Quebec hit with another international black eye.
You can't get much more international exposure than an article in
TIME MAGAZINE and the following harrowing account of Quebec's linguistic crusade against English which served to embarrass Quebec internationally once again.
The article has received over 2,000 comments, so it isn't as if the piece went unnoticed.
Read the story: Time Magazine
Credit to the many readers who pointed out the story.
"Public hearings on Bill 14 create polarized debate"-CBC
"As the public hearings on Quebec’s controversial Bill 14 continue,
there is no lack of opinion coming from all sides of the language
debate.
Bill 14 proposes to amend Quebec's language charter by tightening
restrictions around the use of English. If passed, the bill would give
language inspectors the power of search and seizure, and it would allow
the government to remove the bilingual status of some municipalities.
One of the province’s largest labour federations, the Confédération
des syndicats nationaux (CSN), called on the government to send a strong
message that French is the one and only official language of Quebec.
Jacques Létourneau, president of the CSN, spoke during Tuesday's hearing.
In order to highlight French's decline in the province, Létourneau
pointed to Montreal, where people can work in English, shop at the local
dépanneur in English and even be served at a café in English.
“The signal we are sending to the world is not only that in Quebec we
live in English first and in French second, but also that, in the end,
one can live here in English only,” Létourneau said."Link
"Quebec exporters call Bill 14 absurd" - CJAD radio
"Quebec's association for manufacturers and exporters is calling some parts of bill 14 inapplicable and even absurd.
"It's major. It's major," Audrey Azouley said about the bill's impact on business.
The director with the manufacturers and exporters of Quebec had some
harsh words for the National Assembly hearing on the new legislation." Link
"Language hardliners titans embarrass PQ government
Quebec's most hardline pasta-chasers gave a news conference denouncing any form of English after having voiced their opinion before a National Assembly Committee on Bill 14, the son of Bill 101 that will further hinder minority language rights in Quebec.
"Members of Imperatif Francais later said that no English institutions,
such as universities or hospitals, should exist at all in the province.
Jean-Paul Perreault, the organization's president, said that in a
separate Quebec allophones and francophones would certainly not have the
right to attend an English CEGEP."
But the most memorable utterance is this hilarious nonsense by
melon-head Mario Beaulieu, Quebec's chief defender of the faith;
"... the language law is meant to be inclusive -- by
forcing everyone in the province to use one, and only one language, for
the common good."
He then went on to add more
crapola, by stating that most states and countries
around the world have similar legislation relating to a single, official
language, without elaborating or naming a one.
Link
The hardline attitude of Mr. Perreault even shocked one the panel members,
Jacques Létourneau of the CSN who immediately piped in that he didn't agree that hospitals should become unilingual.
The presentation by Mr. Perreault and Mr. Beaulieu were so extreme that the Minister of Health felt it necessary to say something;
"I do not agree with this, my government neither, assured the minister briefing. Anglophone institutions should be supported. I told the English school boards that I am very sensitive to their concerns of potential school closures. " Link{Fr}
"Minister for anglophone relations,
Jean-François Lisée, also piped in;
"He says Quebec’s English-speaking population
is a valued part of the province’s culture and history.
“At the creation of the Parti Québécois there was a great debate, and
René Lévesque was very clear that the anglo community in Quebec had
rights, historic rights, that needed to be protected forever," Lisée
said." Link
I daresay that
Mario Beaulieu and
Jean-Paul Perreault, Quebec's über-pastas-chasers are the best thing that ever happened in defense of English.
"Hugo Sheabbeare's presentation before Bill 14 committee
Watch Anglo MNA Geoff Kelly rip into him after the presentation.
Here's a reply from
Mark Bergeron, leader of the Equality Party.
Link
Extra credit reading
Universities in France want to teach some courses in English
“The UPR claimed that the legislation would lead to the destruction of
the French language and culture, and turn France into an American
colony. We are being asked nothing less than to scupper one of the greatest
world languages and to bray in the language of McDonald’s to satisfy the
aims of ‘profitability’ of a global oligarchy which counts for nothing
faced with the peoples and the history of the world,” it said." Yikes! Read more
Conservative ministers in trouble over English only
"The office of International Co-operation Minister Julian Fantino
twice issued a directive that all communication with his signature be in
English only, even if the recipient was French-speaking.
Official Languages Commissioner Graham Fraser has agreed to look into
the matter after a complaint from the New Democrats, who argue the
order may violate the Official Languages Act." Link
"Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has joined his cabinet colleague
International Cooperation Minister Julian Fantino under the microscope
of Parliament’s language watchdog over separate “English only”
controversies.
While Fantino is under investigation over a directive for bureaucrats
to send him correspondence for review in English only, a new report by
Official Languages Commissioner Graham Fraser said Baird’s Department of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade had violated its obligations
under federal language legislation by printing English only business
cards for the minister." Link
Probe called after book alleges Supreme Court interference into 1982 ‘constitutional coup d’état’
"The Supreme Court of Canada says it will investigate allegations that
some of its members intervened in the repatriation of the Constitution.
The high court’s decision came after urging by Quebec’s Parti
Québécois government for Ottawa to “open its books” on the events that
led to the repatriation of the Constitution by Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s
federal Liberals in 1982.
The call by Quebec Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Alexandre
Cloutier on Tuesday came after the publication of a book that alleges
Supreme Court of Canada magistrates interfered in the political process
and engaged in backroom discussions." Link
The National Coalition on Transfer Fairness attacks Equalization
"The Government of Quebec is like a person on Government assistance. If
they get a job their assistance goes down. If they lose a job their
assistance goes up. In Provinces like Alberta we need to realize that
equalization is not something we do for Quebec – its something we do to
them! A model of producing more than you consume is sustainable for a
society, but a model of consuming more than you produce is not." Link
Should Quebec's nanny state train sex partners? Link
In Canada, French is a language of ambition, not decline- Graham Fraser
"In fact, we’re now in the unique situation that a majority of Canada’s
premiers are bilingual. Why? They’re bright and want to understand the
country as a whole. A former French ambassador once told me that one of
the things that impressed him most about Canada is that French is the
language of ambition." Link
C'mom Is texting really a problem while driving?
"Motorists who use their cellphones while driving will be targeted in a huge crackdown in the entire Montérégie area Wednesday.
The Sûréte du Québec – along with all the different municipal police
south of Montreal all the way to the border – will be out in force
Wednesday in a blitz aimed at discouraging the dangerous practice of
talking on the phone and, more importantly, texting while driving"....hmm! Story:
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| Montreal potholes are really, really big..... |
Anybody who has paid Montreal's Bell Centre or Toronto's Air Canada Centre prices for food during hockey games will be astounded at the prices charged for food at the Masters golf tournament.
BTW, the
NHL's most expensive beer at over $10 is sold at the Bell Centre where a bottle of water is a staggering $4.50.
My favorite scam at the Bell Centre concession stand is the sign that lists a 'trio' price, consisting of say, a beer, a hot dog and a bag of chips. When you add up the posted prices of the three individual items, it's the exact same price as the trio! When I asked the guy behind the stand what gives, he laughed and said the trio price was just a convenience so customers would know the total in advance. Ha!!!
credit: 25stanley.com
Have a great weekend!
Bonne Fin de Semaine!
