A reality check on the language front
Recently The Gazette has published a myriad of columns and readers’ letters reflecting the state of English and the anglophone community in Quebec. Generally these pieces have expressed anger, irritation, shock, anguish and existential angst. They are intelligent, deeply felt, well-written, understandable and frequently justified. Sadly, they appear almost blind to the world view of Quebec’s francophone population. “Maîtres chez nous.” French Canadians “can and must one day aspire to being a nation.”
“As a distinct and separate nationality, we form a state within a state.”
“… we affirm our existence as a separate nationality.”
It does not require much imagination to hear these words, in the language of Molière, flowing from the lips of Jean Lesage, René Lévesque, Jacques Parizeau, Lucien Bouchard, Pauline Marois, Robert Bourassa or Jean Charest. In fact, all were printed in Quebec’s Frenchlanguage newspapers in 1867. I am grateful to Richard Gwyn, in whose marvellous biography of Sir John A. Macdonald they are reproduced. Plus ça change …
As we look to Quebec’s future, and our place in it, anglophones should keep in mind certain realities.
With rare exceptions, and with varying degrees of passion, all Quebec francophones are nationalists. An even rarer exception is the francophone who is truly a Canadian federalist. On the verge of extinction is the Québécois pure laine with the courage to profess that belief publicly.
However much we may deplore it, and whatever the consequences for the province, certain political truths necessarily follow.
Anglophone Quebecers are of no interest whatsoever to any federal political party. And what is true federally is even more dramatically the case provincially.
Quebec elections are won in the regions where English-speaking voters have no influence on results. In Montreal, with very few exceptions, actual voting is virtually unnecessary. Some ridings are automatic victories for the Parti Québécois. The “Stockholm Syndrome” anglophone ridings are guaranteed Liberal seats.
Without leverage, there is no political influence. And anglo Quebecers abandoned years ago any leverage they might have had to a party that has consistently betrayed them, most recently by adding about 60 “inspectors” to the Office québécois de la langue française.
It is a fact of political life that no party leader in Quebec has or will have the desire or the courage to take a public position that appears to favour anglophone Quebecers. To believe otherwise is extreme wishful thinking.
The following seem obvious truths:
The great majority of francophones consider themselves first as Quebecers and then, perhaps as an afterthought, as Canadians.
Most are remarkably indifferent (even if knowledgeable) about what happens in the rest of Canada. The fear for the survival of rench is genuine and deep-rooted. Whereas anglo-saxons tend to view English primarily as an efficient means of communication, for the French, here as elsewhere, their language is part of their cultural essence, their DNA.
Imagine that, before we vote in a future referendum on sovereignty, francophones become convinced that their economic future would not be damaged if Quebec were to leave Canada. Does anyone have the slightest doubt as to the outcome? Does anyone seriously believe that, in their decision-making, many Quebecers would consider a future as French Canadians in the rest of Canada?
We anglos would do well to consider the following:
First, many generations of anglophones bear partial responsibility for any continuing language tensions. Had such generations done what any reasonable person would consider “normal,” to use Camille Laurin’s favourite expression, they would have learned to communicate effectively in French.
Second, in contrast with other dual-language countries – Belgium, for example – linguistic tensions are remarkably low and linguistic incidents rare here. Although it is bizarre to think of anyone choosing to do so, even today one could live one’s entire life in Quebec without speaking a word of French. In fact, one frustration for many anglophones is that francophones, whether out of courtesy, to practice their English, or being more fully bilingual, often shift the conversation to English.
Third, the way to deal with the intellectual dishonesty of the now-infamous L’actualité survey and the blatant hypocrisy of Jean-françois Lisée in writing about it is not to get one’s knickers in a twist but rather to treat them with the mockery and contempt they deserve. Take a Valium!
Anglophones who are truly upset about their lack of political influence in Quebec should stop voting for the Liberals and form a new political party. This should not be a onetrick pony like the Equality Party of 1989, but a party with a complete platform, representing all minority interests and, more importantly, those of Greater Montreal. Failing that, don’t be surprised, to paraphrase Lenin, when you are hanged by the Liberals with the rope you have made.