From: audetf@Software.Mitel.COM (Francois Audet)
Newsgroups: can.politics
Subject: Re: Access to English school: quotes
Date: 8 Sep 92 13:41:55 GMT
Distribution: can
Organization: Mitel. Kanata (Ontario). Canada.

In article (Steve Potter) writes:
]I repeat: Quebec is a *predominantly* francophone society. Le "visage"
]francais du Quebec est un masque!. C'est bien evident.

Je ne vois pas pourquoi une societe ou le francais predomine n'as pas
un visage francais. Et le masque encore moins.

]The fact that some would prefer that the English community in Quebec
]did not "officially" exist makes it no less real.

Agreed, and it still doesn't have anything to do with the situation:
Quebec is a francophone political entity and a francophone society
with a sizable anglophone minority. Just like England is an anglophone
politycal entity with some other linguistic minorities.

]I repeat: English is not a foreign language in Quebec. Why do some
]people keep trying to talk of Quebec as if it were?

I repeat also: English is not an official language in Quebec, and the
Constitutional obligations on bilinguism in institutions were imposed
by Ottawa (and are respected). This is not the case in other provinces.

]Except in some French schools in the M.C.S.C. where children are penalised
]for using English on the premises. Yes - it still happens! :-(
](I'm not sure of schools in other school boards - anyone aware?)

Ca se voit a Ottawa aussi. What's the point? Complain to the
authorities, but try to be more tactfull if you want it to work.

]The fears were unjustified. They are unjustified. The measures taken
]were unnecessary and extreme.

Extreme? Give me a break. I know some things were not done very well
(especially by Boubou), but "extreme" is an exageration :-)

ME:
]] I'm not a supporter of the sign law, although I can see why it
]] happened, and there is no black-and-white solution on who's right or
]] who's wrong.
]
]People should be allowed to put commercial signs up in any language
]they want. That's business.

Read again what I said: I'M NOT A SUPPORTER OF THE SIGN LAWS. I AGREED
WITH YOU!!!!

]I won't get drawn into that one again. I have already expressed my views
]in that field. It started a whole discussion on racism with a lot of
]insults and accusations flying around. This is not productive.

Maybee you'll figure out that "racist" is a pretty big accusation and
that calling someone a "racist" will not get you any respect.

]I meant, how important is the English minority community to the life
]and character of Quebec society? (I think)
]Is it an essential part of Quebec?

It's an important part of Montreal.

]In a country where English is an official language and English schools
]are available at public expense - what's your estimate?

Look, I agree with you on a few issues, especially on the sign laws.
However, when I see statements like this it makes me want to revise
may positions... :-(

I, like many other Quebecois, couldn't care less that Ottawa decided
in 1867 that Quebec was supposed to support bilingual institutions,
especially when it was the only province required to do so. If you
want to get any support from the quebecois (francophones), it's not by
quoting the Canadian Constitution (that applies unequally everywhere
in Canada) that you will get any success.

Ciao!


-- 
                                                       Francois Audet
                                                           '
        Telephone: (613) 592-2121 x1754     Facsimile: (613) 592-4784
                          Internet: Francois.Audet@software.Mitel.COM