Posted on 08/23/2012 8:00:17 PM PDT by JerseyanExile
Anyone wanting to run for public office in a Quebec led by Pauline Marois will have to prove they can speak French first, the Parti Quebecois leader said as she announced her latest language-related campaign promise Tuesday.
The PQ leader said anglophones, allophones and aboriginal people will be forbidden from seeking municipal or provincial office unless they have an appropriate knowledge of French.
Marois said the idea is reasonable, given that French is the official language of Quebec.
"We will present this bill but it is not just for new Quebecers — it is for everyone," Marois said during a campaign stop on Tuesday in Montreal. "All Quebec citizens who want to be elected as a mayor or a councillor, as a member of the legislature, must have a knowledge of French."
Without that ability, a person could not be a candidate in elections, participate in the public financing of political parties or petition the legislature to address grievances.
"In the case of anglophones, be it a native or a new arrival, listen, the common language here is French," Marois said. "Is there anyone who can imagine not knowing it?"
Marois has said during the campaign for the Sept. 4 election that she would toughen Quebec's language laws if the PQ takes power, and introduce a Quebec citizenship.
The latest language proposal could potentially have its greatest impact in aboriginal communities.
Kitty Gordon, a spokeswoman for Makivik Corp., which oversees resource development of Quebec's north, expressed outrage at the PQ plan.
"I think it's kind of ridiculous for anglophones and aboriginals," she said in an interview.
"Are they saying that the Quebecers were here first so that's why we have to speak French? It's like saying the Inuit were here first so you all have to speak Inuktitut."
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
They also want to force businesses, which have more than 10 employees to speak only French during hours, even if it’s only between co-workers.
If I were living there, and knew enough French, I’d probably accidentally include insults to the Parti-Quebecois in my language and claim it was always accidental.
Bunch of Nativist Racists.......
Oh wait, that only applies to those of us who want to kick illegals out of our country.
“In the case of anglophones, be it a native or a new arrival, listen, the common language here is French,” Marois said. “Is there anyone who can imagine not knowing it?”
Oh, to hear an American politican say that to many of our citizens or new arrivals (legal or illegal)...?!
On the other hand, it is actually refreshing to see somebody standing up for “Borders, Language, Culture”.
Quebec can do what it wants, when it is its own country, otherwise it’s, “fere me la bouche.” :)
You’ve convinced me to move to Quebec and run for office ;) I seem to remember some French from high school over 30 years ago-
“fermez la bouche”
I am not language or grammar police, but had a chuckle considering the context. I live in the South West now, and sadly, got a D in Spanish, then took French and got strait As. Kind of like the joke, do your feet run and your nose smell? I might be on the wrong side of North America.
I really don't like reporting what I saw and learned, but someone probably should be candid about it.
I had a chance to visit their famous government-owned Maison Radio-Canada, headquarters of the French media for Quebec, which only confirmed my friend's revelations to me. Not far away from the building, on their rubber-wheeled subway system, one encounters a modern, vibrant, multi-cultural array of citizens.... every variety, size, shape and nationality. In fact, it appeared to me that Caucasians were in the minority in most of the downtown transit system. I also heard a wide variety of languages spoken in the subway and on the streets.
Yet 50 yards away, at the Canadian Broadcasting's French TV center, it was 100% Caucasian, French-speaking employees. The guards, receptionists, tour guides, cafeteria staff, gift shop, broadcasters roaming the halls, the staff in the studios, everywhere and everyone, even those mopping the floors....all white, French speaking. This stark contrast between their big Media Center and the Subway told me one thing......something's wrong.
I know it isn't proper to make sweeping statements like this, but I can only repeat what I saw and heard in the space of a 4-day weekend. Racism can sometimes be very subtle and we look away from it, or refuse to admit it, or hide it, or not talk about it. But it's there. Sometimes it takes fresh eyes to bring attention to it, and call it what it is.
“La démocratie? Pah!”
Canada Ping!
I can’t say I disagree with you on that. My only comment is that this pretty much dispels the idea that Quebec is part of a multi-cultural nation.
Why don’t they just allow teleprompters?
Oh, never mind...
“Bunch of Nativist Racists.......”
I believe they’re probably the same race as the English speakers.
“...about several visits she’s made to Quebec and how rudely and disrespectfully she was treated there.”
For several years now, I’ve wanted to travel up to Quebec. It looks intriguing - especially Quebec City. But my knowledge of French is limited to (at best) 5 or 6 words.
If a French-speaking individual is treated rudely in Quebec, I can only imagine how an anglophone would be treated.
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