CFN – While new Quebec Premier opened ugly sides of racism and linguistic hate in the last election that saw her gain a minority victory questions have to be asked “What of Stephen Harper’s Quebec strategy?”
And there is one. Our Prime Minister is primarily known as a Politician of Strategy. There’s not much hidden. Not too many surprises. It’s a grinding machine that rolls around or over on its way to its targets.
We’ve already seen the media shift hard to the right since his first election victory and so far barring a really really really embarrassing scandal (not Bev Oda embarrassing) we most likely will see another Harper Government next election.
What was kinda sorta interesting about the last Federal election was that Mr. Harper seemed to walk far away from Quebec; almost encouraging Thomas Mulcair’s NDP to beat up the Grits and grind the party he has such a hate on for.
Now what? Across Canada we’re seeing a huge backlash against official bilingualism and in many instances for justifiable reasons. It’s not anti-French so much as the reality of do we really need Supreme Court Justices to be highly bilingual? Military officers? All Federal employees?
There are two Canada’s in many senses. Canada and Quebec. Quebec has clearly voted for the Federalist option, but still acts like a dilettante.
For many in the ROC Quebec not only is not a good partner, but the amount of people that would like Quebec to leave Canada is seeing record support.
Driving over the Canadian flag while Ms Marois calls for a vote to remove the Canadian flag is a huge optic. Certainly those of us to whom being a proud Canadian means something are not terribly impressed; and of course most Canadians realize that it’s not the opinion of most Quebecers, but the issue is that there are no repercussions or accountability.
Bus attendants in Montreal pull stunts, paramedics refuse to speak English while attending a sick child; all are instances that should warrant people’s immediate dismissal as it surely would if someone did this to a Francophone in say…Saskatchewan.
Again, no voices of condemnation from Francophone institutions. No accountability.
Canada under Mr. Harper has shifted its economy to resources. The Tar Sands; etc and Northern Quebec sits on huge reserves.
Northern Quebec though if the province separated would be under contestation. After all it was not originally part of Quebec or lower Canada. And if can Quebec can separate from Canada then surely parts of the province may also be severed.
And that’s where strategy comes into place. Quebec has clearly rejected Mr. Harper and his style of politics as have other parts of Canada. Ultimately though Mr. Harper has isolated the province and as linguistic issues grow the pressure from within and without the Province will increase.
Interesting huh? The bigger picture always is. And there are tons of resources at stake. Billions and billions of dollars that would fall under Federal control rather than Quebec provincial control.
It’s a high stakes game of power politics that will change the world.
And imagine, all over having flags wave or stomped on. All over intolerance and injustice.
The not withstanding clause may in the end doom Quebec because there will be very little excuse for failure when Quebec becomes its own little island in a North American sea.
What do you think Canadians and Nation of Quebecers? Should Quebec play ball and sign the charter become a good Canadian province even if it hurts the protection of the French language in the province?
Is it all a done deal? Do you care about whether Quebec stays or goes and if Quebec stays should the Federal government do its job and protect English speakers in la belle Province?
You can post your comments below.
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You could have heard a pin drop.
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_____(o o)
—-ooO-(_)-Ooo——-
Robert Whiting, a gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.
“You have been to France before, monsieur?” the customs officer asked sarcastically.
Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.
“Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.”
The Englishman said, ‘The last time I was here, I didn’t have to show it.”
“Impossible. You English always have to show your passports on arrival in France !”
The English senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ”Well, when I came ashore at Gold Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchman to show a passport to.”
You could have heard a pin drop.
James clearly needs help if he’s still quivering under his bed in Mississauga. Seriously, James, get help. The French marauders are nowhere near the western GTA. They haven’t even got past Brockville yet. Relax, my friend. All will be OK.
To Ed,
You have completely missed the point.
I still love Montreal as well. The Main Deli, best smoked meat in town. Montreal Pool room, best steamies. Pesners,, Nesbitt and Thompson, the Expos etc.etc.
However, I refused to live in a jurisdiction within Canadian borders that treated me like a second class citizen.
If you resided there from 1948 -1972, and felt all was staus quo for English Canadians then the following appllies to you:
NONE ARE SO BLIND AS THOSE THAT FAIL TO SEE”
The men that died for freedom did so without the laws of quebec in mind, and those laws disrespect their memories.
Keep in mind Ed, a french family CANNOT BY LAW SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO AN ENGLISH SCHOOL IF THEY SO CHOOSE
For the record my best in the world, his name is FRANCOIS MONTIMINY, hardly an anglo saxon.
The issues here are about FREEDOM OF CHOICE, not anti_ french or anti anything for that matter.
Forced bilinualism is a curse that divides people, not unities. Who in their right mind, wants to be FORCED TO DO ANYTHING
As for Mississauga, we have the choice to go unrestricted to attend frecnh, english, arabic, jewish or any other publically funded school, without government restriction.
And Ed, any owner of any shop or business, can put up a SIGN OF THEIR CHOICE. We dont have to have LANGUAGE police to enforce free laws, because we live in a free society.
In Mississauga, the topics concern the economy, family, sports and the like. We rarely engage in conversations concerning forced bilingualism.
Also, Ed, many, many french families have moved to Mississauga, to get away from your quebec, because like us Ed, they value FREE CHOICE AS WELL.
Jim Quealey
Mississauga
It is more like. The provinces that want to get rid of Harper.
Harper’s bizarre omnibus bill. Giving Communist China the right to sue any Canadians blocking China’s intrusion into our country. Selling us out to Red China? Any province with a lick of sense, will get the hell out of Harper’s Canada.
Don’t put all of the blame on Quebec. The Chinese in Vancouver, want their history and culture taught in those cities schools.
We went to war, so we wouldn’t have, Fascism, Communism nor Dictatorships in this country. Canada used to be a democracy. Remember?
Any time you want to debate me on the History of this country in general and quebec in particular let me know.
My credentials are impeccable in this area
A collaboration Jim ?
In other words, Jamie, Mr. Build-a-Firewall-around-Alberta aint no leader. What’s new?
BTW, you need an updated picture of the Hair…now with glasses.
There are millions of laws in Canada and each one is an intrusion on someone’s liberty…
The fool who wrote this article should be locked up
Question is jail or asylum?
To the moderator
Why is it ok for Jamie Gilsig to spuw hate onto Pauline Marois and all who support her by calling her a racist and why do I have to moderate my response
Why is it okay for Pauline Marois to spew hate on over a million and a half law abiding Non-Francophones in Quebec?
More one-sidedness for Christ’s sake!
What hate?
Facts are what is stated and questions asked .
When a group isolates and limits anothers just because they are a different culture ,hell ya that’s racist ,if instead of english in her policies you put black -what would people think then?-Racism occurs through many conduits one of them is anguage.
If Canadians do not see her policies as Rascist ,perhaps they need to understand the term better,if Ontario treated French the same way as English is treated in Quebec -wow fire bombings and all the other extremist stuff ,but hey it only happening to the English in Quebec but hey that’s alright you know…wink..wink…they are only the minority there.
Have we not learned from our past, get Marois & Quebec out of Canada. The Anglo-Quebecors will be refugees in ROC & we’ll welcome them with open arms…
http://www.didyouknowthat.net/hitler-was-voted-time-magazines-man-of-the-year-in-1938/2010/12/28/
The PET Trudeau plan to reconquer Canada is well underway. The elite in Quebec and the rest of Canadian top 500 executives do not want to see Quebec leave Canada, That is why Harper and the CPC are going along with the forced French game. Better a bilingual French Quebecois dominated Canada than a broken up Canada. We might lose economic power in the wider world. I propose an English-only Charter of the English language across all English-speaking provinces and territories. The mirror image of the French Language Charter of Quebec. See my Blog at blancosblog.com/?p=773