LTE: Chris Cameron of Cornwall Ontario – Bill 14 is A Canadian Human Rights tragedy!

Ontario & Quebec Canadians demand that Marois cease efforts to criminalize English language
Ontario & Quebec Canadians demand that Marois cease efforts to criminalize English language

Language Fairness for All Stands in Solidarity for Anglophone Quebec Canadians against Bill 14’s Double-standard

We as Canadians consider ourselves a fair and just society and often through diplomatic and military measures encourage and or enforce fair treatment of oppressed people abroad.

With our fair and just society promoting people’s rights abroad, why has our country permitted Quebec’s Bill 14 and its human rights violations?

Bill 14 is basically Bill 101 on steroids and its’extensive 33 pages of amendments of the French Language Charter and and Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, is a slap in the face to people who believe in fairness.

I had the great opportunity to go to Montreal on Sunday Feb 17 and attend the protest rally against Bill 14 and meet many patriotic Quebec Canadians.

The rally drew approximately 400 people, many with signs denouncing Bill 14 and its potential impact on society. To me this was a proud moment when people stood up for their rights.

These people love their province but not the politics of the present government and their policies of division through language policies. Discrimination was a word frequently heard at the rally.

To those who, like me until recently, do not know the impact of Bill 14, I will address a small portion of these three areas: Human Rights, Education, Employers.

HUMAN RIGHTS:

UNDER THE CHARTER OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE -PREAMBLE

“Whereas the National Assembly intends to pursue this objective in a spirit of fairness and open-mindedness, respectful of the institutions of the English-speaking community of Québec, and respectful of the ethnic minorities, whose valuable contribution to the development of Québec it readily acknowledges”

Bill 14 changes “ETHNIC MINORITIES ” to Cultural communities -The changes may not seem like much but they are big changes.

Ethnicity and Minorities are defined under the Canadian charter of rights and under so their rights are covered .

#56-Whereas the rights and freedoms of the human person are inseparable from the rights and freedoms of others and from the common well-being-“AND FROM THE COMMON WELL- BEING “BILL 14 removes.

Under the QUEBEC CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS
#10 Every person has a right to full and equal recognition and exercise of his human rights and freedoms, without distinction, exclusion or preference based on race, colour, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, age except as provided by law, religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, a handicap or the use of any means to palliate a handicap.

Please take special note with regards to equal recognition of ethnicity and language and without distinction,clearly having recognized one language and the oppression of the English language in Quebec violates more then one of the charter of human rights.

EDUCATION:
#58-Every person has a right, to the extent and according to the standards provided for by law, to free public education. Bill 14 amends at the end of this statement “every person has a right to receive such education in French”

-One must consider what is omitted here – So people do not have a right to receive an education in English?

#30 No Secondary Education or Diploma of College may be issued to a student who does not have a specified knowledge of spoken and written French as required by the minister of education.

#35 The professional orders shall not issue permits except to persons whose knowledge of the official language is appropriate to the practice of their profession with the completion of prescribed French courses.

Children’s enrollment in primary and secondary school must be in French unless proof is provided that one parent received their education in English only in the province of Quebec.

EMPLOYERS :
#47-An employer is PROHIBITED from requiring that a person have knowledge of a language other than French unless the nature of the person’s duties with the employer requires such knowledge.

#125.3-The employer must publicize the name of the person responsible for Francization within the enterprise as well and submit the linguistic situation analysis and reports and submit through ministers office forms.

#175-As part of inspection the person may examine any products goods labeling displays and take measurements to verify compliance.

Inspectors may require the production of any book, account, record, file or other documents for examination or for the purpose of making copies or extracts.

The inspector may seize anything which he or she believes on reasonable grounds may prove the commission of an offence under this act or the regulations.

#177-If the Office is of the opinion that this Act or a Regulation under this Act has been contravened, it shall refer the matter to the Director of CRIMINAL and Penal Prosecutions so that appropriate penal proceedings may be instituted where required.

This is but a few of the large number of stricter regulations put forward in bill 14.

I found this one comment to be very interesting and saw it a number of times -ref#32 ” The language policy shall specify the conditions and circumstances in which a language other than French may be used in accordance with the act, while emphasizing the importance of setting an example and of PREVENTING WIDESPREAD INSTITUTIONAL BILINGUALISM.”

In closing, after the Rally I had the opportunity to video record three presenters who spoke at the rally and had the opportunity for a one on one.

The speakers in were:

Hugo Shebbeare of the Quebec Office Of The English Language:

Norbert Bedouch -media contact of unity group and V.P of Equality Party

Mark Bergeron -leader of the Equality Party

All three gave their perspective on the Bill 14 Rally and how since the Morois Separatist Government has been elected, many not-so-nice changes have occurred.












Some have given personal perspectives on their treatment. The videos will certainly provide better insight into how these proud Quebec Canadians feel and why they stand up against oppression. It was an honour for me to stand with them .

Take care my fellow Canadians

Christopher Cameron

 

(Comments and opinions of Editorials, Letters to the Editor, and comments from readers are purely their own and don’t necessarily reflect those of the owners of this site, their staff, or sponsors.)

406 Comments

  1. @Pierre

    Thank you for your comments Pierre, I want to confirm that I am not and never will be an anglo. I look at History always from the viewpoint of the victors and the vanquished, as we know that history is written by the victors so need to get both sides. I was taught this by my history teacher who was a Battle of Britain spitfire pilot.

    I was fortunate to be taught in an enlightened age, where i had to understand European history from the dark ages to the present, and the dark ages were so termed because education was kept only by certain people (priests) and this kept the plebs down.

    I also was taught North American history, and can see that the Acadian issue was a dark point in British History. I would challenge your insinuation that my version of events of the Plains is incorrect, because if so there are many historians that should be sought out and corrected.

    The main issue which all the vitriol disguises in my humble opinion is that by enacting laws to keep French at the forefront, rather than accepting that people will use it through want rather than bills, that the Quebec parliament is doing a disservice to the rest of Canada, but more importantly to Quebec itself, as the laws that are being passed are so radical that no business in their right mind will want to have a headquarters in Quebec.

    If we are going to enact laws like this, why do we not go back to asking the Kings daughters to come on over again.

    I have more of an affinity to the real France than i do Anglo, however what i cannot stand is the Province of Quebec overreaching their mandate and using language as their weapon of choice.

    The use of this type of segregation, is the start, what next, look at Bosnia etc.

    Honestly, i have no concern over this Bill for myself, as i can choose to visit Quebec or not, I have a concern for Canada as my country, because the people that this Bill is going to hurt are Canadians, and should be treated better.

  2. @ highlander
    You’re such a blind xenophobe fool.
    Stop saying, I deny what I do not deny, and try opening your mind when you read a post or anything else.
    No province except, maybe NB, has widespread institutionalized bilingualism.

    150 countries in the world have language laws.

    Of course, I agree with the segregation of students in school busses if it helps the kids, french or english, to get a better grip on their first language. That does not make me ethnocentric.
    Refusing to help the french language to survive, in East Ontario, or anywhere, in Canada, makes you ethnocentric and xenophobic, not me…
    You should do yourself a favor and try to understand the meaning of the words, and terms, you use. Although, it’s not really important, as any rational. reader of this blog will…
    That’s what is important.

    Of course, I know that there is more than one culture in Canada.
    I asked you to open your mind’s eye when you read.
    Had you done so, you would have seen that I’ve been defending multiculturalism as well as bilingualism.
    To defend one is to defend the other, you twit.
    To condemn one is to condemn the other…
    All open-minded readers will understand that.

    Social engineering is another term you use mindlessly.
    Just because there are presently more francophones, in the public service, than their numbers would warrent, does not mean there has been social engineering there, It just means that the francophone, at this point in time, are more bilingual… But as you know, Anglos in Ottawa are learning to speak french and will soon qualify for those bilingual jobs in the federal public service.
    The numbers will then even out naturally, without social engineering.

    Plain logic, if you had any, highlander, would tell you that, because english is so dominant, in Canada, no anglo will ever be assimilated by becoming bilingual. It’s different for the francophone, in minority situations. One just has to open his eyes, to see that.

  3. It is very silly of me or anyone to think there is no government social engineering going on, the increase in job ads for bilingual staffing just appeared.

    When you have a government office like the French Language Commissioner in Ontario with a direct cost of 869,000 dollars, going on speaking tours telling people to demand French everywhere you go, bilingual ads just appear.

    When you have a few dozen language coordinators going from department to department advising on how to make their departments more French, bilingual ads just appear.

    When you have an entire 5 million dollar department devoted to French Language Services, bilingual ads will just appear.

    Most people would be OK with a few front end positions available to serve the public devoted to bilingual only, but the current system is broken and no one applied the brakes.

  4. Pierre
    March 13, 2013 at 9:45 am

    “Of course, I agree with the segregation of students in school busses if it helps the kids, french or english, to get a better grip on their first language. That does not make me ethnocentric.”

    There you have it people if we are multiple cultures to thrive together why Segregate them and yes Pierre that is Ethnocentrism.
    How would you feel if there was English only clinic’s that refuse French patients?

    How do you feel of segregation people is it right to do it ?
    What next separate bathrooms and health institutions -oh wait thats right we have 9 french only clinics in Ontario.

    Yet most provincial government institutions provide bilingual services .

    “Refusing to help the french language to survive, in East Ontario, or anywhere, in Canada, makes you ethnocentric and xenophobic, not me…”

    So why must I personally help the french language to survive and tell me how that makes me ethnocentric?

    Many other 200+cultures out there survive on their own with maintaining their own culture without having handouts to survive ,so if I do not personally donate money to that culture that makes me Ethnocentric?

    You really have a warped perception on things don’t you Pierre!!!!!
    You want your culture to survive don’t enforce it on other cultures to learn teach it to your own.

    You see Pierre for French to be mandated throughout Canada and on other cultures is assimilation -you fight assimilation in Quebec yet you encourage it in the rest of Canada.You cant have it both ways Pierre Either you agree with assimilation or you don’t!

    Pierre open your mind and stop being so ethnocentric we have many cultures and all should be treated equally,this is what i fight for .

    French is not a dying language by far not so but the native languages are and why not protect them?
    Do the native languages not warrant the full protection the same that of the french language?

    You see Pierre you see only your language I see many as well as different cultures ,I will defend those different cultures as ardently as you defend your ONE.
    So who is really “open minded ” here one culture should not be protected at the costs of others and yes for this you are ETHNOCENTRIC.

    “Plain logic, if you had any, highlander, would tell you that, because english is so dominant, in Canada, no anglo will ever be assimilated by becoming bilingual.”

    So why have French bilingualism across the country when the numbers do not warrant .
    Parents enroll their children in” French immersion” to have their children get better opportunities in the government.

    If those parents are not of French culture thereby those children are being assimilated for government opportunities.

    Learning languages is great but if its not by choice due to the potential of lost opportunities ,that is social engineering particularly if the majority is not french speaking.

    You see you ask me to open my eyes and mind ,mine is clearly open and I do not see our government acting for the majority of its citizens ,but in the interest one ONE minority .

    Many cultures out there Pierre and sadly with the one language taking precedence all those other languages are not even considered -so who is really “open minded”.

    It should not the state to ensure what languages the people choose to speak,but it should be of their own choice.
    It is up to the individual cultures to ensure that their language and culture survives and not the state to dictate what language/culture is to be artificially supported at the cost of other cultures.

    YOU Pierre open you mind ,you have been indoctrinated to believe french is superior and requires protection -what of the native languages that are near extinction?

  5. @ richard

    Like most french that deny facts you are wrong richard.

    saku Koivu was vilified in the french press, and this was extended to the fans when he assumed the capitancy of Montreal .

    he was NOT french ENOUGH
    I have an exrtremely well placed source in the NHL that attested to this.

    it was NEVER made public, because we all know how thefrench would react to any truth about their precious language. Just look at mayor gendron in Hi\untington quebec.

    Similarly, the same is true of one off the most respected people in hockey Ranady Cunneyworth. He was not french enough to coach in Montreal

    never, mind about his ability to coach, the ONLY consideration was that he was not french. Garbage.

    like I said , french is put above human rights, job experience, talent, morality ,justice, , in short EVERYTHING.
    You defend these actions richard. Koivu gave his time, money,and lent support to the children of quebec to assist in their cancer treatments. This is how he was repaid.
    He ASKED to be traded to Anaheim . This is I know for a FACT.
    ARe you psuying attention Ontario. this is what FORCED BILINGUALISM WILL BRING HERE.

    Why do you think the montreal expos attendance went downhill startiing in 1978, a year after bill 101 was initiated .

    The wives of the expos were treated like dirt, because they were English. NO BALLPLAYER WANTED TO PLAY IN MONTREAL.
    The Jarry park years were over.

    Like I said before richard, if you want, vote oui and get the hell out of Canada.
    Your views and warped outlook , is reflective of the kind of person we don’t want or need.

    if what you contend is true, then you have all the amunation to vote oui and go.

    You have my blessing, because, we certainly would not cry over you, or quebec’s leaving.

  6. @ Steven
    I did not say that your version of the battle of the Plains of Abraham is incorrect. It’s difficult to be incorrect on that one.
    Wolfe won. Point final.
    To me, Canada’s history starts after that and it’s that history, that I believe, you may not have grasped in it’s totality.
    You see, as it is important to learn the events, their dates, the names of those behind those events, etc. that make up history, it is even more important to understand the spirit of behind those events.

    I hope I’m explaining this clearly because it is the most important aspect of Canadian history. The fact that, even in Pre-Constitution times anglophone and francophone have treated one another as equals and recognized that they were two different people, with different languages and cultures etc. And recognising, even back then, the importance of bilingualism. As an historian, you must know, that the job of Prime Minister, in the province of Canada, went to a french and an english speaker, alternatively.

    Of course there have been exeptions to this convention and respect. I’m thinking of Lord Graham, an ethnocentric who had nothing but contempt for the francophone. One, whom I suspect, the ”nightmare clan” would regard as their hero, but one whose name, those who desire to revisit history, would immediately, take of the books…
    I must say here that it is not the separatists who desire to revisit Canadian history. It is the fereralists.

    I agree, with you, that bilingualism causes problems to bone-headed Canadians and Québécois, who can’t access jobs, deemed bilingual because they refuse to learn a second official language.

    The governments of Québec are not everreaching their mandate or using language as their weapon of choice (you would have to explain that one to me). They are only responding to the francophone majority’s wish and protecting their first language.

    You have quite an imagination, Steven. To compare Canada to Bosnia because, they separate the french kids and the english kids, in a few school busses, so that the french kids learn to communicate, together, in their mother tongue.
    I’ve stated, a while back, that Bill 14 is only a suggestion, at this point, a sort of trial balloon, and that it would be amended, and that the final draft would be much more easily palated.
    That’s what they’re doing right now, I believe, in the Assemblée Nationale.

    A bilingual anglophone minority, in Québec and a bilingual francophone minority, in the ROC and enough bilingual Candians to fill the bilingualy deemed positions, in various governments and in bussinesses that need to offer bilingual services, is the only way to treat the speakers, of both official languages fairly, in Canada, while, also honoring our Canadian history.
    That’s what all fair-minded Canadians and all politicians understand.
    I hope you will too.

  7. @ Richared and Pierre…
    All I can say is… DOUBLE SPEAK. Look it up…

    Here’s one …
    The leader of the “Nation” du Quebec stands to address a gathering of the citizens in that “Nation”,
    which language does the leader speak?

    The leader of Canada stands to address a gathering of the citizens of that Nation,
    which language does the leader speak?

    The answer, some (you know who you are) might offer, is…

    Well, since Quebec (the province) is 80% French the leader should address the gathering of its citizenship in the common language of the majority — French — ONLY.

    As for Canada, a country with an Anglophone population of 80%, somehow that rule doesn’t apply.

    The claimed rational is…
    Since Canada is a country which includes the French dominant “province” of Quebec the leader should address the gathering in both French and English.

    There-in lays the problem.

    Quebec wishes to be viewed — and treated — as if it is both a “Nation” which can treat its own minority Anglophone citizens as if they don’t exist yet also, demands that the country within which it resides to treat them (the French minority within Canada) as if they are – equal —

    the old “have your cake and eat it too syndrome”

    It seems pretty obvious that the French generally want everything to benefit them in EVERY WAY.

    Same applies to separating Quebec from Canada. They (the French in question) have no problem with that concept yet, when municipalities inside Quebec threaten that they will separate from Quebec if Quebec separates from Canada they (the French in question) say, no, no no… Quebec is indivisible.

    Q- What makes them (the French) believe they are superior in these ways? How is it they believe they have these “extra rights?” And why do they believe that it is only them that have these “extra rights?”

  8. You see Richard active (real people) not party driven ,this is how the people need to be represented ,vote on bilingualism

    Nobody had a say when it was implemented in fact there was a parliamentary study that advised against it because it would cause inequity (SURPRISE) yet the government never allowed the people to vote on it and implemented it!!
    Oh by the way that parties voter base was in Quebec,I guess there was never any influence peddling there ,ya right!(La corruption province).

  9. The French and the Anglos have coexisted and like most acquantancies have come together when Canada need them to – 1812, 1867.

    I understand that it is hard to debate a sensitive issue, however i have to take issue with a couple of things Pierre:

    1) In your second reply you stated ” I did not say that your version of the battle was incorrect” no you stated “it was pure unadulterated rubbish”, and that you had never read it anywhere.
    2) Bosnia, you have taken my example of what happens when language rights are confronted and turns into over time full scale genocide as two kids on a bus, and it is much more serious than that.
    3) I put myself in the position of the “bonehead Canadian” as i only learned two foreign languages at high school, but have however forgotten them, but luckily was quite good at other subjects so the bilingual imperative does not apply to me, as we know that there are ways round it, however to classify someone that is either not willing or not able to learn a foreign language as a bonehead is cruel, as i know many bright people that have done well without having the ability to learn a second language. I also know people who have been promoted because they have the requisite 2nd language and are as thick as a whale omelette, but they can speak both French and English.

    Whether you intended to or not, you have taken comments that i have made, and either taken them out of context, inferred something, or twisted it.

    I would just like the French and the Anglos to come together on the fact that the present Quebec Governments drive to remove English from the Province is going to hurt all, and non are so blind that cannot see.

    I will take a sabbatical on this debate for a while, as the intent was to debate a provincial governments decision to cater to the lowest common denominator, not have comments twisted.

    Thanks

  10. Pierre
    March 13, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    “The governments of Québec are not everreaching their mandate or using language as their weapon of choice (you would have to explain that one to me). They are only responding to the francophone majority’s wish and protecting their first language.”

    I guess those 60 countries that their media got involved in pasta gate were all wrong?

    ALL of those countries thought it as the government overstepping their mandate -but go ahead Pierre live in your own little bigoted world -the reality is that those 60 different countries believed the Fascist government of Quebec went too far.

    “You have quite an imagination, Steven. To compare Canada to Bosnia because, they separate the french kids and the english kids, in a few school busses, so that the french kids learn to communicate, together, in their mother tongue.”

    Segregation remains segregation Pierre no matter how its justified it remains segregation-you really are blind with Ethnocentrism !

    “I’ve stated, a while back, that Bill 14 is only a suggestion, at this point, a sort of trial balloon, and that it would be amended, and that the final draft would be much more easily palated.”

    -Yup we should segregate black people but lets trial it first!
    ETHNOCENTRIC *ss

    “enough bilingual Candians to fill the bilingualy deemed positions, in various governments and in bussinesses that need to offer bilingual services, is the only way to treat the speakers, of both official languages fairly, in Canada, while, also honoring our Canadian history.”

    Actually NO -Representation by population is measurable fair and equitable to fairly treat both official languages -Do you not agree ?most just democracy’s would!

  11. @stephen RE: post on March 13, 2013 at 8:22 am
    Great post Stephen.
    I especially like this part…
    “by enacting laws to keep French at the forefront, rather than accepting that people will use it through want rather than bills, that the Quebec parliament is doing a disservice to the rest of Canada, but more importantly to Quebec itself.”

    @Pierre RE: post on March 13, 2013 at 9:45 am
    You have not even a clue of the depth of despair from whence you come.

    Phrases like, “I agree with the segregation”
    AND
    “help the french language to survive”
    AND
    “there are presently more francophones, in the public service, than their numbers would warrent”

    These statements SHOULD BE your first clue but then again YOU HAVE NO CLUE, do you?

    Oh and btw, i have no interest in “helping the French to survive.”
    It would be ok if it did BUT… I have no interest in subsidizing this venture.

    If you and the French want this then YOU and the FRENCH should PAY FOR IT yourselves.
    There is ZERO reason or justification to force the ROCandian tax payers to pay for your plight or your dream. We wish to be removed from that un asked for burden.

    Oh and, as for your statement.
    “Pure logic, if you had any, highlander”

    Highlander has displayed much more pure logic in one sentence than you have in several
    — NO CHANGE THAT — in ANY of your posts.

    Oh and remember, have a nice day eh 🙂

  12. @ Pierre

    I feel sorry for you because you have been brainwashed by your Quebec ETHNOCENTRIC government…

    Your ideals are racist & I can NOT believe we we’re both born in the same country.

    I truly hope Quebec separates because I do no want to be associated with your type of mentality.

    I believe in equally for ALL people, not just my English roots.

  13. Although I rarely agree with stephen harper, I will agree with him on one thing, the importance of learning the countries two official languages. The man makes it a point to translate himself every comment when interviewed and although most of the time it’s complete crap, he translates it well. He made it a point early on in his political life to learn french. Now if only he could add up numbers as well as translate his own thoughts our country would be in better shape.

  14. Highlander
    March 13, 2013 at 11:20 “It is up to the individual cultures to ensure that their language and culture survives and not the state to dictate what language/culture is to be artificially supported at the cost of other cultures”

    Exactly good example of just that follows:

    The Akwesasne Freedom School (AFS) was founded in 1979 by Mohawk parents concerned with the lack of cultural and linguistic services available in local public schools. As an independent elementary school, AFS has existed on a shoestring budget for over 25 years. In 1985, the parents who administer the school made a historic decision to adopt a total Mohawk immersion curriculum. It was a historic decision. AFS was the first to implement this curriculum and did so without approval or funding from state, federal or provincial governments. By focusing on our young people, we reverse

    the assimilation process and ensure that the Mohawk people do not lose their language, culture and identity.

    The school continues to immerse its students in levels Pre-K to 8 in the Kanienkéha (Mohawk) language and culture. All instruction, as well as recess periods, outdoor activities, field trips, meals and extracurricular activities are conducted in the Mohawk language.

  15. @Pierre RE: March 12, 2013 at 9:43 pm post.
    Pierre wrote, “@ spara Québec does not have the 5th largest deficit in the world. That’s a lie.”
    Well Pierre, as with most of the un-flattering things that spew from you, calling what spara brought to your attention about Quebec having the 5th largest deficit “a lie” was not very nice. You knew she meant to say 5th largest debt which in fact is pretty much the same thing in the end.

    But, don’t believe me, Montreal economic institute made this very clear for all of us.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS1BghY0MW4

    Course, the one thing they incorrectly did was they compared “the province” of Quebec to other “real” nations
    as if Quebec were a “real” nation. But, we ALL KNOW Quebec is but a pittance of a province just like all the other provinces in Canada.

    But, the stuff about the debt seems pretty bang on.

    As for your claim about “Ottawa bus drivers making news for bad behavior more than Montreal drivers.”
    Please note that MOST Ottawa bus drivers are French. Either from Quebec or are from that “clan” called Franco Ontarians.

    Oh and, have a nice day eh 🙂

  16. @ Steven
    I don’t find it hard to discuss sensitive issues with intelligent/open-minded people but, it’s impossible to discuss these issues with xenophobic, ethnophobic bone-heads who can only (intentionaly or not) misinterpret reality.
    So, allow me, to further explain those three things I have written that you say, you take issue with.

    1) I said that we agreed that Wolfe had won the battle of the Plains of Abraham but, what, I said, was pure unadulterated rubbish was the opinion, that the Canadians had been allowed to keep their assets, simply because of British kindness, as you had stated.
    No contradiction, in what I said there, my friend.

    2) We agree that the Bosnian war was much more important than separating francophone and anglophone kids, in a few school busses.
    The Bosnian war was to annex territory and maybe about using genocide to attain those ends. Nothing resembling what happens anywhere, in Québec, in Ontario, or it the ROC.
    The question is, Stephen, why did you use that example?
    A little bit of fear mongering on your part, maybe?
    Or, maybe a tad of xenophobia is affecting you, as it is the rest of the clan (I refuse to call them freedom fighters, because that’s not what they are)

    3) I don’t call any Canadian or Québécois a bone head because they are not bilingual and especially those who have learning difficulties, in that area.
    I agree that there are many Canadians/Québecois who have had financial success and are not bilingual and I think that is good.
    But it may be getting more difficult, as time goes by.
    Luckily, teaching methods are getting better, too.
    A bone head, is a Canadian who refuses to learn the other official language, and expects to have the same successs, in all areas, as the one who is bilingual… That person would have to be considered ethnocentric, would he not be?

    I think that I’ve just shown you that I have not taken anything you have written, out of contest or twisted it and changed your meaning.
    Most french and english speakers have come together, over the fact, that the French language, must be defended, in and out of Québec, and that’s being done. But, unfortunatly, it seems that, there will always be a need for discussions on the means to attain that goal.
    You show total ignorance of the will of the present government’s intentions towards the anglophone.
    As I’ve stated before Bill 14, as it stands right now, is just a trail balloon and will be more palatable in it’s final draft…
    But never to the bone-heads.

  17. Yeah Pierre except that you accused someone of lying but, the FACT is — Quebecs debt — is — 5th highest when compared to other “real” nations. The proof is in the video. Just ONE MORE of area where you have been proven WRONG.

  18. Pierre
    March 14, 2013 at 11:48 am

    “I don’t find it hard to discuss sensitive issues with intelligent/open-minded people but, it’s impossible to discuss these issues with xenophobic, ethnophobic bone-heads who can only (intentionaly or not) misinterpret reality.”

    Wow Pierre we all feel the same and this does define you rather well.
    But we can back up what we say -you have yet to do this and really name calling (boneheads) that is the lowest denominator a person has when they have lost the debate!

    “A bone head, is a Canadian who refuses to learn the other official language, and expects to have the same successs, in all areas, as the one who is bilingual… That person would have to be considered ethnocentric, would he not be?”

    So you are to believe language is better then merit ,should one be forced to learn another language ?
    Why would someone be considered ethnocentric because one expects opportunities when the merit is there yet a decision is solely based on the second language.

    Many may have great credentials but their resume may not be even looked at because they are not bilingual -so really was the best hired NO ,perhaps the best bilingual is hired.

    “You show total ignorance of the will of the present government’s intentions towards the anglophone.
    As I’ve stated before Bill 14, as it stands right now, is just a trail balloon and will be more palatable in it’s final draft…
    But never to the bone-heads.”

    Yes ,yes we should trial having blacks segregated too see how that flies before we implement -Your truly disgusting Pierre ,you see only your Ethnocentric culture -bill 101 is already oppressing of many cultures -but hey its alright in this country to violate human rights in the interest of the French!

    Its coming Pierre BIG change is coming and the PQ’s actions will wake up the rest of Canada to the human rights violations.

    60 nations have already talked about Quebec’s rights violations ,they see the problem and have made many Canadians look as well.

  19. Edudyorlik
    March 14, 2013 at 3:01 pm

    “Yeah Pierre except that you accused someone of lying but, the FACT is — Quebecs debt — is — 5th highest when compared to other “real” nations. The proof is in the video. Just ONE MORE of area where you have been proven WRONG.”

    For ONCE I would like to see him prove something right ,I think he must be getting used to being proven wrong .
    Sadly even when he is proven wrong SOOOO many times he won’t except it as his indoctrination and blind faith in his fascist government will not permit this.

    Great video Edudyorlik -thanks for the recognition on reference #35 -that statement was on bill 14 numerous times.

    So Quebec wants to prevent WIDESPREAD INSTITUTIONAL BILINGUALISM-So why have institutional bilingualism at all in the rest of the country?

    That’s right its about FRENCH FIRST in Quebec and eventually the rest of Canada and its happening NOW.

  20. Yeah Highlander. It’s a shame in a way because i actually used to believe it was A GOOD THING to provide services to the French in this country. Seeing as we share this country. I even went out with my buddies to march around with my candle and sign when the 95 referendum was happening to let them know we wanted Canada to STAY AS ONE.

    BUT… (A HUGE BUT) NO MORE. “THEY” have pushed me and provoked with their incessant more more more attitude into feeling like i don’t want them to have one single more inch of ANYTHING to do with this country.

    As i have said before, my mother was a French Canadian woman and she warned me about the French. She said it flat out. If you give them an inch they’ll take a mile (a famous French expression).

    NO MORE accommodation. Take the province of Quebec and be gone with ya’s. We MUST turn this around. I am re-reading Bilingual today, French tomorrow and J.V. Other two books and i have just finished The Montrous Trick and i have had it up to here with what is going on.

  21. cameron wrote: One must consider what is omitted here – So people do not have a right to receive an education in English?

    Give your head a shake…….of course people have the right to english education it is an official language of Canada along with French

  22. Great work Edudyorlik, Highlander.

    Edudyorlik, have you sent these videos to Peter? I’m just concerned to ensure that these videos make it to the international community; specifically the United States to ensure they see it.

    Thanks.

  23. terrorism, war, famine, yes the national community would jump on this subject, bilingualism, which equals to less then 1% Poor little majority being oppressed. Its not the fact that language is better then merit, its just that without language there is no communication. And, if language is one of the requirements, why apply ? You guys are blaming everything on language, frustrating. IS the recent winter storm because of language ? Think of this, ever since corey didn’t get a hospital job, he has been bad mouthing the hospital for months now. MAN, did they ever dodge a bullet.

  24. stellabystarlight April 12, 2013 at 4:56 pm

    ” Give your head a shake…….of course people have the right to english education it is an official language of Canada along with French ”

    Really only with very strict limitations !
    Even the Quebec Bar association agree’s that bill 14 violates human rights !

    Now what would you think if Ontario passed similar bills that oppressed francophones?
    I thought not ,buts its excepted in Quebec in the protection of a language which really isn’t endangered -welcome to fascism yes in our country.

    Good intentions do not warrant oppression of others ,socialism very easy leads to fascism like that of Quebec.

    The world is watching Quebec and perhaps it will take people outside the box to make others realize they are in it.

  25. @ Richard “Think of this, ever since corey didn’t get a hospital job, he has been bad mouthing the hospital for months now. MAN, did they ever dodge a bullet”.

    It was not Cory who applied for the job at the hospital Richard. You had better go back and review.

  26. @Jane Doe
    What the Qyébec bar association commented on was only a first draft of Bill 14.
    I had said from the beginning that the final draft would be much more palatable. Nothing to worry about except that it’s food for the Québec haters.

  27. Richard tremblay
    April 12, 2013 at 6:48 pm

    “terrorism, war, famine, yes the national community would jump on this subject, bilingualism, which equals to less then 1% Poor little majority being oppressed. Its not the fact that language is better then merit, its just that without language there is no communication.”

    If the issue is not that important to the international community -what was the issue with pastagate?

    Poor little majority being oppressed? Actually anglo/allophones are a minority in Quebec and you saying this speaks voulumes of your apathy towards minorities.

    If language not better then merit as you say why exclude the applicants on language alone if all are to be deemed part of of merit?You see when language is “required” it become the exclusionary measure!

    “Its not the fact that language is better then merit, its just that without language there is no communication. ”

    If you truly believe this why would you and your ilk advocate for bill 101 and 14,which oppresses other languages ?

    Why would you believe in Quebec not having and promoting bilingualism hence without “that” language there is no communication?

    “You guys are blaming everything on language, frustrating. IS the recent winter storm because of language ?”

    Richard the lyingheart does propaganda work for you ?

    http://www.ottawacitizen.com/touch/m-photo.html?id=8208291&p=1

    Speaking of more propaganda -this is hilarious an mpp is complaining to the language watch dog that relocation across town of an defense department will harm the french community ?

    Wow the the inhuman treatment and agony of having some of these people commute across town ,time to tell the language watch dog!!!!!!

    Yet the same week 4000 federal jobs where moved across to the Quebec side and well ……silence .

    The problem with crying wolf so many times after a while you will be called on it!

  28. Pierre April 12, 2013 at 10:01 pm

    “I had said from the beginning that the final draft would be much more palatable. Nothing to worry about except that it’s food for the Québec haters.”

    Legislating oppressive language laws is never palatable!
    As for Quebec haters ,its Quebec that brings this upon them as their Fascist laws only encourage people who are informed to be discusted with them.

    Pierre you believe in these oppressive laws and that says much of you .
    Would you agree if Ontario had such laws with their francophone minority?

    My guess is you would not ,yet its alright tha other way around.

    You see the ethnocentric behaviour here people?

  29. “@ Richard “Think of this, ever since corey didn’t get a hospital job, he has been bad mouthing the hospital for months now. MAN, did they ever dodge a bullet”.

    It was not Cory who applied for the job at the hospital Richard. You had better go back and review.”

    Hahahahhaha. Thanks for pointing this out Rosie, because I wasn’t about to waste my time doing so! The only question that remains lurking in my mind is whether or not they actually believe what they type or if it is all just part of the planned ethnocentric thinking/behaviour towards the agenda.

  30. Great to see that everyone has maintained their respective vim and vigor for this issue !

    It will take a little time to catch up on everyone’s comments in the meantime how about last weekends Habs vs Bruins game ? After some refreshments at a certain establishment on the southeast corner of St. Catherines and Crescent we roamed the area in the aftermath of the game and I was quickly reminded why Montreal is my favourite Canadian city !

    I felt perfectly safe uttering the words PASTA out loud empowered by the knowledge that when the Treasonous Separatist Individuals Without Fathers choose to leave this incredible country of ours, Montreal will remain part of CANADA.

    GO HABS ! CANUCKS FOREVER !

  31. @ COREY CAMERON

    During a six week period back and forth to a hospital in Ottawa the collection of blood on five separate occasions at the Cornwall hospital was completely rendered pointless due to gross incompetence of the department and its staff. The Ottawa hospital could not rely on any data that was supposed to be supplied by the Cornwall Hospital. An inquiry with doctors in Ottawa resulted in most of them simply rolling their eyes and acknowledging that competency was not a word associated with their experiences with the staff in Cornwall.
    Cory you are fortunate not to be affiliated with that facility as its major claim to fame is its ability to be incompetent in both official languages.

  32. Why Richard got confused was because the two c brothers love to be in the spotlight, have their picture taken and of course love to picket and protest. Hard to differenciate one from the other…..

  33. There should be rules against posting TOO MANY PHOTOS…….it slows everything down to a crawl.

  34. stellabystarlight
    April 13, 2013 at 8:13 am

    “Why Richard got confused was because the two c brothers love to be in the spotlight, have their picture taken and of course love to picket and protest. Hard to differenciate one from the other…..”

    Oh Stella never a nice word ,not a surprise you will in every attempt to make a group or people look bad .
    People that ask for Measurable,Fair and equitable approach to bilingualism.
    You keep stating that they are trying to separate The country but yet you befriend those who’s every attempt is to do just that .

    David Oldham
    April 13, 2013 at 8:06 am

    Its really unfortunate that you have experienced what you did ,i certainly hope you are on the mend and your health issues are resolved.

    There are many good medical staff there at Cornwall Community Hospital .

    your comment :

    “Cory you are fortunate not to be affiliated with that facility as its major claim to fame is its ability to be incompetent in both official languages.”

    Perhaps hiring Qualified staff based on Merit rather then Language would be a better approach and have resolved some or all of those issues .

    Being State run the hospital they must follow their political masters and push their agenda.In a private entity they would hire the BEST QUALIFIED personnel and provide linguistic services “where needed”.

    David I am thankful you received good service in Ottawa with the hope that you have not lost faith in our healthcare system.
    The health care system is struggling in these tough economic circumstances ,but it remains all we have at the moment.

    Regards,
    Highlander

  35. Some good news folks,

    According to Heather Villeneuve’s facebook page, she has indeed found work in field!

    Some good news for once.

  36. @ highlander
    There you go, twisting the truth again .
    Stella does not befriend those who try to destroy the country.
    YOU DO!
    By siding with edudyorlik and c. cameron who often, openly declare they want to separate Canada and,
    YOU DO!
    By wanting to stop official bilingualism in the Federal parliament and FPS while pretending to want bilingualism where warrented… Which, although an unfinished work of art, is what we already have, in Canada and in Québec.
    You fool, nobody!

  37. Pierre April 14, 2013 at 9:30 am

    Pierre the separatist she sides with you !

    It’s the separatists that as a formed party that wishes to separate the country.

    Individuals may wish for Quebec to separate ,but they remain not a political party nor in power.
    Many Canadians wish for the welfare province to separate.

    ” By wanting to stop official bilingualism in the Federal parliament and FPS while pretending to want bilingualism where warrented… Which, although an unfinished work of art, is what we already have, in Canada and in Québec. You fool, nobody!”

    Reality check Pierre we do no twant to stop bilingualism ,but we want it “reasonable” like most other government policies it must have a measured approach -representation by population.where warranted you say like federal BC jobs 65% bilingual for that 1.1% you call that “where numners warrant”?

    Were you dropped on your head as a child Pierre Quebec is not bilingual in fact the government of Quebec discourages it in bill 14 a number of times.
    Bilingualism is not legislated in Quebec like the rest of Canada,what we have is legislated unilingualism In Quebec and the rest of Canada having to be Bilingual to cater to Quebec.

    It doesn’t work as a limited bilingualism in Quebec either you agree in the entirety of bilingualism or you don’t and clearly Quebec doesn’t.

    Did you know that 40% of the federal head offices are in Quebec?
    Yup 22% of the population yet 40% of the head offices ,forget about those 46,000 DAILY commuters from Quebec to Ottawa for those government positions.(Pierre are you one of them?)

    Welcome to language the discriminatory tool that is more important then MERIT.

  38. Howard galganov speaks perfect french yet he calls himself a francophobe. Howard galganov distributed pamphlets that promoted the extermination of the french language in eastern ontario. Howard galganov distributed signs that said boycott french owned stores. Yet, he’s your hero that promotes individual rights. The big G is as much for individual rights as Me and Jaime are underwear models.

  39. concerned citizen 2
    July 23, 2013 at 7:48 pm

    Thanks concerned citizen ,may the truth make us laugh even in adversity.

  40. This warrants s repeating:

    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    You want proof that “official bilingual status” creates a different class sytsems within government…..take a look !

    http://www.csf.gouv.on.ca/en/articles/4488

    It has been a few months since I published a series of blog posts on the topic of designation. A brief reminder, the designation of an organization means a commitment and formal recognition of its ability to provide French-language services. A designated agency or program provides its supplier with legal immunity that protects it from changes in the economic and political climate. Montfort Hospital is an excellent example of this advantage; it was able to avoid being shut down and broken up precisely because of its designated status. That is why the designation of agencies is extremely important.

    François Boileau
    French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario

    So that is to say that government entities are not protected in economic and political climates if they don’t sign on to French services language act?

    So there is very little choice for them if they want protection?

    WAKE UP PEOPLE do you not see anything wrong with this ?

    Are not all services guaranteed by the government protection or only those that are designated under the french services language act?

    What now the government has its own Mafia through the French services language commissioner?
    We offer you protection if you sign on to our agenda ,you are not protected otherwise !

    Truly DISGUSTING BEHAVIOR people do you see a class system developing here and GOVERNMENT APPROVED A

  41. The plight of a Canadian living in Quebec, taken from FaceBook;

    “My name is Steve Karmazenuk and I was put on trial, accused of uttering death threats and disseminating hate speech on my Facebook and Twitter accounts, between September 4th and 6th, against then-Premier-Elect Pauline Marois. I believe these charges as ridiculous as they are hypocritical, and today I must defend not only my innocence but my Constitutional right to freedom of expression. In Quebec, even an Anglophone has the right to speak his mind. I was forced to pleas guilty, and it has given me a criminal record that has ruined my employability, my marriage, my life.

    And speak my mind is all I did. On the night of the Partie Quebecois minority election I vented my spleen to my Facebook friends and followers; these posts were mirrored to Twitter. I had some very harsh things to say about Madame Marois, calling her a separatist {MODERATED}, and stating I hoped to see the separatist movement destroyed, and her career in politics gutted. I even uttered sympathy for Richard Henry Bain, whose murderous shooting spree seemed not an epilogue to the election, but a prologue of things to come.

    I cannot stress enough that I do not condone what Bain did; I cannot stress enough that his actions and intent are not representative in any way of me or of the Anglophone community in general. By the same token, I cannot stress enough that Bain, as an Anglophone Quebecker, has been the victim of state-sanctioned disenfranchisement and discrimination all his life; in Quebec society as a whole we are often treated as outsiders, second-class citizens; we have the highest rate of bilingualism among any minority in Canada and simultaneously we suffer from the highest rate of unemployment in Quebec. We are not free to post commercial signs in our language without posting a predominant number of signs in French. We must prove our qualifications and pedigree in order to send our children to an English school. We risk refusal when asking for assistance in English and increasingly we risk harassment and even violence if we speak our language in public. Among my Anglophone friends, everyone has at least one story to tell about being discriminated against, harassed or otherwise made unwelcome because of the language they speak, or the non-French name that is their yoke from birth.

    Bill 14, recently introduced in the Provincial legislature, would escalate the cultural and linguistic cleansing of the province by placing Anglophone institutions under “review” every 10 years. The term “Francaisisation” says it all: the objective is to create a monolinguistic, monocultural society, by erasing every other language and culture – but most especially the English language and Anglophone cultures form Quebec.

    Given the spate of anti-Anglo attacks that have been going on since the election – though let’s all be honest: such things have been ongoing and underreported for quite some time here in La Belle Province – the Anglophone community itself is finally mobilizing for the preservation of its rights, language, community, culture, history and heritage; I dare, therefore, to stand by my decision to repeat Bain’s words online: The English ARE waking up.

    On Facebook I voiced my discontent; my discontent as an Anglophone Quebecker, as a Canadian Federalist, as someone who has faced Anglophobic bigotry, discrimination, intimidation and alienation because of my mother tongue and my “foreign” last name from my first day of kindergarten to the present day.

    My intent in making those posts that led me to be here today was not to incite violence, to threaten violence or to encourage discrimination; nor do I believe that my words reflect any such intent, which is why I stand by them. I regret that an obviously tense environment and a misinterpretation of my words – because of an undeniable language barrier – led to the belief that I threatened Madame Marois. I apologize for everything caused by this misinterpretation; it was never my intent that so much time, effort and cost would be put towards something I said off the cuff and out of foul temper. But I am not guilty of what I have been accused of. My intent was not to threaten Madame Marois. My intent was not to incite any form of discrimination or hatred. My intent was only to give voice to my frustration and provoke dialogue among concerned parties, Anglophone and Francophone alike.

    I’m no more the only Anglophone in Quebec to have experienced this lifelong and state-sanctioned bigotry than I am the only person arrested since the election for posting dissident, angry tweets about Madame Marois after her minority win. And in those posts and mirrored tweets, I freely admit that I used foul language and graphic imagery; it was my desire – and my right – to be vulgar, offensive and unpleasant – but to call what I posted hate speech or death threats is demonstrably false.

    First, I was born in Quebec; my mother’s mother, for whom I named my daughter, was a direct descendent of le Clan LeBrun; farther up the line, I can trace my ancestry to les Filles du Roi. Yet, in the eyes of many in this province, I’m a foreigner; a “Colon”; a “Tete Carre”; un “Anglais” – even though I’m of Ukrainian-Canadian extraction. I’m also known as un “Federat” with the emphasis on “Rat”, implying of course the vermin-like nature of anyone who believes in a united Canada.

    I will never be Quebecois enough – or at all – for many in the province in my birth, and as long as we continue with the politics of division in Quebec, this will always be the case. My actions in saying what I did on election night and afterwards was in reaction to this very real, very toxic environment that no one likes to admit exists in this province.

    Second, I am married to a Francophone woman of both Quebecois and Acadian heritage. My daughter, who is named for my Francophone grandmother and my wife’s Francophone grandmother, speaks as much if not more French as she does English, and we’ve been teaching each other the patois of Franglais since she started to speak.

    Third, one of my greatest objections to Bill 101 is the freedom of choice that it denies Francophone Quebeckers: the freedom to choose the means of their children’s education – something guaranteed in Article 26 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Bill 101 also denies this same choice to many Anglophone Quebeckers, as well as anyone whose mother tongue is – even more odiously – something other than English or French.

    More than half my family is French-speaking; to call me an anti-French bigot, to say that I wrote hate speech against Quebec’s Francophones is nothing more than pure falsehood.

    I have however always derided Francosupremacists – those who believe in the primacy of the French language in Quebec, those who would deny the right of all other cultures and languages to exist in Quebec – as the bigots they are. To me, they are no different than any other ethnocentric group of extremists. So why am I a bigot for speaking out against people who are demonstrably bigoted against the language I speak?

    I have always spoken out against Separatists because of my vehement belief in this country called Canada. If I am not allowed to say that, in my opinion, separatists are traitors to the country I love, why is it that separatists who choose to are allowed to call their fellow Quebeckers – who happen to be Federalist – traitors to Quebec?

    To say that calling out, condemning or deriding either of these groups is somehow forbidden speech, or to say that my right to voice disagreement and to dissent does not apply is a frightening statement, indeed.

    And given the number of real extremists in Quebec using both traditional and internet media to spread their messages of intolerance and hate to the populace, it would seem either hypocritical or discriminatory for these charges to have been levied against me and not them.

    Has Patrick Bourgeois of the Reseau de Resistance Quebecois appeared before a tribunal to answer for all the hateful things he and his group’s membership are constantly saying about Anglophones and Federalists, to a far wider audience than my own, since the group’s inception? Let me remind you all that the RRQ managed to get the reenactment of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham cancelled, by threatening the safety of the participants and audience.

    The Mouvement Montreal Francais has likewise used harassment and intimidation campaigns, as well as very venomous invectives to describe the English language, and those Anglophones and Allophones who dare choose to preserve their heritage in Quebec. Has any member of their organization been brought to trial for disseminating hate speech, uttering threats or intimidation?

    Michel Brule, author of Anglaid, an anti-English language, anti-Anglophone and anti-American diatribe that is the very definition of the Federal statute I stand accused of violating, has not been arrested, and his book is available for sale here in Montreal at Chapters, Indigo and Renaud-Bray stores, as well as online. Why hasn’t he been arrested and taken away from his family in the night, and then made to stand before the court to face an accusation of hate speech?

    Mario Beaulieu of the Societe Saint Jean Baptiste constantly attacks the Anglophone media, and Anglophone rights groups, as well as every Anglophone institution that he can think of by public statement and press release. He likewise goes after Canada and Quebec Federalists with equal venom. He makes his ridiculous, bigoted and extremist statements with impunity, without even a voice of condemnation or call for censure raised by the government. Not to mention that, by hiring the potentially terrorist Milice Patriotique du Quebec for security, they are helping this separatist militia gain both legitimacy and funding.

    The Facebook groups Quebec Francais, Milice Patriotique du Quebec, le Reseau de Resistance Quebecois, Quebec Libre, McGill Francais, le Front National-Socialiste Quebecois, Denoncination and several other Francosupremacist and/or Quebec Separatist groups are filled with daily diatribes by their administrators and fans that go much farther into the “Zone Grise” of hate speech and death threats than anything I posted on election night or thereafter. These people continue their posting unabated, unrestricted by prosecutorial decree, apparently even free from even the scrutiny of an SQ investigator. In the case of the new Anglophone mayor of Montreal, Michael Applebaum, Quebec Francais called him as a metastasizing cancer of Anglicization. Strange how the few words of one individual, myself, are more of a menace than the many words of several groups listed above…stranger still that their stated intentions and threats against Anglophones is considered so much less relevant than my alleged threats against Francophones.

    Serge Provost of the Milice Patriotique du Quebec constantly makes threats and utters hate speech against Anglophones and other non “Pur Laine” Quebeckers on his Twitter feed, including making this statement: “Heille le Canadiens Anglophone decalisse de notre territoire ici on veut une republique se qui signifie que ces le people qui dirige pas les merde de ton genre”; yet when charges were brought against him, they were dismissed. Why is hate speech ignored in Quebec, if it is only uttered against les maudits anglais?

    The Website vigile.net is nothing but a constant stream of anti-Anglophone bigotry, anti Federalist rants and vehement hate speech directed at all whose opinion does not conform to the Separatist and Francosupremacist ideals of its bloggers; why, then have their owners and operators not been investigated by the Surete du Quebec? Why have their writers not been arrested for making death threats and uttering hate speech?

    The organizers of Quebec’s Fete Nationale continually refuse to make concessions to allow Quebec’s Anglophone artists to perform in English at any of the official venues. Anglos are told they are only welcome to celebrate if they do so in French. How have prosecutors not charged them with hate speech, with discrimination at the very least? They are, after all creating a hostile atmosphere at the festival venues for anyone whose mother tongue is not French.

    It seems that almost weekly, we hear of another attack, another incident, another affront to members of the Anglophone community. Along with Anglophobia, anti-Semitism is once more rearing its ugly head among the Quebec media elite. No charges have been laid, no investigations opened.

    Why am I being held to a higher legal standard than any of the aforementioned?

    These are just a handful examples; Anglophobia is alive and well in Quebec’s French-language pop culture and media; let’s not pretend it isn’t. From arrogant English store owners who want poor French shoplifters to be arrested on 19-12 to every English-speaking character in the Maurice Richard biography Le Rocket seemingly unable to go three sentences without uttering the epithets “Pea Soup” or “Frenchie”, to anti-English songs by countless popular “Nationalist” music groups, we in the Anglophone community are hardly the best treated minority in the world that we’re so often told we are, and we’re certainly not made to feel welcome in this place that we still wish to call home.

    Never mind the cities and townships that post codes of conducts that “foreign immigrants” are expected to follow; such actions led to the Bouchard-Taylor commission on reasonable accommodation. Gerard Bouchard himself said, “Les accommodements ne precedent donc pas de demandes frivoles; ils sont dictes par l’obligation de respecter les droits fondamentaux de tous les citoyens, inscrits dans la charte…ils ne les soustraient pas a l’application de la loi; ils fournissent plutot a chacun le moyen de beneficier des memes droits.” Yet for the Anglophone, it seems, there is no reasonable accommodation to be had in Quebec.

    In fact, as Philippe Couillard said, “Quebec belongs to everyone, not only the French-speaking majority. I know for a fact that Anglophones and cultural communities are very proud to live in Quebec, would not live elsewhere but they want to be invited to the table. The Parti Québécois unfortunately has a discourse of exclusion that categorizes people according to the level of knowledge of French.”

    I am forced to conclude that if not for the crime of Speaking Out While English, there can only be one other plausible reason for me to be obliged to defend myself and fight for my rights and liberty today when so many others have not been similarly arrested and put on trial:

    In the aftermath of the Metropolis shooting, to minimize the fallout against them, the SQ and the Crown cast a wide net to catch as many “potential threats” as they could. In their utter zeal to close the barn door after the horses had fled I and several other dissident Quebec internet users were arrested for the simple fact that someone, somewhere didn’t like what we said or the way we said it.

    I don’t really know what else to say, other than to once more categorically and emphatically deny the charges against me: I made no direct threat against Madame Marois; I stated, while using crude, vulgar and insulting language, my opinion of her, her political ambitions and the threat posed to Quebec’s Anglophone community by her attitude, and the politics of divisiveness she campaigned on during the election.

    Once again, all I did was voice my dissent, my discontent and my frustration at being disenfranchised and made into a second-class citizen in the land of my ancestors. That I was crude and impolitic about it is true. That I used graphic and visceral imagery to describe my feelings is also true. But to infer that my statements were a threat to Madame Marois, to infer that I was inciting others to hate is not merely wrong, but a deliberate misreading of my words, because those words happened to be in English. I was sharing my thoughts, my opinions, and I was speaking for no one but myself.

    It is my opinion that I’m a convenient scapegoat in the wake of the Metropolis shootings; a way for the police and courts to demonstrate to the Ministry of Justice that they are on the job. I’m a side-show, meant to distract from the security failures of that night.

    The attempt to silence me using the Canadian provisions on hate speech is disturbing; frightening…and as I’ve mentioned previously, an uneven, biased application of the law. The message being sent is that those in the minority seeking recourse for the defense of their human rights and civil liberties in Quebec will be silenced by any means necessary.

    In return, we must use any means necessary and every means available to defend our community, our culture, our heritage and our history in this province.

    War has been declared. It’s time we joined the fight.”

  42. A freedom fighter from FB wrote: War has been declared. It’s time we joined the fight.”

    Isn’t that wonderful!!!! YES!!!! LET’S FIGHT THAT SOUNDS GREAT!!!! if THE MIDDLE EAST CAN DO IT, WHY CAN’T WE?

    Of course I didn’t read all the BS, the last line was enough.

    One can’t give too much credit to the article when it comes from FB page……….

  43. Having to kill some time, I decided to read steve’s FB PAGE

    Steve wrote: My intent in making those posts that led me to be here today was not to incite violence, to threaten violence or to encourage discrimination; nor do I believe that my words reflect any such intent, which is why I stand by them.

    Then closes his message with this comment:

    War has been declared. It’s time we joined the fight.”

    Enough said.

  44. stellabystarlight
    July 25, 2013 at 6:51 am

    “Isn’t that wonderful!!!! YES!!!! LET’S FIGHT THAT SOUNDS GREAT!!!! if THE MIDDLE EAST CAN DO IT, WHY CAN’T WE?

    Of course I didn’t read all the BS, the last line was enough.”

    But of course you didn’t read it all ,but took particular notice to: War has been declared. It’s time we joined the fight.( its a metaphor )Stella and he stated if you read the entire comment and not used the last words for your propaganda:

    “My intent in making those posts that led me to be here today was not to incite violence, to threaten violence or to encourage discrimination; ”

    But as you did not read his comment Stella this is a statement that rings true for many anglophones in Quebec:

    “Once again, all I did was voice my dissent, my discontent and my frustration at being disenfranchised and made into a second-class citizen in the land of my ancestors.”

    Enough said ****smile****

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