Jump to content

CANADIEN

Member
  • Posts

    4,614
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by CANADIEN

  1. Eureka, [Language of instruction 23. (1) Citizens of Canada (a) whose first language learned and still understood is that of the English or French linguistic minority population of the province in which they reside, or ( who have received their primary school instruction in Canada in English or French and reside in a province where the language in which they received that instruction is the language of the English or French linguistic minority population of the province, have the right to have their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in that language in that province. (91) Continuity of language instruction (2) Citizens of Canada of whom any child has received or is receiving primary or secondary school instruction in English or French in Canada, have the right to have all their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in the same language. Application where numbers warrant (3) The right of citizens of Canada under subsections (1) and (2) to have their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in the language of the English or French linguistic minority population of a province (a) applies wherever in the province the number of children of citizens who have such a right is sufficient to warrant the provision to them out of public funds of minority language instruction; and ( includes, where the number of those children so warrants, the right to have them receive that instruction in minority language educational facilities provided out of public funds. ] Under the Constitutional Act of 1982, the education rights exist throughout all of Canada, and cannot be abolished by a provincial government. You talk about good will. I certainly would not be one to ignore its importance. But as Clifford Johnson, a minister in the Bourassa government in the 1980's, said when resigning in protest of language laws, "rights are rights are rights". For me it's as simple as that. As for Elizabeth/Elisabeth... the origin of the fword is to be found in the Hebrew language... why a different spelling occured in both languages is beyond me (although I would guess the French spelling is older than the English one). No case of linguistic correction here.
  2. The DEMAND, and therefore the need, for publicly funded French schools in BC exists, as demonstrated by the fact they exist, Ceasar. Whcih proves, as I suspected, that your denounciation of Quebec laws is nothing more than the windblowing I have come to expect from an hypocrite.
  3. Public education in the minority language should be available unless there is no demand for it or it is not practically feasable. And how do you define "need", Caesar? I define it as having parents and students who want an education in French (outside Quebec) or in English (in Quebec). Where it is wanted? Once again, the individual parents decide what they want. As for the economic factor... Our Constitution already stipulates that the right to a publicly funded education in the minority language exists "where numbers justify it". It has been interpreted very largely (good thing), but I think most people here would agree it might not be very easy to set up an English school for one family living in Amqui, Quebec, about 80 km away from the nearest Anglophone community. And I sure wouldn't expect a French school in Fort Severn, Ontario. So, it is clear that, unless the establishment of an English school in a particular location is not feasible, the Quebec government has no moral right to restrict access to publicly funded English schools. I have a problem with them doing it. And I have an even bigger problem when some hypocrites complain about it while denying me the equivalent right to access to publicly funded French schools in another province. What do you have to say about THAT, Caesar?
  4. I am pretty sure that, if we looked at the funding of most Highland Games in Nova Scotia or elsewhere in the country, we'd find some level of government funding. And why not? They are good for the local economy and they generate taxes. But the issue here is not whether or not cultural events, whether they are Highland Days on Cape Breton Island, an Indian Day in Vancouver, the Franco festival in Ottawa or the Beaches Jazz Festival in Toronto, should be funded. Could be an interesting debate, if extended to things such as funding for theatres, operas, film production. But it's not what we are discussing here. What we are discussing here is the right of Canadians to choose to go to a publicly funded French or English school and to receive government services in French or English, as they individually decide to do. And it is clear that there are some who believe that this right should exist in English only, others who think it should be in French only in Quebec and in English only elsewhere, and others who know that right should fully exist all across our great country.
  5. And my point about her Majesty, Stoker, is that, since she and her ancestors have seen fit to acknowledge the rights of their French-speaking subjects in Canada, it is the height of absurdity to use the fact she is British to claim that English should be this country's sole official language.
  6. Stoker, Thank you for clarifying for me and all of us that there should not be any funding (according to you) for government services in French or French schools outside Quebec. After all, we Francos should either stay in Quebec or assimilate, right? As for your suggestion that each and every province should decide on its own in which language(s) government services are provided and whether or not there should be minority language schools... You realize of course that, being equal to the other provincial governments, the Quebec government would then be entitled to go further that it does now and close all English schools within its borders if it saw fit. Would be interesting to see what you'd do then: still say it's strictly a provincial business, or declare that Quebec doesn't have the same rights as the other provinces?
  7. Eureka, No province, Quebec included, can prohibit schools in the minority language. What Quebec unfortunately does and can is to limit who can access it.
  8. Nah, August... that's the one word where I always confuse the two languages LOL
  9. Caesar, Although it is entirely true that French schools exist legally today (a claim I most certainly did not or would not make), that was not always the case. Let's take, for example, Ontario. There, the use of French as a language of instruction (that is the language used to teach non-language subjects or to communicate with teachers) was curtailed starting in the 1880's culminating in Regulation 17 (1912) that prohibited it outright beyond Grade II. That Regulation ceased to be enforced in 1927, and was officially withdrawn in 1942. There was no publicly founded French high school in the province until the 1960's, and more than one school board fought tooth and nail against more French schools. I believe we would see the same history if we looked at other provinces. BTW, two tinbits of information. First, public (and in some provinces, Roman Catholic) French schools throughout the country are publicly founded. Second, many English-speaking school boards throughout the country provide French immersion... not just private schools. Two facts that will readily be confirmed by anyone who thinks that French has no place in this country. Finally, what do you think of someone who denounce Quebec's language laws but oppose the rights of French-speaking Canadians living outside of Quebec? I call them hypocrites.
  10. Ceasar, I would be the last person to equate official bilinguism with Quebec Language Laws. I'll leave that to those (not yet seen on this board, I will readily admit) who claim that Quebec laws are a precursor of what will happen in the rest of the country because of official bilingualism. And I'll that to those who use Quebec's laws as a facade to mask their own bigotry.
  11. Caesar, Pass me the Kleenex as I cry. First, nothing in the Constitution or federal prevents ANY provincial government from dropping French from the curriculum in their English schools. In fact, nowhere is French even a requirement for getting a high school diploma (except perhaps New Brunswick, and of course Quebec). So, if you don't want French in the English schools of your province, go to those who put it there: your provincial government. And have it changed. Like I would give a darn about it. As for the excuse that opposition to the rights of Francophones outside Quebec is the fault of the Quebec government, give me a break. We both know perfectly well that violations of constitutional rights, banning of French schools, and outright opposition to any French being spoken outside of Quebec did not start in the 1970's, but a long time before that. Laws, in Quebec or elsewhere, that limit freedom are not worth the paper they're written on. But they should not serve as an excuse for denying others their rights.
  12. Stoker, The Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (which is the legal name of her kingdom, btw) is indeed also our Queen. Her Majesty the Queen Elisabeth II... the same one who signed in 1982 the Constitutional Act, dclaring English and French to be Canada's two officiakl languages. The descendant of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, who signed the BNA of 1867, which give equal status to English and French in the federal Parliament and Courts. Both being descendants of King George III, who signed the Quebec Act (1774). Are we now clear about where our BILINGUAL laws stem from? You want to prove that Gaellic is part of the Canadian identity? Do it. Like I would cry foul if that was established, with all the inherent rights. As for your suggestion that Quebec pays for services and education in French throughout Canada... come back to me the day I, as an Ontarian, can choose to pay my taxes to the Quebec government.
  13. Boo hoo oo Stoker Whether you like it or not, French and English as part of what defines Canadian (even though the English language does not define me as a Canadian). Therefore, as a Canadian, I have the right to choose to be educated in French if I choose to. I have the right to see my language reflected in federal institutions and to receive services in it if I see fit. Spare us your whinning about your tax ,oney going to promote French. My tax money also goes towards offering servoces in English, and you won't see me cry about it. Anyways, the real question is not the money, is to whether or not I, as a French-speaking Canadian, have equal rights in my country... in other words, whether it is my country or not. So tell me... do I have the right to an education in French and federal services in French in my country, yes or no?
  14. I would not go as far as barbarism, but i agree with the essence of Eureka's posting. I would add, as a Franco-Ontarian, that i still have to be convinced that the French language is under threat in Quebec... That it is the argument of bigots on both sides of the linguistic lines tells much about how out of touch with reality they are. After all, the upcoming demise of French in Quebec has been predicted for close to 250 years now.
  15. It is sad that bureaucratic stupidity would get in the way of a parent wanting to do exactly what the government wants him to do... reminds me of that New Brunswick University trying to bar someone from an English immersion program because his guide-dog was trained in French. Anyway... That parent, as a Canadian, should have the right to decide by himself if his children will be educated in French or English, without government interference. To go to a French or English school or to receive government services in English or French is each and every Canadian's personal business. I don't care what language other people want to be educated in, or what second languages they want or don't want to learn. I don't care what percentage of Canadians can speak both English and French. I don't care what choice they make for themselves and why they make them. They are not my business. Equally, my choices as a Canadian are mine, and nobody's business or right to deny... especially not bigots mttering their insanities in French in a Quebec government office or in English on this site.
×
×
  • Create New...