Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Canadian Alliance & Progressive Conservatives merge

Bob Biter · 12-08-2003, 03:44 PM

OFKUO, I understand that Quebec receives a lot of federal funds every year because of its population and culture, but to think that this is merely to "appease" the populace is to confuse damage control and cultural development. As james t kirk said, Canada is a bilingual country. As such it's in its best interest to promote such a state. The fact that the majority of the francophone population is in Quebec explains why that province receives the lion's share of funds of that nature.

Also, I fail to understand why you describe francophones learning English as "attrition". Quebecers receive formal English education starting in grade school, but are by no means forced to speak it outside of said classes. However, just like it's in the government's best interest to invest in bilingualism, so it is in Quebecers' best interest to learn both official languages to make them more rounded individuals that have more to offer on the job market.

I'm a French-Canadian from Quebec and I chose to learn English not as an act of giving up to any situation, but because I know it's a valued skill to have. I still value my cultural roots just as deeply. I also love my country and have no desire to separate from it. Furthermore, to think that those who only speak French are hardcore separatists is also false and misguided. The whole separation issue got garbled from its original beef brought to the fore during the "Night of Long Knives" into a purely linguistic issue. Quebecers with an ounce of common sense know that being a part of a great country like Canada is a good thing and know as you seem to know as well that secession would have been a veritable quagmire. So please, stop with the angst about the illusion that all Quebecers want to do is separate and that all federal grants heading their way is just a means to "appease" that.

Since this thread is getting sidetracked from its original idea, I'll say nothing more about that.

As I said before, the Tories and Alliance are going to have to work overtime to overhaul their policies to offer a unified front against the Liberals. Whether such a reformed party would resemble anything like Mulroney's gang is left to be seen, but I sure hope it doesn't. If indeed they pose a genuine threat to Paul Martin, I will be glad to finally see some real competition and debates at election time.

12-08-2003, 03:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
Bob Biter Non-smokers die everyday Location: Montreal	OFKUO, I understand that Quebec receives a lot of federal funds every year because of its population and culture, but to think that this is merely to "appease" the populace is to confuse damage control and cultural development. As james t kirk said, Canada is a bilingual country. As such it's in its best interest to promote such a state. The fact that the majority of the francophone population is in Quebec explains why that province receives the lion's share of funds of that nature. Also, I fail to understand why you describe francophones learning English as "attrition". Quebecers receive formal English education starting in grade school, but are by no means forced to speak it outside of said classes. However, just like it's in the government's best interest to invest in bilingualism, so it is in Quebecers' best interest to learn both official languages to make them more rounded individuals that have more to offer on the job market. I'm a French-Canadian from Quebec and I chose to learn English not as an act of giving up to any situation, but because I know it's a valued skill to have. I still value my cultural roots just as deeply. I also love my country and have no desire to separate from it. Furthermore, to think that those who only speak French are hardcore separatists is also false and misguided. The whole separation issue got garbled from its original beef brought to the fore during the "Night of Long Knives" into a purely linguistic issue. Quebecers with an ounce of common sense know that being a part of a great country like Canada is a good thing and know as you seem to know as well that secession would have been a veritable quagmire. So please, stop with the angst about the illusion that all Quebecers want to do is separate and that all federal grants heading their way is just a means to "appease" that. Since this thread is getting sidetracked from its original idea, I'll say nothing more about that. As I said before, the Tories and Alliance are going to have to work overtime to overhaul their policies to offer a unified front against the Liberals. Whether such a reformed party would resemble anything like Mulroney's gang is left to be seen, but I sure hope it doesn't. If indeed they pose a genuine threat to Paul Martin, I will be glad to finally see some real competition and debates at election time. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that don't happen. Last edited by Bob Biter; 12-08-2003 at 03:53 PM..