Thursday, October 13, 2005
Selling ice to Eskimos...or
PQ candidates fighting to save French in Quebec. It is one and the same. Imagine my surprise when I read this header on a recent visit to CBC Montreal . Let's try to see if we can deconstruct the thoughts of the leadership hopefuls.
Leadership frontrunner André Boisclair says that if elected, he would pour more money into the language police. Funny, I wasn't aware that the province needed another infusion of cash into the sinkhole. What would he propose - a team of Inspector Clouseau's sneaking around the halls of business in la belle province?
Yesterday's women Pauline Marois says incentives, such as business tax credits, could ensure employers always use French in the workplace instead of English. If the Government of Quebec gives business anymore tax credits and breaks, there will be no enterprise left paying tax. The highest personal income taxes in North America are in danger of getting a little higher.
The rationale thinking is reserved for the real long-shots in the race. Jean-Claude St-André says even though Bill 101 has been in place for a quarter century, most immigrants still prefer to learn English. Interesting, that would have nothing to do with where they are immigrating from or the fact that English is the universal language of commerce? He is, however, right on one thing saying a sovereign Quebec could correct that without having to answer to the Canadian Charter of Rights.
Jean Charest still has my vote. In fact, the Liberals could run a chair in my riding and I would still vote for it - as long as it was a leather one!
Leadership frontrunner André Boisclair says that if elected, he would pour more money into the language police. Funny, I wasn't aware that the province needed another infusion of cash into the sinkhole. What would he propose - a team of Inspector Clouseau's sneaking around the halls of business in la belle province?Yesterday's women Pauline Marois says incentives, such as business tax credits, could ensure employers always use French in the workplace instead of English. If the Government of Quebec gives business anymore tax credits and breaks, there will be no enterprise left paying tax. The highest personal income taxes in North America are in danger of getting a little higher.
The rationale thinking is reserved for the real long-shots in the race. Jean-Claude St-André says even though Bill 101 has been in place for a quarter century, most immigrants still prefer to learn English. Interesting, that would have nothing to do with where they are immigrating from or the fact that English is the universal language of commerce? He is, however, right on one thing saying a sovereign Quebec could correct that without having to answer to the Canadian Charter of Rights.
Jean Charest still has my vote. In fact, the Liberals could run a chair in my riding and I would still vote for it - as long as it was a leather one!
# posted by Shaky @ 7:53 p.m. 
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As a francophone who grew up outside of Québec, I strongly believe that the protection of the French language and culture is very often misunderstood by most politicians, especially by those trying to enforce Bill 101. I believe that it is important for Canada to protect its various cultures so that it remains an amalgam of the various peoples that make up this great country rather than a homogenous melting pot.
The decline in usage of the French language is a real concern, for all Canadians. The efforts put forth by our elected officials, however, are often times seen as a joke. Personally, I don’t think that focusing enormous amounts of energy and resources on the day-to-day minutiae is the right way to go. The few inches that distinguish the French text and the English text on a sign will not save our culture. Fines and lawsuits will not encourage people to embrace the French language and culture. They actually may do the opposite.
I do think, nevertheless, that Bill 101 has its place in Québec. If it didn’t exist, “the universal language of commerce” would have taken over all the stores and offices in Montreal. Well, maybe not all, but a lot. The English language is dominant and the fact that it permeates all aspects of society creates the risk homogeneity. That doesn’t mean English should be banned, as many hard liners might think, but there can still be guidelines for usage.
I don’t have all the answers. I don’t think anyone does. What I do know, however, is that Bill 101 needs to stay and the culture needs to be preserved. I would suggest, however, that politicians get better advice from experts in socio-linguistics instead of basing the enforcement of the law on hard-line, head-in-the-sand tactics.
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The decline in usage of the French language is a real concern, for all Canadians. The efforts put forth by our elected officials, however, are often times seen as a joke. Personally, I don’t think that focusing enormous amounts of energy and resources on the day-to-day minutiae is the right way to go. The few inches that distinguish the French text and the English text on a sign will not save our culture. Fines and lawsuits will not encourage people to embrace the French language and culture. They actually may do the opposite.
I do think, nevertheless, that Bill 101 has its place in Québec. If it didn’t exist, “the universal language of commerce” would have taken over all the stores and offices in Montreal. Well, maybe not all, but a lot. The English language is dominant and the fact that it permeates all aspects of society creates the risk homogeneity. That doesn’t mean English should be banned, as many hard liners might think, but there can still be guidelines for usage.
I don’t have all the answers. I don’t think anyone does. What I do know, however, is that Bill 101 needs to stay and the culture needs to be preserved. I would suggest, however, that politicians get better advice from experts in socio-linguistics instead of basing the enforcement of the law on hard-line, head-in-the-sand tactics.
# posted by 
: 11:37 a.m.
: 11:37 a.m. << Home
