BLOC to seek Party Status

[Benz]

And this was the problem with the BQ. They were so focused on Quebec, that they forgot about those who spoke French outside of the province. I'm unsure if the BQ responded to this, but if they did, I'd like to see a link.

It has been a while I don't know if I can find a link. But the Bloc did indeed take position in favor of Montfort and did what they could.

This would have been the type of arguments I would have liked to see coming from the BQ. Not only protecting the language and culture of the French speaking population in Quebec, but especially on a National, or perhaps even, North American scale. This could have been done by working to provide proper translation material and educators and perhaps building schools and networks in different Provinces and States. This would have helped Quebec to not feel segregated and alone in a North America dominated by English. The BQ had 20 years to start this kind of project, and was in a unique position to do this, but they let the opportunity slip away.

I blame the Bloc to not try and become a Canada-wide party. Changing their vocation to promote a new confederation type as well as Quebec sovereingty. Based on the European model. Even if it would have no chances of success, at least they would have tried. Only fools never change their mind. Even if we are at opposite ends, it is always constructive to debate about it. For both ways. The BQ has no one else to blame then themselve for the sudden success of NDP although they did a great job.

[Evening Star]

Its not a mandatory in Alberta, and I'm fairly sure it isnt mandatory in BC, Sask, or Manitoba either. Other provinces and territories I have no idea.

Oh, I had no idea.

[Molly]

Its not a mandatory in Alberta, and I'm fairly sure it isnt mandatory in BC, Sask, or Manitoba either. Other provinces and territories I have no idea.

Through at least the 60's some instruction was mandatory pretty well across-Canada and a requirement for entry into almost any post-secondary institution. (In many post-sec, the alternate language was a normal requirement for graduation, too.)

While people were generally very willing or even eager to learn, there was nothing like enough qualified teachers to meet the demand. (Several of my family members came from Switzerland during the 50's and 60's to teach French/English.) Most people had teachers less useful even than mine- a better than average teacher, but with a heavy Welsh accent and an 'Elmer Fudd' speech impediment. Well-structured (written and) Diefenbaker French was about the best you could hope for, and only if you were lucky.

It was largely futile in any case, simply because language must be exercized to be properly learned and retained. If there is no application for it.... no one to speak to...

[RNG]

Through at least the 60's some instruction was mandatory pretty well across-Canada and a requirement for entry into almost any post-secondary institution. (In many post-sec, the alternate language was a normal requirement for graduation, too.)

That's how it was for me too, in Alberta and Saskatchewan back then. But by the time my daughter hit school, she's 38 now, French was an elective that few took, and a foreign language was no longer an entry requirement for most Canadian universities.

[Remiel]

It was largely futile in any case, simply because language must be exercized to be properly learned and retained. If there is no application for it.... no one to speak to...

If we had had the technology back then that we do now, I would not be surprised if it had been more succesful. Internet and satellite television offer opportunities for distributing French language programming into the rest of Canada that the old fashioned broadcast era did not. I think it a an absolutely massive failure of the cultural industry in Canada to not try and distribute more Quebec film and television to elsewhere in the country.