From: thood@corvus.matrox.com (Thomas Hood)
Newsgroups: can.general,can.politics
Subject: Re: RACISM???/Access to English schools
Date: 25 Jul 92 01:41:04 GMT
Organization: Matrox Ltd.


steven@spxtech.qc.ca (Steven C. Potter) writes:
>From article <BrntwA.1pq@ireq.hydro.qc.ca>, by beaurega@ireq.hydro.qc.ca
> Denis Beauregard writes:-
>>>  I have a daughter of 20 months who, i anticipate, will be attending A
>>>  French immersion program in an English school after this restrictive law
>>>  is changed within the next two years.
>> 
>> I would not count on this.

No, Steven, I would not count on either aspect of the French Language
Charter being changed.

Schools: Backbenchers in the Liberal caucus objected when a government
minister from their own party said that relaxation of eligibility
criteria would be considered.  It seems that this would be committing
suicide, and it would create two classes of immigrants: one which would
integrate "normally" (that word again) into Quebec society, and another
which only help to "perpetuate the harmful effects of the Conquest."

The nationalists who currently control the provincial government feel
that they must pass their culture on to your children, which
they can only do if your children are kept in French schools.

Signs: Although there are fines associated with the sign law, the
main threat is vandalism.  I know the owner of a furniture store
on Sherbrooke Street in Westmount who unthinkingly put up a "Sale"
sign in her front window.  She received a telephone call which
went something like "I am watching your store: take down your
English sign or I'll break your window and take it down." So she
removed it.  McKenna had his front window broken at least three times.
A CEGEP student spraypainted half the stores on Queen Mary Road
and the judge told him his actions were "understandable." If Law 178
is allowed to expire, the threat of vandalism will remain.  However,
it is unlikely that the sign law will be allowed to expire because
the nationalists have sworn up and down that it is a matter of
"life and death" for French culture that English be kept out of
sight.  And even if it is, who in his right mind is going to fork
out thousands of dollars for a new sign that will become illegal
again when next the political wind blows cold?  And finally, if the
sign law is changed, none of the new signs will have the historical
interest of those that were dismantled, painted out or pried off,
ten years ago, and the English lettering will (no doubt) be permitted
only half-size letters of invisible ink.

Daniel Latouche has said that language laws necessary in the province
of Quebec might be unacceptable in the independent state of Quebec.
This is an attept to prepare a way out of the hidey-hole that the
nationalists have dug for themselves on this issue.  But truly,
there is no way out of the logic of nationalism.  How could a new
ethnic state, founded for the purpose of enforcing unilingualism,
turn around and relax its language regulations? Who would even
suggest it? The current generation of Quebecois power mongers can do
nothing but recite the familiar warnings.  The young Quebecois eat,
drink, sleep, belch "Quebec Francais" and are not going to make any
unilateral concessions.

But, miracles can happen.   <--- (To head of accusations of cynicism)

>   I am counting on it. If I fail (you will probably be pleased to hear) -
>   if I fail I will go back to Europe. I will not have my children suffer
>   discrimination because their parents speak the wrong language!

You are making it far too easy for Denis to get rid of you.

What I would suggest is this: try to find a loophole in the law.
Can you "send" your children to an Ontario school for a year?
Can you divorce your wife for five minutes, and marry and
divorce an anglo-Quebecoise de souche and register your kids
in English school in the interval?  Will your local school
accept your children illegally?  Heck, I'll legally adopt them
if you'll do the paperwork -- I am an Anointed One.

Cordially,
--
Thomas Hood                                                    thood@matrox.com
Newsgroups: can.general