Being English in Quebec
Re: “Lisée projects image of kinder, entler separatist” (Gazette, Jan. 18) “If we see English dwindling, we’ll take measures to reinforce it,” Jean-François Lisée stated.
Has Mr. Lisée been living in a cave for the past 40 years? I don’t know how he could say that with a straight face.
Over the years, both the PQ and Liberal governments have been responsible for passing laws and enacting measures that have removed English from the face of Quebec: Bill 101, actually paying language inspectors to go around and measure English letters, taping over English signs, changing English street names to French ones, and if the population in your municipality is less than 50 per cent English, the municipality is permitted to communicate officially with its residents in French only. The list goes on and on.
How much more does the English language have to dwindle before measures are taken to reinforce it?
Anglophones aren’t fooled by a separatist in lamb’s clothing. The motto of the PQ government is more like “If we see any English, we’ll take measures to eradicate it.” Allan Brinson
Beaconsfield
Re: “The future of English schools” (Letters, Jan. 18)
If one wishes to ask the question “What is the future of English schools in Que- bec?” one must be willing to accept the possible answer of “Not much.”
Parents with children entering kindergarten will be aware of how the need to speak French fluently has been increasing over the past, say, 15 years, and must plan for their child who will be entering the labour market 15 to 20 years hence. Regardless of which provincial government we may have then, our province (yes, I believe we will still be a province) will be more francophone than it is today. Indeed, we may even have French schools openly vying for students based on the quality of their English programs as a second language — something that currently exists now in some Montreal neighbourhoods, but is not publicized loudly.
It’s all based on the survival principle. As Quebec does its utmost to ensure the survival of the French language in North America, Quebec anglophone parents must ensure the survival of their children in this francophone province. Robert Marcogliese
Montreal
Re: “Notre Home project goes on tour” (Gazette, Jan. 18)
I am pleased that the new PQ government wants to makes us anglos feel more comfortable by promoting a bilingual song. I will try to learn it and sing it as I buy my métro ticket.
However I think anglos would feel much more at home in Quebec if the government would finish the promised feasibility study on the West Island train project rather than talk about extending the blue line to Ville d’Anjou. Philip Magder
Mount Royal
So we have a new song that is supposed to build bridges. Maybe building bridges was not the best analogy, though, given the bridges we already have in Quebec: they lack integrity, sustainability and are poorly maintained, while another department throws corrosive materials on the whole thing, leading only to ultimate collapse. Ken London
Westmount