Does the Death of the BLOC mean the end of Sovereignty?

[cybercoma]

Oh wow really? I hadn't heard that was the case, I haven't lived in NB since 2001, so I guess that has changed just recently. I know a lot of kids were in immersion simply because of the reasons you listed above, it's a huge advantage to be bilingual. The same holds true with government jobs in Ontario as well.

When did that happen? I still can't believe they took away french immersion as an option for anglophones.

A couple years ago. It has been a trainwreck. The idea is that all kids would be required to be immersed in French classes after the 5th grade. They had no choice. So, instead of allowing parents to choose French immersion for their kids, they got rid of early immersion entirely (what I was talking about above), but at the same time kids after fifth grade are required to be in classes taught in French. It's seriously a mess.

Here's a CBC article on it:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2008/03/14/nb-french.html

[Benz]

The problem is that NB is trying to turn out more bilingual children that are natively anglophones. You can't work in this province without being bilingual

False. You can, but the province is indeed, trying to improve the bilinguism of the citizens. Both for french and english. I've heard of that.

and the French have a decided advantage, considering the abundance of English media all around them, especially the internet. There are many times more bilingual natively francophone people than vice versa here.

It's not that difficult to have access to french stuff in NB. You can easily watch french TV, read french newspapers and so on. The french do not have a that great advantage.

In any case, I have a problem with English parents not being allowed to send their child to French immersion.

That's weird. They want to promote bilinguism but they ban the best way to achieve it. Do you know why?

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It also had a lot to do with the fact that a large portion of province speaks French.

33%, greatest minority in percentage among all provinces. We are sliping off from the point. Let's say that french in NB and english in Québec are even. What does it change? You seem concerned that it is not fair for the french in NB if only Québec has a veto in the name of the french. My question is, what do you propose? What would you do to make sure that both english and french people in Canada must agree and negociate any further constitutional changes?

One simple question and please answer it honestly. Are all Anglophones the same?

Obviously not. But, up to what point? As I said, a fisherman in Cape Breton doesn't have the same life style and concerns as a urban citizen of Toronto or a cow-boy in Alberta. There are differences between them BUT... those differences are smaller if compared to Québec. All the english provinces agreed with the actual constitution while Québec has a different opinion. Different opinion on how the system must work. Québec has proposed alot of solutions. Every single time, TROC agreed to refuse just because they are satisfied with it. Leaving Québec with one alternative. Leaving Canada. Is that what you want? We will never accept that the supreme rules are set by an english majority only. It is out of question.

Is there no difference that separates individuals from the various English provinces. Because they are English they are all the same?

Is it a crime to be that much different? What is the threat on Canada to allow the french to also have a say on the constitution so it is no longer an exclusive english one? What is it that you are so afraid of?

No you are wrong, by your assertion that would mean the Canada, US, UK, South Africa, Australlia, New Zealand, Turks and Caicos, and any myriad of other Common Wealth Nations or former Empire colonies are all one culture because we all speak English. Culture is not defined by language, it is but one factor in the great context.

This is not what I said. You say so. I said the language is a vector of the culture. You switch to the conclusion that it means all nations in the world sharing the same languages are the same nation. This is a fallacy. The language is vehicle of the culture. There is the french language and the french (Québec) culture. They are linked together. But the french language is not only the vehicle for Québec culture. France and several other french nations use the same vehicle. The same goes with all nations using english.

Now... do the 9 provinces are different enough to claim they are all 9 different nations? It is not up to me to say so. They will have to debate with themselve about it. If someday NB beleives they are a distinct nation from the others and they want to follow Québec's path, then do it. So far, it is rather the otherway around. Every single one of them agreed to the current system and give every inch of sovereignty to Ottawa. unlike Québec.

Giving Quebec a veto that no other province has, gives them far more power over the rest of the country. They could veto absolutely anything the felt like, even if had absolutely nothing to do with Quebec.

No. Because when the time will come to Québec to ask modifications, they will all league against Québec and Québec will never be able to get anything. It does on both sides. Québec has no interests to do so, never did and never will. Again... why the Europeans can succeed and we wouldn't.

That is the danger of what you seek.

It cannot be worst than now.

That's not right, no one province should have that much power over the other provinces. That's not a partnership.

It's not a greater power, it just bring balance between two nations. The Germans are not afraid at all that the Irish can veto them. Even if the germans are more than 10 times bigger. I think you watched too many horror movies and you are confused.

That's my point, you can no more claim to speak for all the French people in Canada, than I can claim to speak for ToadBrother in BC, Hydraboss in AB, or Bloodyminded in NB. I can speak, for myself only, and Ontario, can speak for Ontario only, which includes Franco-Ontarians.

The only flaw is that the anglos in Québec will enter into Québec's majority and the french in Ontario will enter into Ontario's majority. Again, I do not beleive we can do the perfect system. If you have a better idea, let me know. I suggested another one but, think it is too complicated and rpoblematic to apply.

[Benz]

A couple years ago. It has been a trainwreck. The idea is that all kids would be required to be immersed in French classes after the 5th grade. They had no choice. So, instead of allowing parents to choose French immersion for their kids, they got rid of early immersion entirely (what I was talking about above), but at the same time kids after fifth grade are required to be in classes taught in French. It's seriously a mess.

Here's a CBC article on it:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2008/03/14/nb-french.html

In Québec, they say they will do something similar. You think it is a mess? Do the children fail more that way? Do they investigated if they get better results?

[WIP]

Yes they are. It's part of the Federal Accountability Act, enacted by the Conservatives in 2006. They cut themselves off from that advantage their opponents have perceived them to have. Likewise with the removal of per-vote subsidies, they're the ones with the most to lose from their own legislation.

Did they really? The latest numbers I could find...from the National Post no less, show the Conservative Party with more than twice the campaign donations of the Liberals, Bloc, and NDP combined. They broke the rules on third party spending, and so called "in-and-out" transfers of campaign donations to riding associations in the last two elections; along with other areas of fraud committed by the Harper Government, what credibility do they have regarding working within the rules of the Federal Accountability Act? http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/RelsMay0411.html Who finances the constant stream of attack ads that have run for the last four years in between election cycles? First it was the attack ads against Stephan Dion, and then it was Michael Ignatieff, when he became Liberal leader. The Conservative campaign has been running non-stop since 2006, and now that they have their majority, Harper will do whatever is in his power to turn Canada into a one party state.