Loved reading this. I really resented how growing up, French was mandatory only from Grade 4 through 9. IN ONTARIO. And how learning other languages is seen as elite. Got discouraged from going into French immersion. Started learning again, and now I have a 43-day streak on Babbel. It’s never too late.
We can't do this. This would cast aside our heritage, our laws, and our political traditions.
As for Quebec being a distinct and vibrant society, only the latter is true. It's in no way distinct outside of it being a predominantly french speaking province. The language laws attempt to conceal the truth but it's there for anyone to see. Pharmaprix and Super C, while not instantly recognisable, soon becomes clear to the out of province person that these are just Shoppers and Food Basics respectively.
The towns and the suburbs further highlight this. Now you might be tempted to respond with Montreal or Quebec City. Aside from the historical reality of Montreal (a grand city equalled only by Vancouver in my experience), there are equivalent towns and cities with similar odes to the past as Victoria and Kingston.
To abandon English is to abandon our literature and our own ability to read our (partially unwritten) constitution and precedents. The speeches of our founders and great leaders, provincial and national. Even the political culture and heritage of Quebec is thoroughly defined by English conquest and rule just as our home across the sea as conquered by the Franco Normans a thousand years ago.
Our political culture including that of Quebec, the pomp and circumstance, the rules and the laws, even the way we determine seating arrangements is defined by our history going back to Britain. Quebec is even more British than Ontario in that they've even had a Legislative Council to go with their Provincial assembly. The most important aspect of a nation and our national identity is our history and our heritage. Those are in English and point back to Britain, it can't be cast aside without casting Canada itself aside.
This is not about abandoning English, but about adding a string to Canadian bow. An officially bilingual and bicultural country, Canada can truly live this distinct identity by embracing what each culture can best bring to the nation.
Also, as said in The Canadian Encyclopedia 2025 :
"Historically, institutional bilingualism has recognized the facts of Canada's settlement and development. The idea that English- and French-speaking communities should not only coexist but should complement each other was central to the founding of the Canadian federation. "
Surtout lorsque l'on sait que le langage est le reflet de la pensée et vice-versa. La langue forge la manière de penser, elle s'inscrit aussi dans le corps. On le voit quand un italien lève la main pour houspiller, ou tout latin gesticuler en parlant. Les québécois auraient également intérêt à apprendre la capacité des anglos à créer des mécénats qui perdurent, qui entrent dans les traditions.
Loved reading this. I really resented how growing up, French was mandatory only from Grade 4 through 9. IN ONTARIO. And how learning other languages is seen as elite. Got discouraged from going into French immersion. Started learning again, and now I have a 43-day streak on Babbel. It’s never too late.
It really is a perfect time to reform the CRTC and CBC.
Ban FoxNews. No more discussions – do it now.
Set a max daily limit on US programming.
Hard ceiling on executive/top pay. Instate a 4:1 max salary ratio, highest to lowest, on all crown corporations.
Hire more bilingual anchors and let them switch languages on air.
Ban dubbing French. Every single time the CBC does it, a $10,000 fine is levied on a CBC exec.
Mandate a minimum of one hour of French language programming on all English channels.
Run an hour of Radio-Canada with subtitles on the Anglo networks.
Start news shows/websites in "simple French" with learning aids on CBC News. (Common across the world for new language learners).
We can't do this. This would cast aside our heritage, our laws, and our political traditions.
As for Quebec being a distinct and vibrant society, only the latter is true. It's in no way distinct outside of it being a predominantly french speaking province. The language laws attempt to conceal the truth but it's there for anyone to see. Pharmaprix and Super C, while not instantly recognisable, soon becomes clear to the out of province person that these are just Shoppers and Food Basics respectively.
The towns and the suburbs further highlight this. Now you might be tempted to respond with Montreal or Quebec City. Aside from the historical reality of Montreal (a grand city equalled only by Vancouver in my experience), there are equivalent towns and cities with similar odes to the past as Victoria and Kingston.
To abandon English is to abandon our literature and our own ability to read our (partially unwritten) constitution and precedents. The speeches of our founders and great leaders, provincial and national. Even the political culture and heritage of Quebec is thoroughly defined by English conquest and rule just as our home across the sea as conquered by the Franco Normans a thousand years ago.
Our political culture including that of Quebec, the pomp and circumstance, the rules and the laws, even the way we determine seating arrangements is defined by our history going back to Britain. Quebec is even more British than Ontario in that they've even had a Legislative Council to go with their Provincial assembly. The most important aspect of a nation and our national identity is our history and our heritage. Those are in English and point back to Britain, it can't be cast aside without casting Canada itself aside.
This is not about abandoning English, but about adding a string to Canadian bow. An officially bilingual and bicultural country, Canada can truly live this distinct identity by embracing what each culture can best bring to the nation.
Also, as said in The Canadian Encyclopedia 2025 :
"Historically, institutional bilingualism has recognized the facts of Canada's settlement and development. The idea that English- and French-speaking communities should not only coexist but should complement each other was central to the founding of the Canadian federation. "
I don’t watch any AMERICAN OR CANADIAN NEWS MEDIA . Just Independent Journalists
Tellement pertinent ! Merci !
Surtout lorsque l'on sait que le langage est le reflet de la pensée et vice-versa. La langue forge la manière de penser, elle s'inscrit aussi dans le corps. On le voit quand un italien lève la main pour houspiller, ou tout latin gesticuler en parlant. Les québécois auraient également intérêt à apprendre la capacité des anglos à créer des mécénats qui perdurent, qui entrent dans les traditions.