What Canadians think of Quebec

[QUOTE BY= Delenda Carthago] I don't think it has anything to do with Charest being overweight. I don't think Landry has a nickname. Trudeau had one : PET (his initials) but it also means "fart" in French. [/QUOTE] Je pense que Charest n'en mène pas large avec sa femme lui non plus. René Lévesque n'était-il pas "'Ti-pit"? Le même problème... <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/rolleyes.gif' alt='Rolling Eyes'>

[QUOTE BY= Macdonald/Borden] Freaky, LOL! And I thought that we in Ontario had it bad what with our scrony liar, Defaultin Dalton McFibber (Dalton McGuinty) looking like Norman Baites from the movie, Psycho. Though its a wee bit hypocritical, isn't Landry overweight too??? [/QUOTE] Yes it's true! McGuinty looks like Norman Bates! Wouhouhouhouhou! Aren't you scared? And Janet Leigh died recently! Maybe it`s because of McGuinty!

AHHHHH <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/eek.gif' alt='Eek!'>

[QUOTE BY= Delenda Carthago] [QUOTE BY= Dr Caleb] [QUOTE BY= Delenda Carthago] I expect a 60%plus victory for the yes. [/QUOTE] Ahhh yes. I remember that variety of mushroom. I also expected a colourless blonde dog to be sleeping furiously. [QUOTE BY= Delenda Carthago] Canada will be better off just to let go. [/QUOTE] Good point. Here's what we'll do. Anyone in Quebec who wants to be independent of Canada can move to Newfoundland. Any Newf who want to stay, can move to Quebec (those that haven't moved to Fort McMurray already). Labradorians and native populations can stay right were they are if they want to stay in Canada. Makes more sense to have one province on the mainland, rather than 1/2 of it as an island. We'll change the names on a map, and Quebec will be an independent island in the Atlantic, and close to St. Pierre and Miquelon - French soil. With all those gas and oil rights, you'll be set! [/QUOTE] You are making a fool of yourself, doctor. [/QUOTE] Attacking the person because you can't attack the argument?

[QUOTE BY= Perturbed] [QUOTE BY= Delenda Carthago] [QUOTE BY= Dr Caleb] [QUOTE BY= Delenda Carthago] I expect a 60%plus victory for the yes. [/QUOTE] Ahhh yes. I remember that variety of mushroom. I also expected a colourless blonde dog to be sleeping furiously. [QUOTE BY= Delenda Carthago] Canada will be better off just to let go. [/QUOTE] Good point. Here's what we'll do. Anyone in Quebec who wants to be independent of Canada can move to Newfoundland. Any Newf who want to stay, can move to Quebec (those that haven't moved to Fort McMurray already). Labradorians and native populations can stay right were they are if they want to stay in Canada. Makes more sense to have one province on the mainland, rather than 1/2 of it as an island. We'll change the names on a map, and Quebec will be an independent island in the Atlantic, and close to St. Pierre and Miquelon - French soil. With all those gas and oil rights, you'll be set! [/QUOTE] You are making a fool of yourself, doctor. [/QUOTE] Attacking the person because you can't attack the argument?[/QUOTE] What are you digging out here, Perturbed? Read his post, and you will agree with me that he was making a fool of himself.

Delenda, you said that Charest's nickname is negative and Levesque's was positive? Comon, I'm sure that federalists in Quebec who hated Levesque or hate Landry had to have had some nicknames or insults for them!

[QUOTE BY= Macdonald/Borden] Delenda, you said that Charest's nickname is negative and Levesque's was positive? Comon, I'm sure that federalists in Quebec who hated Levesque or hate Landry had to have had some nicknames or insults for them! [/QUOTE] Dear Mr. Mac, I don't think federalists who hated Lévesque had any nickname for him. Maybe they used "Ti-poil" too, but in the negative sense. As to Landry, I don't think he has any nickname. But since I don't socialize in federalist circles, I could'nt tell you how they label sovereigntists. But that's besides the point, since most of francophone Quebeckers are sovereigntists. Oh yeah, another nickname for a federalist is "ratface", for Stephane Dion. A prominent Quebec cartoonist loved to picture Dion as a rat. He said he had the face for it. He just added a pair of ears on top of his head, a few hair for a mustache, a tail and there you go! Since then, Dion is known as "the rat". Sovereigntists can make fun of sovereigntists politician too. Remember Lise Payette? Her nickname was "la grosse Lise".

Welcome to the next round of Quebec-bashing! Patapouf gave the Gâzette a reason to fill the tank with Quebec-bashing. Because he suggested investment in the protection of French in Quebec, The Gâzette, obviously, doesn`t want to be alone in the hatred of Quebec. It needs to share it with all its good anglo citizens all over the ROC with a soundoff! The more, the merrier! ----------- Can't understand why Quebec allows such an intrusion of their rights by their own government. Or am I completely off base by thinking that you should be able to speak in the language of your choice, not the one crammed down your throat by the government??? ------------- Louisiana does just fine with it's identity without these bogus language laws. -------------- This is crazy. The rest of Canada is expected to have most commercial products in English and French. We are expected to embrace the French lanuage, in our schools, in our products that we sell, yet Quebec feels that they are above showing the same respect for the English lanuage. Canada has two official lanuages English and French. It would be nice for Quebec to remember this. ----------- To have 2 languages in this country, the government spends 5 billion a year... That is 166 dollars for every man, woman, and child.... my family has 3 members... thats 498 tax dollars out of my family's pocket every year... Why....??? so my pack of smokes can tell me that it is bad to smoke in french??? I say that there is too much french forced down my throat... when are we going to have language police here in the rest of the country???? ----------- Reading this article infuriates me! Didn't Charest receive a large number of Anglo votes thinking that maybe we was the person to stand up for their minority rights in Quebec? I was living in Montreal at the time and am sad to say that he received my vote. Now I am outside of the province shaking my head and watching the circus they call l'Office. -------------- I am very concerned by this article. As an English speaking Canadian who recently returned to live in this province I am amazed at the apathy displayed by the English speaking population regarding English language rights. This is evident even at the municipal level where advertizements and notices are sent out to the citizens of a community designated as a bilingual community with blatant errors in grammer, spelling, and the use of monetary values displayed incorrectly in English. I also notice that in matters where we are entitled to services in our own language the English speaking population is content to respond to French instructions. -------------- Bilingualism seems to have two definitions as far as the French speaking population is concerned. An English speaking bilingual person must speak and write perfect French while just the opposite is true regarding a bilingual French person. This is evident in the Post Office which is a Federal Office requiring bilingual service to all. --------------- Now I remember why I left in 1977, They seem to forget the global language of commerce is English, . I don't think there is any such thing as minority rights in Quebec with thier language laws proving it. ------------- I can't believe this. What a crock! If Quebec is so intent on creating their own country then why don't we just let them leave. Better yet let's help them out the door. We would be doing a large service to the country. As a French Canadian a am appaled at their attitude! Take away their right to our Canadian currency. Take away their right to our Government, armies, hospital care, etc... and let's see just how happy they would be without CANADA! Enough, is enough! There is such a double standard with Quebec. What they are doing is treason! Plain and simple. Come on people open your eyes! -------------- It was a sorry day for the country when French was made an official language. The rest of the country has to put up with both languages while Quebec can force french on everyone. Quebec get with the program you are in Canada whether you like it or not and get more money from the federal government than the rest of the country. You should be made to give your citizens the same rights as the rest of us. "TYPE=PICT;ALT=" -------------- Even the Soviet Union wasn't this bad. Is Canada no longer a free country? This is one reason I moved to the U.S. Sure there are problems here, but when it comes to language, if bilingualism (English/Spanish) is needed, it's used, if it isn't needed, it's not forced upon you. ----------- As long as the Quebec people allow themselves to be misguided to the point of insecurity, they will be entrenched in this rediculous language fiasco. No other culture in Canada is even worried about losing their language or their heritage. The Italians, the Ukrainians, the Chinese the Finnish etc. have even stronger bonds to their heritage than ever before, because these bonds have been tried, tested and proven solid.The French on the other hand seem to be so insecure that they are afraid if they so much as hear an english word then all is lost. It's time the French separtists wake up,smell the coffee and get a life. Quit moaning about how hard done by you are and do something productive for this country instead of trying to rip it apart. I'd rather see the governor general take her friends on another wild party than see one more penny thrown down the drain on Quebec's bilingual BS. --------------- All though my mother's tounge was french and my fathre's was somthing else,so what I speak only in English,I used to like going through Quebec in the 60s,70s and the 80s,now I avoid it like the plegue:0) we now go the American way where they talk to you in English,going through PQ they are very rude and let on that they do not understand what in hell you are saying.so we avoid staying in PQ and use thesouthern route --------------- This is absolute BS and our so called Federal Government (more like an extension of the Kbec provincial government) should be stepping in and doing something about this. Like most other Canadians, especially western Canadians, I am sick and damn tired of the bullshit coming out of Kbec and how they constantly get away with everything they do. I think either Kbec should go, or western Canada should seperate to releive ourselves and our paycheques of this waste of time and money called Kbec. -------------- Quebec is enforcing a culture they do not have. Quebequois "nationalism" presumes a cultural heart that is not there. Forcing 'le francais sur la province' only rips out the cultural heart. I'm less than fluent in French but I do appreciate the language and its ability to communicate differently. Teach and nurture the appreciation, and the application should follow if the able contribution is there. -------------- I am so sick of these fascists! i have lived in quebec for most of my life and am fluently bilingual but i'm getting to the point where i hate the french! I can't even find a bloody doctor that speaks english and they want to take a harder line? i say the rest of canada, including Ottawa, should kick bilingualism to the curb until quebec learns that it is still a part of canada, whether they like it or not. Besides, anyone who only speaks french is going to learn pretty damn fast that they have no future outside of quebec and the few french speaking nations. Way to go Charest! condemn the youth of quebec to poverty! at least we have the social programs to support them, but who is going to pay the taxes for it? ------------------ I wonder when the closed-minded people in "English Canada" (which, by the way is where I live) will grow up and realize that being able to communicate in more than one language is of tremendous benefit to both individuals and society as a whole. A large percentage of people in Quebec learn English out of necessity, and yet we whine and complain at the mere mention of French being taught in schools. It makes me sad to think that we are so closed-minded. Je me demande quand est-ce que les gens obtus du Canada "anglais" vont se rendre compte que le fait de parler deux ou plus langues est un bien important non-seulement pour les individus, mais aussi pour la société en genérale. La plupart des personnes en Québec parlent l'anglais par nécessité, mais dans le reste du pays on se chiallent quand l'idée d'enseigner le français dans les écoles est mentionné. Ça me rend triste de penser qu'içi on a des esprits tant fermés. --------------- News flash to Quebecers: French is a dying language. You cling to these bigoted, unconstitutional laws in a futile attempt to deny the inevitable. Why don't you just get with the program and maybe in the process we can heal the deep divisions that your hatred of English-speaking Canadians has ingrained in our country's psyche --------------- Two official languages? Those Quebecquios are wanting it all and us to pay for it too. It's time to hold their feet to the fire and force bilingulism down their throats as it was done to us. ------------- 751 million dollars spent by Jean Chretien to further the cause of bi-lingualism (doubled by 'matched by provincial gov't money) on top of the hundreds of millions already wasted every year, and it is still not enough! We should turn off the faucet to this ludicrous waste of money right now! Let people speak the language they prefer and let the best language prevail. Those who NEED to understand the other language will learn soon enough if they have to. Eventually the people of the world will all speak one language and it will be a blend of many tongues, just as most languages today have words and word-roots from others. ------------- This is another religous war. I used to love french language, but we must admit it is a language of the past. Office francaise is a big waste of taxpayers money like many things in Quebec and it should be abolished long time ago. People should have a choice about what language they want to speak. ------------- Well, that proves it then.... "The language watchdog found that English usage has gone up two per cent in Quebec over the past decade while French usage grew at a slightly lower pace - 1.7 per cent" French sucks, english rules! ---------- guess our Liberal Gov will now enforce us all to speek French when English is the Language used in Canada & North America. The Liberal Government is afraid of Quebec, but since over 75% of the government is French, nothing will be said of this. There afraid to stand up & say what the rest of Canada say's. But if the Canadian People want this to happen so it be!!!!!!!! ----------- French Canada is embarassing the rest of the nation, crossing constitutional boundaries and becoming an albatross around this country's neck! ------------- Jean don't waste your money on ensuring that French is spoken, save as much as possible so you and the rest of your cronies can get the H**L out of Canada and leave us to run a country with a healthy economic future as opposed to the one we have now which is constantly dogged by a bunch of treasonous mutineering whiners who get everything handed to them by the "hated" english speaking population. YOU WANT OUT SO BAD I SAY PLEASE HAVE ANOTHER VOTE, AND HOPEFULLY THIS TIME YOU WILL WIN AND LEAVE!!! -------------- TIRED TIRED TIRED of this. Abolish Bilingulism speaking rights in the rest of Canada and if you want French then go to Quebec. Enough is enough -------------- I deal with Quebec on a daily basis, as well as people in the Netherlands. English is the international language of business, so deal with it. ------------- BREAK OFF AND DECLARE SOVEREIGNTY ALREADY! I'm sick and tired of yielding to the needs of Quebec and their Liberal supporters. STOP HOLDING THE REST OF CANADA HOSTAGE. If you want to be part of Canada, start providing services in both official languages like the rest of us. Example, I recently drove from NB to AB via the Gaspe Peninsula. I did’t find one English road sign on highway 20 – EVEN THE FEDERAL SIGNS WERE ONLY IN FRENCH. ------------ This is absolutely ridiculous.We have spent billions of dollars on the bilingualism program in this country only to have the self centered, bigoted minority of the country slap the rest of Canada (ROC) in the face.Lets abandon the bilingualism policy as it is only taken seriously in the ROC anyway.We would have lots of money to cure the problems in the medicare system and to re-equip the armed forces with the funds thus saved.While I am at it let me spout off on the results of the bilingualism policy within the armed forces.With the implementation of this policy the forces were required to promote francophones until the 28% factor had been achieved. This had a detrimental effect the effect on the moral of the forces and made for a lot of ineffective leaders.Their juniors believed they were promoted because of language and had no respect for them.The francophones were unsure if this was in fact the case and made them in turn less effective and unsure of themselves as leaders. -------------- I do not argue that a francophone has the right to function in french if they so wish. But what about my right as an anglophone to function in english. The right to be able to read emergency signs without having to get up close to be able to see the english instructions. The right to be served in the language of my choice. More importantly the right to not be insulted in the streets when speaking in english with friends. This is not me being this way because I do not speak french. I am in fact perfectly bilingual. However this whole Bill 101 business has left a bad taste in my mouth and I feel thoroughly discriminated against. Nous avons tous des droits et les anglophones et allophones devraient pas être des citoyens de deuxième classe. --------------- It appears to me that Quebec is living in a full blown dictatorship. The Language Police are breaking our constitutional laws of freedoms. I know Quebec did not sign the constitution therefore not really part of Canada. Why then do we not just let them go & see how they fare then? --------------- JOEL: Get off your pedestal and open your eyes. There has been money poured into Quebec from the Federal government for years and it's never enough to keep them happy.. The rest of the country was forced to become bilingual to keep Quebec happy but they don't have to do like wise. Give me a break. It is great to learn other languages[not only french] but there has to be fair play throughout the provinces which Quebec is still one. English should be in Quebec as well as french ------------- Regardless of intention isn't this a form of social restrain against both French and English. I grew up in Montreal and now live in Vancouver because I feel I have more freedom here being an English Quebecer. It's sad really to see government wasting their time enforcing such heinous laws that only serve to further divide the 2 cultures that make Quebec unique. Perhaps this latest installement of Quebec Nationalism serves a purpose in that it filters the attention away from all the government's shortcomings, such as healthcare, and instead creates and instills more fear and hatred in both the Freanch and English people of Quebec. I for one will not raise my children in such a divided society. "TYPE=PICT;ALT=" ------------- If Stockwell Day would have made the comments that Charest did,there likely would have been a national out cry,bringing terms to surface such as bigot,racist etc.What a joke this national language policy.But the biggest joke is us Canadians who let this crap continue along with the cost. ------------ We just hired a man from France to work for us. His wife's a French teacher. Both of them can't understand why Quebec has decided to attempt to protect the French language when it really isn't a pure and proper French that is being spoken here. They claim that Quebecers have already bastardized the language to a point that it really isn't worth protecting. Unless the slang version, which is spoken in Quebec, is what the fuss is all about. Yes, the word is "Fuss", The next thing you know is Southern US States will want their own nation to protect their bastardized versions of English!! Bienvenue a Quebec!!! -------------- Why is it that the French think they are better than anyone else. Why is it the French feel it is okay to impose their language on us in every aspect of our lives in Ontario but are rejecting English in Quebec. I say what is good for them is good for us. I would like nothing better than to go into a store in Ontario and see only English on our labels. ------------- If Quebec cracks down on this, companies will just move away from Quebec. This is why Quebec is a have not province, because the world operates in English and to force companies who set up shop in Quebec to use french and only french in thier workplace is oppressive. If Quebec does seporate, then parts of Quebec who are english should be able to seporate from Quebec. ----------- Denise: English or 'some Asian language?' Is that the kind of cultural enlightenment one gets from riding the Quebec metro? By lumping all Asian languages into one group, you ignore the cultural diversity that exists in a continent that contains hundreds of unique cultures. Keep in mind studies released earlier this year that painted Quebec as the most racist of all Canadian provinces. I've taken the time to read and understand your words. You might do well to do the same of others before passing judgment. ----------- This is all fine if the people of Quebec want to keep their own language, but keep it in their own homes. How on earth can they expect to communicate with the rest of the world if the rest of the world is speaking English??? English is the universal language. ---------- Dear Al, I did not vote Liberal. Also, my family does "suffer" from this bilingualism nonsense. My husband is in a government position and is soon to be terminated if he does not have his CCCs in French. Although he is currently in the position and barely utilizes French they are still deaming the position fully bilingual. Yes we do suffer in Ottawa. Especially when other friends and family members who try to get goverment jobs are turned down because they are not bilingual. This has been happening more and more. How can you turn down someone who is more qualified, has more experience and knowledge over someone who can barely speak English and who isn't as qualified. I give up!!! ---------- Complain all you want, as long as the country keeps voting Liberal at the federal level, this won't stop anytime soon. -------------- It's time us English-speaking Canadians get off our butts and defend the rights of Anglophones in Quebec and the rest of the country. The federal Fiberals want to increase bilingualism (which really means FRENCH) across the country, yet Quebec is essentially trying to wipe English out of Quebec. When will we wake up and defend ourselves??? ----------- Pronouncements such as Mr Charest's coninually remind me of why I left the province in 1990 and I am always amazed at how much better off I am because I left! It has always been my belief that the people in power need to preserve their careers and dividing the population down linguistic lines has always been a great way to do this! It's no great secret that the majority in Quebec speak French. Other than Quebec and Montreal, Quebec is largely rural and the vast majority probably have little or no post secondary education and their ability to speak English is equally limited.If I was a resident with difficulty finding and keeping work, I'd welcome every opportunity at limiting competitors for my job. I would also want to avoid being forced to take additional courses(English lessons) because let's face it, I proably left school behind me because it was hard. These people vote.They are the majority.Playing to the majority guarantees a prolongation of power. Yer not surprised , R U ?? -------------- What planet is Mr Charest from????? Sure, separate from Canada, won't get you far, no $$ from Ottawa, try to trade, attract tourism, etc in French only, maybe a wake-up call is what Quebec needs to realize that they are NOT SPECIAL. English is the language spoken for the World (airline pilots, control towers, 'sorry guys, you can't land, don't understand English.' Quebec's ridiculous language police taxing fines for displaying your business signage in English. Get a grip Mr Charest. ------------- Do we not live in a "free" country. We should be allowed to speak whatever lauguage we choose, wether it be french, english, german, arabic or whatever you choose. Its crazy that the taxpayers are having to foot the bill for these "watchdog" groups...if you dont want to work with english then find another job. Stop whinning about it! Adapt to your environment or move on. If the seperatists want there own nation, give it to them. Turn them out into the cold...take away our currency, military, all federal government funding and services. I'm sure they'd be crawling back in no time. ------------ The firm I work for was recently advised that it failed a Quebec language police audit. All internal memos and corporate reports, documents, etc. were in English. Our US based parent company reviewed the cost of complying with the language laws and decided to close the Montreal office and service our Quebec customers from Ontario. Operations and development staff - including a call centre - have moved to Toronto, sales staff have been set-up in virtual offices and support staff were let go. Prior to the audit, the firm had been adamant about maintaining a strong Quebec presence. ------------- Canada needs another referendum. Should Canada allow Quebec to stay in Canada without signing the constitution? It is time for democracy let the country decide, all of the country. Also the constitution needs amending to remove the not withstanding clause. "TYPE=PICT;ALT=" ----------- Democratic country? We should look in the mirror before constantly putting down the U.S.. After this, there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't vote for the PQ, at least there better for the economy.

[QUOTE BY= Delenda Carthago] Welcome to the next round of Quebec-bashing! Patapouf gave the Gâzette a reason to fill the tank with Quebec-bashing. Because he suggested investment in the protection of French in Quebec, The Gâzette, obviously, doesn`t want to be alone in the hatred of Quebec. It needs to share it with all its good anglo citizens all over the ROC with a soundoff! The more, the merrier! ----------- Can't understand why Quebec allows such an intrusion of their rights by their own government. Or am I completely off base by thinking that you should be able to speak in the language of your choice, not the one crammed down your throat by the government??? ------------- Louisiana does just fine with it's identity without these bogus language laws. -------------- This is crazy. The rest of Canada is expected to have most commercial products in English and French. We are expected to embrace the French lanuage, in our schools, in our products that we sell, yet Quebec feels that they are above showing the same respect for the English lanuage. Canada has two official lanuages English and French. It would be nice for Quebec to remember this. ----------- To have 2 languages in this country, the government spends 5 billion a year... That is 166 dollars for every man, woman, and child.... my family has 3 members... thats 498 tax dollars out of my family's pocket every year... Why....??? so my pack of smokes can tell me that it is bad to smoke in french??? I say that there is too much french forced down my throat... when are we going to have language police here in the rest of the country???? ----------- Reading this article infuriates me! Didn't Charest receive a large number of Anglo votes thinking that maybe we was the person to stand up for their minority rights in Quebec? I was living in Montreal at the time and am sad to say that he received my vote. Now I am outside of the province shaking my head and watching the circus they call l'Office. -------------- I am very concerned by this article. As an English speaking Canadian who recently returned to live in this province I am amazed at the apathy displayed by the English speaking population regarding English language rights. This is evident even at the municipal level where advertizements and notices are sent out to the citizens of a community designated as a bilingual community with blatant errors in grammer, spelling, and the use of monetary values displayed incorrectly in English. I also notice that in matters where we are entitled to services in our own language the English speaking population is content to respond to French instructions. -------------- Bilingualism seems to have two definitions as far as the French speaking population is concerned. An English speaking bilingual person must speak and write perfect French while just the opposite is true regarding a bilingual French person. This is evident in the Post Office which is a Federal Office requiring bilingual service to all. --------------- Now I remember why I left in 1977, They seem to forget the global language of commerce is English, . I don't think there is any such thing as minority rights in Quebec with thier language laws proving it. ------------- I can't believe this. What a crock! If Quebec is so intent on creating their own country then why don't we just let them leave. Better yet let's help them out the door. We would be doing a large service to the country. As a French Canadian a am appaled at their attitude! Take away their right to our Canadian currency. Take away their right to our Government, armies, hospital care, etc... and let's see just how happy they would be without CANADA! Enough, is enough! There is such a double standard with Quebec. What they are doing is treason! Plain and simple. Come on people open your eyes! -------------- It was a sorry day for the country when French was made an official language. The rest of the country has to put up with both languages while Quebec can force french on everyone. Quebec get with the program you are in Canada whether you like it or not and get more money from the federal government than the rest of the country. You should be made to give your citizens the same rights as the rest of us. "TYPE=PICT;ALT=" -------------- Even the Soviet Union wasn't this bad. Is Canada no longer a free country? This is one reason I moved to the U.S. Sure there are problems here, but when it comes to language, if bilingualism (English/Spanish) is needed, it's used, if it isn't needed, it's not forced upon you. ----------- As long as the Quebec people allow themselves to be misguided to the point of insecurity, they will be entrenched in this rediculous language fiasco. No other culture in Canada is even worried about losing their language or their heritage. The Italians, the Ukrainians, the Chinese the Finnish etc. have even stronger bonds to their heritage than ever before, because these bonds have been tried, tested and proven solid.The French on the other hand seem to be so insecure that they are afraid if they so much as hear an english word then all is lost. It's time the French separtists wake up,smell the coffee and get a life. Quit moaning about how hard done by you are and do something productive for this country instead of trying to rip it apart. I'd rather see the governor general take her friends on another wild party than see one more penny thrown down the drain on Quebec's bilingual BS. --------------- All though my mother's tounge was french and my fathre's was somthing else,so what I speak only in English,I used to like going through Quebec in the 60s,70s and the 80s,now I avoid it like the plegue:0) we now go the American way where they talk to you in English,going through PQ they are very rude and let on that they do not understand what in hell you are saying.so we avoid staying in PQ and use thesouthern route --------------- This is absolute BS and our so called Federal Government (more like an extension of the Kbec provincial government) should be stepping in and doing something about this. Like most other Canadians, especially western Canadians, I am sick and damn tired of the bullshit coming out of Kbec and how they constantly get away with everything they do. I think either Kbec should go, or western Canada should seperate to releive ourselves and our paycheques of this waste of time and money called Kbec. -------------- Quebec is enforcing a culture they do not have. Quebequois "nationalism" presumes a cultural heart that is not there. Forcing 'le francais sur la province' only rips out the cultural heart. I'm less than fluent in French but I do appreciate the language and its ability to communicate differently. Teach and nurture the appreciation, and the application should follow if the able contribution is there. -------------- I am so sick of these fascists! i have lived in quebec for most of my life and am fluently bilingual but i'm getting to the point where i hate the french! I can't even find a bloody doctor that speaks english and they want to take a harder line? i say the rest of canada, including Ottawa, should kick bilingualism to the curb until quebec learns that it is still a part of canada, whether they like it or not. Besides, anyone who only speaks french is going to learn pretty damn fast that they have no future outside of quebec and the few french speaking nations. Way to go Charest! condemn the youth of quebec to poverty! at least we have the social programs to support them, but who is going to pay the taxes for it? ------------------ I wonder when the closed-minded people in "English Canada" (which, by the way is where I live) will grow up and realize that being able to communicate in more than one language is of tremendous benefit to both individuals and society as a whole. A large percentage of people in Quebec learn English out of necessity, and yet we whine and complain at the mere mention of French being taught in schools. It makes me sad to think that we are so closed-minded. Je me demande quand est-ce que les gens obtus du Canada "anglais" vont se rendre compte que le fait de parler deux ou plus langues est un bien important non-seulement pour les individus, mais aussi pour la société en genérale. La plupart des personnes en Québec parlent l'anglais par nécessité, mais dans le reste du pays on se chiallent quand l'idée d'enseigner le français dans les écoles est mentionné. Ça me rend triste de penser qu'içi on a des esprits tant fermés. --------------- News flash to Quebecers: French is a dying language. You cling to these bigoted, unconstitutional laws in a futile attempt to deny the inevitable. Why don't you just get with the program and maybe in the process we can heal the deep divisions that your hatred of English-speaking Canadians has ingrained in our country's psyche --------------- Two official languages? Those Quebecquios are wanting it all and us to pay for it too. It's time to hold their feet to the fire and force bilingulism down their throats as it was done to us. ------------- 751 million dollars spent by Jean Chretien to further the cause of bi-lingualism (doubled by 'matched by provincial gov't money) on top of the hundreds of millions already wasted every year, and it is still not enough! We should turn off the faucet to this ludicrous waste of money right now! Let people speak the language they prefer and let the best language prevail. Those who NEED to understand the other language will learn soon enough if they have to. Eventually the people of the world will all speak one language and it will be a blend of many tongues, just as most languages today have words and word-roots from others. ------------- This is another religous war. I used to love french language, but we must admit it is a language of the past. Office francaise is a big waste of taxpayers money like many things in Quebec and it should be abolished long time ago. People should have a choice about what language they want to speak. ------------- Well, that proves it then.... "The language watchdog found that English usage has gone up two per cent in Quebec over the past decade while French usage grew at a slightly lower pace - 1.7 per cent" French sucks, english rules! ---------- guess our Liberal Gov will now enforce us all to speek French when English is the Language used in Canada & North America. The Liberal Government is afraid of Quebec, but since over 75% of the government is French, nothing will be said of this. There afraid to stand up & say what the rest of Canada say's. But if the Canadian People want this to happen so it be!!!!!!!! ----------- French Canada is embarassing the rest of the nation, crossing constitutional boundaries and becoming an albatross around this country's neck! ------------- Jean don't waste your money on ensuring that French is spoken, save as much as possible so you and the rest of your cronies can get the H**L out of Canada and leave us to run a country with a healthy economic future as opposed to the one we have now which is constantly dogged by a bunch of treasonous mutineering whiners who get everything handed to them by the "hated" english speaking population. YOU WANT OUT SO BAD I SAY PLEASE HAVE ANOTHER VOTE, AND HOPEFULLY THIS TIME YOU WILL WIN AND LEAVE!!! -------------- TIRED TIRED TIRED of this. Abolish Bilingulism speaking rights in the rest of Canada and if you want French then go to Quebec. Enough is enough -------------- I deal with Quebec on a daily basis, as well as people in the Netherlands. English is the international language of business, so deal with it. ------------- BREAK OFF AND DECLARE SOVEREIGNTY ALREADY! I'm sick and tired of yielding to the needs of Quebec and their Liberal supporters. STOP HOLDING THE REST OF CANADA HOSTAGE. If you want to be part of Canada, start providing services in both official languages like the rest of us. Example, I recently drove from NB to AB via the Gaspe Peninsula. I did’t find one English road sign on highway 20 – EVEN THE FEDERAL SIGNS WERE ONLY IN FRENCH. ------------ This is absolutely ridiculous.We have spent billions of dollars on the bilingualism program in this country only to have the self centered, bigoted minority of the country slap the rest of Canada (ROC) in the face.Lets abandon the bilingualism policy as it is only taken seriously in the ROC anyway.We would have lots of money to cure the problems in the medicare system and to re-equip the armed forces with the funds thus saved.While I am at it let me spout off on the results of the bilingualism policy within the armed forces.With the implementation of this policy the forces were required to promote francophones until the 28% factor had been achieved. This had a detrimental effect the effect on the moral of the forces and made for a lot of ineffective leaders.Their juniors believed they were promoted because of language and had no respect for them.The francophones were unsure if this was in fact the case and made them in turn less effective and unsure of themselves as leaders. -------------- I do not argue that a francophone has the right to function in french if they so wish. But what about my right as an anglophone to function in english. The right to be able to read emergency signs without having to get up close to be able to see the english instructions. The right to be served in the language of my choice. More importantly the right to not be insulted in the streets when speaking in english with friends. This is not me being this way because I do not speak french. I am in fact perfectly bilingual. However this whole Bill 101 business has left a bad taste in my mouth and I feel thoroughly discriminated against. Nous avons tous des droits et les anglophones et allophones devraient pas être des citoyens de deuxième classe. --------------- It appears to me that Quebec is living in a full blown dictatorship. The Language Police are breaking our constitutional laws of freedoms. I know Quebec did not sign the constitution therefore not really part of Canada. Why then do we not just let them go & see how they fare then? --------------- JOEL: Get off your pedestal and open your eyes. There has been money poured into Quebec from the Federal government for years and it's never enough to keep them happy.. The rest of the country was forced to become bilingual to keep Quebec happy but they don't have to do like wise. Give me a break. It is great to learn other languages[not only french] but there has to be fair play throughout the provinces which Quebec is still one. English should be in Quebec as well as french ------------- Regardless of intention isn't this a form of social restrain against both French and English. I grew up in Montreal and now live in Vancouver because I feel I have more freedom here being an English Quebecer. It's sad really to see government wasting their time enforcing such heinous laws that only serve to further divide the 2 cultures that make Quebec unique. Perhaps this latest installement of Quebec Nationalism serves a purpose in that it filters the attention away from all the government's shortcomings, such as healthcare, and instead creates and instills more fear and hatred in both the Freanch and English people of Quebec. I for one will not raise my children in such a divided society. "TYPE=PICT;ALT=" ------------- If Stockwell Day would have made the comments that Charest did,there likely would have been a national out cry,bringing terms to surface such as bigot,racist etc.What a joke this national language policy.But the biggest joke is us Canadians who let this crap continue along with the cost. ------------ We just hired a man from France to work for us. His wife's a French teacher. Both of them can't understand why Quebec has decided to attempt to protect the French language when it really isn't a pure and proper French that is being spoken here. They claim that Quebecers have already bastardized the language to a point that it really isn't worth protecting. Unless the slang version, which is spoken in Quebec, is what the fuss is all about. Yes, the word is "Fuss", The next thing you know is Southern US States will want their own nation to protect their bastardized versions of English!! Bienvenue a Quebec!!! -------------- Why is it that the French think they are better than anyone else. Why is it the French feel it is okay to impose their language on us in every aspect of our lives in Ontario but are rejecting English in Quebec. I say what is good for them is good for us. I would like nothing better than to go into a store in Ontario and see only English on our labels. ------------- If Quebec cracks down on this, companies will just move away from Quebec. This is why Quebec is a have not province, because the world operates in English and to force companies who set up shop in Quebec to use french and only french in thier workplace is oppressive. If Quebec does seporate, then parts of Quebec who are english should be able to seporate from Quebec. ----------- Denise: English or 'some Asian language?' Is that the kind of cultural enlightenment one gets from riding the Quebec metro? By lumping all Asian languages into one group, you ignore the cultural diversity that exists in a continent that contains hundreds of unique cultures. Keep in mind studies released earlier this year that painted Quebec as the most racist of all Canadian provinces. I've taken the time to read and understand your words. You might do well to do the same of others before passing judgment. ----------- This is all fine if the people of Quebec want to keep their own language, but keep it in their own homes. How on earth can they expect to communicate with the rest of the world if the rest of the world is speaking English??? English is the universal language. ---------- Dear Al, I did not vote Liberal. Also, my family does "suffer" from this bilingualism nonsense. My husband is in a government position and is soon to be terminated if he does not have his CCCs in French. Although he is currently in the position and barely utilizes French they are still deaming the position fully bilingual. Yes we do suffer in Ottawa. Especially when other friends and family members who try to get goverment jobs are turned down because they are not bilingual. This has been happening more and more. How can you turn down someone who is more qualified, has more experience and knowledge over someone who can barely speak English and who isn't as qualified. I give up!!! ---------- Complain all you want, as long as the country keeps voting Liberal at the federal level, this won't stop anytime soon. -------------- It's time us English-speaking Canadians get off our butts and defend the rights of Anglophones in Quebec and the rest of the country. The federal Fiberals want to increase bilingualism (which really means FRENCH) across the country, yet Quebec is essentially trying to wipe English out of Quebec. When will we wake up and defend ourselves??? ----------- Pronouncements such as Mr Charest's coninually remind me of why I left the province in 1990 and I am always amazed at how much better off I am because I left! It has always been my belief that the people in power need to preserve their careers and dividing the population down linguistic lines has always been a great way to do this! It's no great secret that the majority in Quebec speak French. Other than Quebec and Montreal, Quebec is largely rural and the vast majority probably have little or no post secondary education and their ability to speak English is equally limited.If I was a resident with difficulty finding and keeping work, I'd welcome every opportunity at limiting competitors for my job. I would also want to avoid being forced to take additional courses(English lessons) because let's face it, I proably left school behind me because it was hard. These people vote.They are the majority.Playing to the majority guarantees a prolongation of power. Yer not surprised , R U ?? -------------- What planet is Mr Charest from????? Sure, separate from Canada, won't get you far, no $$ from Ottawa, try to trade, attract tourism, etc in French only, maybe a wake-up call is what Quebec needs to realize that they are NOT SPECIAL. English is the language spoken for the World (airline pilots, control towers, 'sorry guys, you can't land, don't understand English.' Quebec's ridiculous language police taxing fines for displaying your business signage in English. Get a grip Mr Charest. ------------- Do we not live in a "free" country. We should be allowed to speak whatever lauguage we choose, wether it be french, english, german, arabic or whatever you choose. Its crazy that the taxpayers are having to foot the bill for these "watchdog" groups...if you dont want to work with english then find another job. Stop whinning about it! Adapt to your environment or move on. If the seperatists want there own nation, give it to them. Turn them out into the cold...take away our currency, military, all federal government funding and services. I'm sure they'd be crawling back in no time. ------------ The firm I work for was recently advised that it failed a Quebec language police audit. All internal memos and corporate reports, documents, etc. were in English. Our US based parent company reviewed the cost of complying with the language laws and decided to close the Montreal office and service our Quebec customers from Ontario. Operations and development staff - including a call centre - have moved to Toronto, sales staff have been set-up in virtual offices and support staff were let go. Prior to the audit, the firm had been adamant about maintaining a strong Quebec presence. ------------- Canada needs another referendum. Should Canada allow Quebec to stay in Canada without signing the constitution? It is time for democracy let the country decide, all of the country. Also the constitution needs amending to remove the not withstanding clause. "TYPE=PICT;ALT=" ----------- Democratic country? We should look in the mirror before constantly putting down the U.S.. After this, there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't vote for the PQ, at least there better for the economy. [/QUOTE] well, i'm not really impress. typical arguement that is use for 200 years : we are english, we are the better, talk english now. and it make me always laught to see things like : let go defend english in quebec. sure they have 3 university, a complete school system, hospitals, even a whole part of montreal (westmount) that are strictly english (stop signs, they refuse to hane a street name in french (like boulevard rené levesque that is name dorthchester in westmounth). yeah those people are right, they are so in danger here... the best was that guy from frnace that think that we bastardized. seriously... sure go in france ans ask for a diete coke... it's a coca light there, they eat cookies instead of biscuit, etc... <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/lol.gif' alt='Laughing Out Loud'>

Once again, I'll say that the opinions on canada.com's Sound Off do not represent the opinions of Canadians at large. If the occasional redneck outburst and things that happened forty or more years ago form the basis of your argument for seperation, you really don't have much of a case Delenda, in my opinion.

[QUOTE BY= cathou79]well, i'm not really impress. typical arguement that is use for 200 years : we are english, we are the better, talk english now. and it make me always laught to see things like : let go defend english in quebec. sure they have 3 university, a complete school system, hospitals, even a whole part of montreal (westmount) that are strictly english (stop signs, they refuse to hane a street name in french (like boulevard rené levesque that is name dorthchester in westmounth). yeah those people are right, they are so in danger here... the best was that guy from frnace that think that we bastardized. seriously... sure go in france ans ask for a diete coke... it's a coca light there, they eat cookies instead of biscuit, etc... <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/lol.gif' alt='Laughing Out Loud'> [/QUOTE]This could be a topic of itself, but I think the French refer to grammar. Though the French use a lot of 'anglicismes', they have much better grammar than French Canadians. For example, a French person will say 'j'habite Boul. René-Lévesque' whereas a French Canadian says 'j'habite SUR LE Boul. René-Lévesque', which is really a translation of the English 'I live ON THE René-Lévesque boulevard'. The reason for their usage of English words is quite obvious: the French are much more confidant with their language than French Canadians; they are not afraid of the English influence and the possibility of assimilation.

[QUOTE BY= Ed King]The reason for their usage of English words is quite obvious: the French are much more confidant with their language than French Canadians; they are not afraid of the English influence and the possibility of assimilation. [/QUOTE] True, but France's language and culture is not threatened from the East, West and South such as is the case with Québec's reality in North America. From reading Canada.Com comments, I doubt France has so many people within it's own borders intent on seeing it's culture obliterated.

[QUOTE BY= Ed King] Once again, I'll say that the opinions on canada.com's Sound Off do not represent the opinions of Canadians at large. If the occasional redneck outburst and things that happened forty or more years ago form the basis of your argument for seperation, you really don't have much of a case Delenda, in my opinion.[/QUOTE] And once again, Ed, I'll say that is typical of what the ROC thinks about us. Why would Canada.com open a sound-off on a topic like that, on the national scale and not to Montreal only? It is a provincial issue, not a national one. Canada.com wants and loves to raise hatred for Quebec. I don`t see any other reason. There is not a single post to defend Quebec on this hateful thread. If English Canadians, as you say, don`t approve these hateful remarks, then why don`t they protest? They don`t protest because they agree with it.

Once again D, you are painting all Canadians with the brush dipped in the ink that are the few. The few that read Canada.com, and the few of those that post on a sound off, and the few of those that actually get published. I see none of you venom directed toward the editors or moderators that actually approve those comments. Perhaps the 1 or 2 people that moderate are the ones with the agenda. Or do you really see that it is only a few, perhaps 200 out of the 30,000,000 Canadians, but you just need more rhetoric to push you lame duck cause foreward?