy cooperate. It would cost corporations a lot of money to put in emission reducing equipment. Canadian producers said (quite rightly) "If we have to spend this amount and American producers don't we'd be out of business. Americans were honest about it, they basically said we don't give a shit about the environment. Martin wanted to uphold Kyoto but Americans are only interested in guns and money. Look where that's got them.
Hydro Quebec wants Quebecers to use less because they make more money selling their energy south of the border. Here in Quebec they have to sell the electricity at much lower prices. It frustrates me to no end the number of parents who drive their kids a few blocks to school..a lot of these kids and parents could use the exercise too. I agree that government can play a big role in motivating people to change their wasteful ways. Higher taxes on SUVS, higher gas taxes, more tolls on highways and bridges. In Europe energy is much more expensive and it goes a long way..people are much more careful..they walk and cycle more, they drive smaller cars, they put timers on lights, buy more efficient appliances. Mnoey is the great motivator..energy is still too cheap in this country even after the large price increases. I still see too many people driving huge vehicles with one person in it. Or families with two or three vehicles. Buildings with their ligbts on all night. Tolls would go a long way..I think all the bridges into Montreal should have tolls..it would make the people who use them the most pay for them and encourage more people to live closer to their work and encourage car pooling.
ReplyDeleteEd - Not sure about your argument about Kyoto. It seems that the government could have mandated all oil companies oprtating in Canada to achieve certain reductions..it would have cost more but not a crazy amount more. The oil companies have been swimming in money - I am sure they could have dealt with it. I still prefer the honesty of the Americans..I really dont believe Martin and the Liberals were ever serious about meeting Kyoto but publicly they supported it but their action say otherwise.
First of two:
ReplyDeleteHello again, everybody. I guess new viewers and contributors to this blog come and go, so I feel it's a necessity to get everybody refocused, even if I'm repeating myself for the upteenth time.
I was born and raised in Quebec and attended Quebec schools from kindergarten through graduating from university. I think I was among the last to obtain a quality education from the Quebec English public school system (the French was a bloody, sick joke), but felt it was deteriorating as I went through, especially in high school. There was a strike, and in CEGEP, I endured two strikes. I studied Commerce at Concordia U., reputed to have a better Commerce program than McGill's.
My desire to leave Quebec came with the coming into law of Bourassa's Bill 22. I saw it as abandoning, and even more, a betrayal of the English minority. The language tests that ensued were a cruel imposition on little chidren, where blatant separatist bureaucrats who played God decided which children could go to English school due to proficiency in English, and which were forced to go to French. Very often, children were relegated for going to French school because they made one mistake on their tests that had NOTHING to do with their lack proficiency in Enclish.
One example of this I vividly remember was a child denied English schooling because the examiner asked the child to bring her a lemon from a bowl of plastic fruit. The child didn't understand, not because he didn't understand English, but because he simply didn't know what a lemon looked like. He had either never seen one, or he did and just didn't know what it was. For that mistake, he was relegated to French school. The bias of these bigoted bureaucrats was blatantly obvious.
Next came Bill 101 three years later, and even that was a watered-down version of the original Bill 1. There was a plenitude of derision over the rabid racism from several quarters over Bill 1. The PQ was extremely motivated to get the Charter passed one way or another before the new school year and so one week before the new school year, closure was invoked and Bill 101 passed into law.
The only positive in Bill 101 over Bill 22 was language testing was eliminated, but on the flip side, it disallowed anybody from going to English school except those already legally enrolled in English school on the date of assent (Aug 26/77), and the children of those whose parents (at least one of them) received six years of English elementary education previously in Quebec. The flaws vastly outweighed the merits. Children being educated in English elsewhare were not granted that exemption. I was also not impressed that children from other countries with English education were not exempt, but the argument about discriminating agaist children from non-English speaking environments did have some merit.
Any battles against French language legislation have been arduous and/or expensive. For example, children attending English schools in other provinces were finally able to attend English school in Quebec thanks to the "Canada Clause" in the Constitution, but the Quebec government still dragged its feet where it could through the bureaucracy to enable the eligible children to receive their English schooling. So much for the legal wranglings.
Second of Three:
ReplyDeleteSorry, I thought two parts was enough, but apparently, I was wrong, so now it's the second of three parts.
The other side of my disdain for the goings-on in Quebec has to do with my heritage. I speak English, but I have nary a drop of British blood circulating through my veins yet Quebec society, led by a racist separatist government labels me as «un des autres», one of "the others". Obviously, I'm not alone in this, far from it. Nevertheless, my family history is fast approaching a century of being in Canada, having come to Quebec. My grandparents came with whatever children were born in Poland and Russia and whatever they could carry, and it didn't add up to a hill of beans!
They had to integrate into their new society, and did so through hard work, starting from the ground up. My maternal grandfather settled in the Eastern Townships, at first in Sherbrooke. He moved to a smaller town to settle a couple of years later. He started as a rag picker, then set up a scrap metal business ("junkyard"), animal skin and fur procurer, and other small enterprises over time. He died young, smack dab in the middle of the height of the Great Depression and his eldest son, just 22 years old, took over a business with all its assets pledged to the teeth with the bank. My uncle was terrified, but he dug in, supported himself, his mother and five siblings, turning those businesses around. The family forutnately didn't know hunger and was deprived of very little. He also employed others in his community probably saving them and their families from starvation. Very positive contributors to their community. Very good law-abiding and tax-paying citizens. My uncle's hard work and the stress he endured led to an early grave for him too, unfortunately.
It is for these reasons my resolve for Quebec is so audacious. The ingratitude of Quebec society towards those who have done a lot of good not only for themselves but for the greater good of their communities is so reprehensible that there is no word strong enough for me to express. I'd have to look to Conrad Black for better words, but he too has expressed his views that can be described as equally appalling to mine, if stated better than I am able, or perhaps not.
Conclusion, Third of Three:
ReplyDeleteYes, I left Quebec over half my life ago, but so what? Je me souviens! I remember! Worse yet, with the election of the PQ a mere 3½ months ago has led to an even more impudent society towards its minorities. Recently, my own big brother, a dutiful voter, but apolitical compared to me, expressed how he's getting fed up with Montreal and Quebec after living there his whole life with a career in the Quebec parapublic service and able to speak pretty fluent French. He had a very good career, was able to retire very early and spends his winters in Florida thanks to RREGOP, the generous, lucrative government pension plan for such employees. He also has a generous medical plan from the government for life to cover him while down there.
I hypothesize my brother's eyes have opened since he spends 3-4 months per year outside Quebec,and with all kinds of spare time, visits with friends who have since left Quebec at other times. He has gotten a good dose of how the rest of the world has advanced while Quebec is constantly moving backwards. My girlfriend moved in with me from Montreal and doesn't miss Quebec one iota. Her daughter referred to Ontario as her "viagara". Cute analogy.
Finally, I'm sick and tired of forking over my hard-earned taxes to an ungrateful, miserable and thankless society of malcontents that bites the hand that feeds it several billions of dollars every year. Why should I pay for this? Why should the rest of us? Too much of Quebec's collectivity is ungrateful for what they get, so let them learn to do without. I long ago reached the end of my rope with Quebec, so I will keep on shouting until the Americans hear us, but I cannot do it alone. I am only one person. Howard Galganov is only one person, and he put his heart, soul and money into this with backlash from his own community. I'm doing my part.
Fellow readers and contributors: The rest is up to you.
Understandable Mr. Sauga and again my thanks - keep up the good work and I have to hope all that contribute to the blog will back us up.
ReplyDeleteYou know Americans. They have to hear it several times before it maybe starts to absorb. Too, they don't care much about Canada unless there's a buck in it, but if a number of us tell them what to expect, maybe they'll watch themselves. If someone else has exertise on the mineral tax in Quebec, pass it on to the FPA! Same goes for other things I didn't mention. The more the word is out there, the more likely it will take.
DeleteI finally understand what this site is all about now....
ReplyDeleteIt's a circle jerk for whipped anglos quebeckers!
Finally!
Have you all a great life in quebekistan. You are all very sad, I must admit... Sad.
Just enjoy what you have; you could be living in a third world country after all!!!
My last visit on this site for whipped anglos.
Un gars - Well someone else is now going to have to argue incressantly with SR and in french..will be tough to find. Hope you feel better..all that pent up negative emotions about growing up in Quebec are finally out..you can go back to talking about money with your Albertan friends now. We will continue fighting the fight as Quebec continues sliding down its slope.
Delete@ Un gars. What are you, 12? You'll be back, different name same style LOL
DeleteWill not be missed by me at all
ReplyDeleteN'oubliez pas que ces tensions linguistiques que le Québec connait depuis des années,n'a rien de personnel,j'ai des amis anglophones que j'apprécie plus que certains francophones (même seppies),vous avez peut-être,et je l'espère,des amis francophones.Le nerf de la guerre se situe au niveau des droits et des devoirs collectifs et non individuels.
ReplyDeleteSR - I believe you. I chose my name because the situation is not simple here in Quebec and life in general is a lot more complicated than many people like to make it out. I feel similarily..I have english friends who drive me up the wall because they are borderline racist against francophones and their ears are closed but there are similar people on the francophone side who are equally dogmatic. Its the extremists who are causing the problems. Most people are moderates..if we could get the extremists out of politics then I think we could move Quebec forward. But that means both the anglophone and francophone side have to muzzle the extemists..there are some anglophone extremists on this site who will settle for nothing else except the full repeal of Bill 101 and even the partition of Quebec..thats not helpful in my opinion and not realistic. Yet there are francophone extremists who will settle for nothing other than Quebec on its own and trampling all over anglophone rights..thats not right either.
DeleteThere is something to be said for the cliché "One bad apple spoils the barrel." Unfortunately, the way I see Quebec, the tail (the extremists) wags the dog. If these extremists are so few in number, what do all the political parties in Quebec have to prove by being tough on language?
DeleteThe Liberals are no better than the PQ as they enforce the same crap with language.
S.R, you spoke like a true socialist.
DeleteThat's exactly what I see also Mr. Sauga. All the provincial governments are encouraging the extremists because not one of them has said a word about the violence that has taken place against the anglos since the election. They have really played up poor, frustrated, feeble brained Mr. Bain since the shooting but not the cause of the frustration of the anglos. Again, blessing them with silence and encouraging others to do the same - including the liberals I may add. If any of them were interested in keeping peace in this place, they would encourage people to communicate with one another in whatever language they wish without bringing politics into it but there is too much at stake for each and every one of them that wants to run for office and every political appointment after each election. Including complicated whom I'm sure is running for the CAQ I might also add.
DeleteFROM ED
ReplyDeleteHalleluja anecTote for God's sake don't encourage him back. Ed
Ed seriously, you're saying this to me when a few weeks back you actually congratulated and lauded him for some silly post he put in? C'mon man, get real, with all due respect. Also, we're in the mess we're in for 'ignoring' injustice. You need to put things and people in their place when the occasion calls for it. He can keep coming back to this blog and know that people will put him in his place where he belongs when required. That is after all, how one handles bullies, isn't it? It is certainly not by ignoring them. And please do not repeat the old rhetoric that these are "Editor's" wishes. With all due respect to Editor as well, if he really wanted, he could ban him and ensure he doesn't post. Remove every single post from him, whatever it is, but he doesn't. Sorry Editor, don't mean to pick on you, but I had to point to make. So please stop telling us all to ignore him, sometimes we may, and sometimes we may not, but please don't come at me with such a reproach ever again, because it really isn't appreciated. Thank you.
DeleteAnd anyways, he has a crush on Cutie, who are we to stand in the way of true love! LOL LOL LOL.
DeletePS, if there is ever a wedding I expect to be invited ! LOL
When I win the lottery I will buy this province for about 5M (which is what it'll be worth when I win) and then he and I will get hitched. You are all invited. Lots of pancakes with maple syrup and plenty of beer! - lol
Deleteah you kill me Cutie...LOL, g-d bless!
DeleteFROM ED
ReplyDeleteMy grandson was enrolled in Protestant school French immersion in Kindergarten. For two years he learned nothing. We found out he was the only English kid in the class.
The class was conducted completely in French and nothing explained in English. The school decided he ws retarded and suggested special ed. His parents put him in regular and todayhe is a social worker going for his masters. He went through high school and college with all marks over 90 every year.Always on the dean's list and winning awards.
He works for Batshaw agencies helping wayward kids. Ed
FROM ED
ReplyDeleteComplicated, you've finally said something that really impresses me "We will continue fighting the fight." I'm glad to see you're with us, I think. Would you please clarify which side you're fighting for. It's hard to tell with you denouncing anglos all the time.
Well we obviously disagree on the means to fight. I think the best chance in the near term is to elect a new political party..one that is neither seperatist or federalist. We need a government whose focus is NOT language but on fixing the more serious issues in this province such as debt, taxes, unemployment, corruption and so on as I have mentioned on numerous occasions.
ReplyDeleteI dont believe that demanding partition or a repeal of Bill 101 is constructive or realistic..I aceept it in its current form..I think most anglos here can live with it.
We need to get beyond the seperatist/federalist stigmas. It would help a lot if extreme views on both sides were sidelined for a lengthy period of time. The extremist voices make it very difficult to make any progress in this province because they tend to anger and provoke. They create a climate of feat and hatred and its coming from both sides..not just the seperatists.
It is now - up until about six months ago I would have disagreed but no longer. Fear and hatred is now becoming commonplace in our population and it isn't pretty. And no matter what you say complicated, the hate started a long time ago from the separatists and that is what you seem to be missing.
DeleteI concur with Cutie. When Bill 101 became law, this was the first round of hatred and persecution to the nth degree. There was a PQ government decree that invoices in English did not have to be paid. There were language police persecuting small businesses for having "APR" for "April" printed on cash register receipts instead of "AVR" for "avril", and an endless array of petty, miniscule violations of the Bill.
DeleteA smaller wave came with the resurrection of the PQ in 1994 when language cops were going around asking, in English, for someone's business card. Most business people, if asked in English, would hand over an English card, but whoever did that was admonished (chastised, really!) because technically, a French card must be presented UNLESS the person asking specifically requests an English card.
I heard a story on a Toronto radio station, let alone Montreal, about the Jewish monument maker in this LINK being chastised by the language SS because, if you'll observe, the five Hebrew letters between the name of the business and the word "monuments" were measured by some welfare racist retard with a skullful of créton and nothing better to do than be a s**t disturber reporting the Hebrew was bigger than the French. The Jewish community pulled together and chased away that incident and the language SS à toute vitesse!
And then there's now. How about that 12-year-old girl with mental challenges who couldn't speak French being taken in by the police? How about transit ticket takers yelling like psych ward boors at people who speak English to them. How about that YouTube incident with Franco Montrealers yelling like barbarian cavemen at a couple of tourists of East Asian origin who spoke English to each other? There was an incident of this entered above on this blog sometime today.
The PQ is back in government and the rhetoric is being cranked up like never before. The Adolf Hitler has risen to the surface with the Naziesque back at the helm. It ebbs...it tides; it ebbs, it tides...now it's ebbing *sigh* once again!
Whoops! Late evening fatigue is starting to set in. I meant to write the Naziesque (political) party is back at the helm and unfortunately, the rabid racism is tiding, not ebbing.
Delete@ Complicated - A party that is neither federalist or separatist? In that case you're asking for a separatist party by default. I mean it is contradictory, as lack of federalism implies you are a nationalist (or at the very least a soft-nationalist). Being "federalist" doesn't mean you stand for anything, you just accept the existence and principles of Canada as a country. And what are those principles, let's see...multiculturalism, equality, freedom and unity among people. All bad and nasty words to a Quebec separatist no doubt. Concepts like acceptance, equality and freedom are the antithesis of Quebec culture it would seem!
ReplyDelete"I dont believe that demanding partition or a repeal of Bill 101 is constructive"
Wow. That says a lot. Bill 101, or the so-called charter of the French language, is the root of all evil in this god forsaken province. It's a racist doctrine that states one human being is superior to another, including having more rights, all because of the RACE OF THEIR PARENTS THEY WERE BORN TO. It is as flawed as laws Germans passed in the 1930s against Jews, or laws that said women cannot vote, or laws that said African Americans have to sit at the back of a bus, or go to segregate schools. Bill 101 is a shameful and disgraceful monstrosity that should be spit on, burned and never spoken of again (expect perhaps as an example of discrimination taught in history classes).
The best thing a government could do is abolish Bill 101, renounce separatism and state quite clearly, whether a person is English OR French, they are an equal human being, with equal rights. If that last statement offends you, that we're all equal, and you can bet many out there will be, then there is something seriously wrong. Look in the mirror.
Et la suite logique est la Louisianisation du Québec...Bravo!
DeleteWay to go Apple! Exactly right!
DeleteApple - Again my whole point is that we need to move away from the federalist vs seperatist nametags. So many anglophones equate seperatists to pure evil and dont even want to listen to anyone who was or is a seperatist..how can one have a discussion with an attitude like this. On the other hand many anglos will downplay any glaring faults of amyone who claims to be a federalist.
DeleteFighting to repeal Bill 101 is going to bring more and more problems to the anglo community and likely in the end could result in Quebec seperating. Maybe some extremist anglos want that so they can push the partition fantasy. But it will make living in Quebec a lot more miserable for anglophones..essentially you would be asking for a civil war. Bill 101 is not racist..it is their to preserve the french language..it is there to allow most francophones to work in their language. Its their to ensure that all newcomers to Quebec learn and use french. If Bill 101 never existed Montreal would be completely dominated by the english now. That is exactly what francophones do not want..their largest city totally controlled by the english minority. Would you accept Toronto being run by a french minority?? I can guarantee you that if Toronto became a french dominated city that anglophones around the country would be up in arms.
Why cant a party be neutral like the CAQ?? Why cant so many people here accept that a party can be neither federalist or seperatist..why does one have to be in one camp or the other? Your way of thinking is incredibly rigid..the CAQ is composed of both federalists and former seperatists. But their focus is on the economy..I think its a great philosophy. Most people here seem to want to drag on the language wars forever..we will be bankrupt by then.
Unfortunately, your laid back and nonchalant attitude towards the whole Quebec situation unfolding is equally as dangerous. Too many people think there is absolutely nothing wrong, so nothing needs to change, or just try and ignore it all and hope it goes away.
DeleteLike a cancer, Quebec nationalism will continue to spread and grow, and the end results will not be pretty.
@ Complicated - Incidentally, the text I wrote above this (at 1:14 pm) was directed at S.R, although much of it still rings true after reading your response.
DeleteI don't think you quite understand. There is no "federalist" side, Canada and its values are not another option or side to pick, it is just WHAT IS. I mean it's like saying we shouldn't have either a United States government or Confederate government--the United States government is the DEFAULT, and by the same token a federalist government is the DEFAULT. Anything else is rejection of what is! If your party is NOT federalist, you reject Canada, its values, ideals and laws. Am I wrong? And if there weren't these moronic separatists in the first place, there wouldn't even be this 'us versus them' mentality, or the need to label one side "federalist".
I'm sorry, but Bill 101 is not at all there to protect the French language. It exists to erase all traces of other cultures and languages, and to act as some kind of revenge against the English population because their ancestors, hundreds of years ago, conquered New France. The excuse to hide behind is that is to protect French, but that is bullshit. Complete and utter bullshit. I'm sick of hearing that as French is not, nor ever has been, in danger in this province. It will never disappear law or no laws, any more than the sun will stop shinning.
Also interesting that a person should have the right to work in French. What about the right to work in English? Don't tell me about other regions of Canada where that right exists, because I live HERE and as far as my world goes, Quebec is the only existence I know as long as I live here. What about my rights? Don't get me wrong. I believe all our rights should be protected, whether we're Francophone or Anglophone, but that is what the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms already does and protects. Why the need for an additional charter on top of the existing one? Not that bill 101 is a charter, it is a hate doctrine that just exists to NULLIFY the freedoms and rights in the Canadian charter.
The CAQ is not a neutral party. They are an offset of the Parti Quebecois, right down to all the anti-English rhetoric and holding a referendum (just at a later date, big deal). How are they ANY different from the PQ when they ARE the PQ?
At any rate, as soon as I can, I am leaving Quebec. I have given up any hope of seeing this nonsense resolved or even reaching a plateau. I want to focus on enjoying life and just living it, without my attention constantly drawn to the thorn in my side, which is life in Quebec and all the crap hurled in my face daily.
FROM ED
ReplyDeleteJesus anectote, take a deep breath. You are really wound up. As Rene Leveaque said, "Take a valium" Ed
Complicate -
ReplyDeleteAfter re-reading what you wrote, something hit me. Something that highlights just how xenophobic and truly racist ALL Quebecois separatist really are. Want to see what I mean, in your paragraph let's replace all instances of the word "Anglophones" and "Francophones" with the words "Jews" and "Christians".
----
If Bill 101 never existed Montreal would be completely dominated by the [Jews] now. That is exactly what [Christians] do not want..their largest city totally controlled by the [Jewish] minority. Would you accept Toronto being run by a [Christian] minority?? I can guarantee you that if Toronto became a [Christian] dominated city that [Jews] around the country would be up in arms.
----
Let's try that again, replacing the word "Anglophones" and "Francophones" with the words "blacks" and "whites"
If Bill 101 never existed Montreal would be completely dominated by the [blacks] now. That is exactly what [whites] do not want..their largest city totally controlled by the [black] minority. Would you accept Toronto being run by a [white] minority?? I can guarantee you that if Toronto became a [white] dominated city that [blacks] around the country would be up in arms.
I HOPE THAT WAKES YOU UP!