From: 4224_5201@uwovax.uwo.ca (John LaRocque)
Subject: Re: INTolerance in Quebec
Organization: University of Western Ont, London
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 02:47:06 GMT

In article <1993Jan25.041258.18018@spxtech.qc.ca>, steven@spxtech.qc.ca (Steve Potter) writes:

> My wife and I are both Canadian citizens (since July 1984). We landed in
> Quebec in September of 1980. We were both educated in English in England
> and have (or had - my wife's parents died) English speaking parents. We
> can NOT send our English speaking children to English school in Quebec!

What a shame. After all, what can be more English than England?  (:-) )

> The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms paragraph 23(1)(b) (the educated
> in minority language of the province part you are referring to) only applies
> to Canadian citizens - that is correct. Paragraph 23(1)(a) provides for
> citizens whose mother tongue is that of the minority language population
> of the province in which they reside to be able to send their children to
> schooling in that language. Paragraph 23(1)(a) is not applicable in Quebec
> because Jean Chretien put paragraph 59 in the 1982 Constitution agreement.

> Anyone who (even if they were educated in english, or whose mother tongue
                                            ~~~~~~~
> is english) came to Quebec after Bill 101 became applicable on 26th august,
     ~~~~~~~   YO STEVE, THAT's FRENGLISH. LIKE SAYING < On parle Anglais. > 

> 1977 (whether they are Canadian citizens or not) can not send their
> children to English schools in Quebec. Their children are declared
> "ineligible" for instruction in English!
> There are about 10,000 to 13,000 english speaking children thus affected in
> Quebec.

> CAE Electronics offered a decent relocation package and a decent salary at
> the time.
> Quebec House in London said nothing of the racist policies of the Quebec
> legislature during our 'interviews' before we came over here.
> Bill 178 (the stupid signs law) was the trigger for me (and many others).
> Now I'm mad as hell and I'm doing my best to get this legislation fixed.

> There are ways to encourage the use of French in Quebec without denying
> people basic human rights.

Listen. Many of us agree with you. But it is so repetitious that it seems
that your real target is ordinary Quebecers as opposed to bad legislation.
(that being said, they did vote for the MNA's).

> There are immersion programs available in English schools here. Anyone
> coming here who doesn't want his children to learn French (if they
> intend to stay here) is nuts, IMHO.

What a smart attitude. Too bad English Quebecers from way back (the rich
ones) didn't have the same attitude. 

> I have no problem with my children learning French. I think they have
> a better opportunity to learn French here in Quebec than I did in
> England years ago.
> That's not the issue.

We know what is the issue. By now I believe 98% of us have heard
your arguments. But I digress....

> It is a question of being allowed to be a fully legitimate member of 
> whatever is left of the English community in which we have chosen to
> live. That, naturally, includes the right to send our children to
> publicly funded English schools here if we choose to do so.

Sorry I couldn't have more to say. We haven't been at each other's
throats for some time. Maybe your next post will set me off. :-)

That being said, you are getting very repetitious, and somewhat
annoying (even if you are right). Cool off a little and try
distracting yourself with a few new topics.

>   ///==================================================================\\\
>   ||| Steve Potter:         steven@spxtech.qc.ca                       |||
>   ||| Expertise/Experience: Computer Systems Engineering / Real Ale /  |||
>   |||                       Politics in Education in Quebec            |||