The Gazette’s French Kiss…Off
In what must be one of the most illogical and confused editorials I’ve read in some time, this, from the otherwise, usually competent Gazette.
I’m at a loss as to how to put this any more plainly. As someone who is multi-lingual (including French) we have NO linguistic duality in this country that extends very much outside Quebec. I am all for celebrating their distinctness, but much as it happened with feminism, all-drug legalization, gay rights: When a particular movement is hijacked (and in some instances held ransom) by extremists among them, the superiority play trumps equality.
I haven’t the foggiest why the Gazette specifically wrote such drivel. I do know why my old pal James Moore demanded more French for the 2010 opening ceremonies: Could it be dwindling Tory numbers in Quebec?
But outside pockets of small, diminishing towns in B.C. and Manitoba, French is largely, large, in Quebec.
I enjoy their culture, very much. I lived in Montreal for a while. Canada’s most beautiful place is Quebec City. Mordecai Richler, our greatest writer, hailed from Montreal. There is much (are many) I am most thankful for that come(s) from Quebec.
But as the shackles of Quebec nationalism continue to decompose; those shackles that deliver separatist vermin to a NATIONAL parliament every election, they must not expect that as their fever subsides, we be held accountable for their overall suffering.
French is not a major issue outside of Quebec, least of all here and in Alberta.
When the Richmond Olympic Oval had only English on it, and Richmond City Council stood their ground against criticism that it must include French, I cheered.
The same way I do for Quebec when she demands that it’s her language and culture which must reign supreme…in her province.

As I said on another post, I believe this huffing and puffing is all about heading off the separatists from stoking whats left of their flame.
It’s unfortunate that this charade needs to continue. The country would be better off if we could stop the farce and move on.
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Yes, it would. But regardless of who gets elected, Tories or Grits, they seem bewitched by Quebec. Frankly, if the Tories see gains again in Ontario, that they can, for once, keep, they might not need to be more than about half a dozen percentage points up from where they are currently in Quebec.
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Blame James Moore for poking his snout into this pile of merde. Either he knew that an assault was inevitable, or he thought he could head one off at the pass. Yes, he is playing to their interests in Quebec—are the Conservatives clawing their back up in labelle province’s opinion polls after the PM’s “culture” gaffe during the last general election? I didn’t think they were out of those woods yet. Perhaps this was the lift they were looking for.,
Either way he was first in—and the rest followed. We here in the ouest, can only retch quietly into our french…er…freedom fries.
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You mean, poutine?!
And you can get some of that in Maillardville. The best stuff is owned by a Vietnamese couple…
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I had two years in Montreal, visited Quebec City, beautiful Province, friendly people, instead of relearning French I did move West, not sorry at all.
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And we’re all happy you came out here, pal. This province could use more like you. Many blessings!
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