Tags
Bilingualism, Bill-14, Cegep, Claude Lorrain, Language Laws, Quebec, Right to study in English Cegeps, Sovereignty
Le Moulin by Claude Lorrain, 1631
Claude Lorrain (c. 1600 – 23 November 1682)
Photo credit: wikipaintings.org (Lorrain); www.britannica.com (Sir George-Étienne Cartier)Bill 14
Yesterday, I wrote a blog on the subject of Bill 14, now under discussion in the Quebec Legislature,[i] but did not post it. I needed to “sleep on it” and did. If enacted, Bill 14 would make Quebec communities where the percentage of English-speaking citizens falls below 50% into French-speaking communities, but it is more complex. It would also put limits on the number of French-speaking Québécois who attend Quebec’s Cégep (grades 12 and 13). After obtaining their DEC Diplôme d’études collégiales) or DCS (Diploma of College Studies), students may enter graduate programs, such as Law and Medicine.
A will to remain within Canadian Confederation
When Jacques Parizeau, a former premier of Quebec, lost the last referendum on sovereignty, held in 1995, he commented that the Parti Québécois had lost because of “money and the ethnic vote.” This cannot be altogether true. Among the c. 51% of the population who voted against sovereignty, there were many French-speaking voters. There are French-speaking Quebecers who wish to retain a close partnership with Ottawa. In fact, this percentage has grown significantly since Madame Marois has become the Premier of Quebec. She leads a minority government and has effected cutbacks and disappointed students. I can state, therefore, that there is, among Québécois, a will to remain within Confederation, a closer bond than that which unites the United States.
French-Canadians Studying English
An excellent indication of this will is the large number of French-speaking Québécois who enrol in English-language Cégeps as well as institutions such as Bishop’s University, in the Eastern Townships, where I reside, with the purpose of learning English. English-speaking Quebecers are willing to accept compromises and, among French-speaking Québécois, many wish to learn English. Because of the operations I have undergone in the last five months or so (cataracts and bunions), I know that it is entirely possible in Sherbrooke, Quebec, to receive medical attention in Canada’s two official languages. For instance I was provided with information on the removal of cataracts in a bilingual booklet. As well, when my second bunion was removed, there were Anglophones waiting for surgery and they were addressed in fluent English and in a friendly, caring manner by French-Canadian doctors and the hospital’s staff.
Bilingualism
Bilingualism is not an evil. On the contrary. It is as a student at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia, and Marianopolis College, in Westmount (Montreal), that I studied French systematically. These were English-language institutions. As a result, I know that in English one “makes a decision” and that in French one takes a decision (prendre une décision). In other words, although French is my mother tongue, I perfected my knowledge of both French and English taking courses intended for English-speaking students. I studied French as a second-language. Later, after finishing my PhD, I taught applied linguistics, or what is involved in the teaching and learning of second or third languages (second-language didactics), at McMaster University, in Ontario. I love studying languages.
Opposing Bill 14
Now that Bill 14 is being discussed, I wish I could provide the Legislature with my personal testimonial. I can do so in fluent and correct French. Consequently, I am opposed to a Bill that would further limit access to the study of English to French-speaking Quebecers. One has to be realistic. If Québécois do not learn languages other than French, English in particular, they will be facing obstacles that have nothing to do with their being part of the Canadian Confederation. They are citizens of the world.
I am also opposed to Bill 14 because it takes away from English-speaking Quebecers the rights I enjoyed in mostly English-language provinces of Canada. The majority of French-speaking Canadians live in Quebec, but there are a great many French-speaking Canadians living outside Quebec. They have their schools or they may enter a French-immersion program. Canadian Parents for French remains a strong lobby and several members of this association look upon French-immersion schools as the better public schools or private schools within the public system.
Sir George-Étienne Cartier
The French-Canadian Legacy
French-speaking Canadians outside Quebec can listen to French-language radio and watch French-language television networks from coast to coast and they are respected by English-speaking Canadians who have been flocking to French-immersion schools from the moment Pierre Elliott Trudeau and his Liberal Party implemented official bilingualism. It is no longer possible for me to speak French at a restaurant table in Toronto or Vancouver expecting that no one will understand what I am saying.
In other words, the battle has been fought and won. I have mentioned Pierre Elliott Trudeau‘s government, but he had predecessors who paved the way for a bilingual Canada. Among these leaders are Sir Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, KCMG (October 4, 1807 – February 26, 1864), Sir George-Étienne Cartier, 1st Baronet, PC (September 6, 1814 – May 20, 1873), a father of Confederation, and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, (20 November 1841 – 17 February 1919). It’s time to cease and desist. If not, more English-speaking Quebecers will leave their province as well as French-speaking Québécois many of whom had moved to Quebec from France, Belgium, and other war-torn countries. A large number left in the 1970s. They had fled strife.
Strife is what Lord Durham, John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, GCB, PC (12 April 1792 – 28 July 1840), observed and noted in the report he submitted after investigating the mostly misunderstood Rebellions of 1837-1838 (entry from the Canadian Encyclopedia). Lord Durham commented that French-speaking Canadians were “without history and without literature” and recommended that they be assimilated, but this recommendation was never put into effect. Sir Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, a French-Canadian, was Prime Minister from September 26, 1842 – November 27, 1843. His term began a year after the Act of Union (1841), also recommended by Lord Durham, was proclaimed. Responsible government became the more important objective, as would extending Canada from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
The Rebellions of 1837-1838
Québécois who study the history of Canada should be taught that the Rebellions of 1837-1838 occurred in both Canadas (see Upper Canada Rebellion, Wikipedia). There were patriots in Toronto and rebels were hanged in the current Ontario (Toronto and London). Recently, I met a lady who told me she did not know about the Upper Canada Rebellion and was sorry she had not been taught Canadian history in a more accurate manner.
Conclusion
It would be my opinion that souverainistes are now “fighting windmills” (Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes). They are also harming all French-speaking Canadians living outside Quebec. Above all, consider the benefits of living harmoniously and in prosperity.
Featured artist
My featured artist is Claude Lorrain, the byname of Claude Gellée (born 1600, Champagne, France—died Nov. 23, 1682, Rome [Italy]), whose landscapes may have been an inspiration to Whistler in that they are lyrical and an earlier expression of a degree of tonalism.[ii]
RELATED ARTICLES
Upper Canada Rebellion (Wikipedia) Upper and Lower Canada (michelinewalker.com) The Rebellion in Upper Canada: Wikipedia’s Gallery (michelinewalker.com)Upper Canada Rebels who died by hanging
Peter Matthews (1789 – April 12, 1838; by hanging [Toronto]) Samuel Lount (September 24, 1791 – April 12, 1838; by hanging [Toronto]) Joshua Gwillen Doan (1811 – February 6, 1839; by hanging [London, Ontario])REFERENCES
CTV News (François Legault) CBC News (Coalition Avenir Québec, François Legault) CBC News (Dawson College, Cégep, priority to Anglophone students) The Montreal Gazette Loss of identity)Quebec’s main political parties and their leaders (le chef) are:
Le Parti Québécois (Pauline Marois, chef) Coalition Avenir Québec (François Legault, chef) Le Parti Libéral du Québec (Philippe Couillard, chef) _______________________________ [i] Called “Assemblée nationale” by “indépendantistes” parties. [ii] “Claude Lorrain.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/120438/Claude-Lorrain>. art: Claude Lorrain composer: Johann Pachelbel piece: Canon (Arr.: Louis Ablazzo, Ed. Mathun)performers: Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra conductor: Bemhard Giiller
© Micheline Walker
27 April 2013
WordPress
Trees,
by Claude Lorrain,
1669
Micheline's Blog 
Thank you so much, dear Micheline, for article so interesting! It’s good to be bilingual when, you have more opportunities for information and knowledge.
The video also I really like
Have a wonderful day and many blessings! Big hugs, with love, Stefania! 🙂
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Stefania, you are right. It’s good to be bilingual.
It cannot understand those politicians.
Big hugs and love,
Micheline
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Lovely music as always. Thank you. Perhaps the politicians would do well to remember that bilingualism, or learning a second language, is very good for brain health and good health means less pressure on an economy!
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Dear Gallivanta,
You are absolutely right. Bilingualism is excellent for brain health and is therefore good for the economy.
Doctors in Quebec also say that the cutbacks effected by Madame Marois will cause health problems, which in the end will also put pressure on the economy.
There is a great deal of ignorance among politicians.
By the time they have attended French school for 11 years, which is compulsory, they know their own language and can only benefit from studying in an English-language institution.
Dear Gallivanta, I thank you for writing.
My kindest regards,
Micheline
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Politicians are a strange bunch but we seem to need them to make democracy work.
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Dear Gallivanta,
Politicians often act without consulting experts. As for voters, when they go to the polls, they do not necessarily know what will follow. It’s very sad, but it’s the best we have. I am glad I live in a democracy where there is a parliament.
Take good care of yourself, dear Gallivanta,
Love,
Micheline
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Politics and religion have always upset and separated people – sur tous les méridiens, hélas!
ah, ma chère Micheline, I miss Québec… je m’en souviens! 🙂 J’adore le Canada!
Un couple d’amis, jeunes retraités vont débarquer(atterrir!) à Montréal début-mai: ils ont décidé de prendre leur retraite dans la Belle Province!
Pensées amicales et meilleurs voeux de Toulouse, France, “old Europe”! 🙂
Bonne santé et bonne chance dans toutes tes acitivtés! Amitiés sincères, Mélanie
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Chère Mélanie,
Moi, c’est Montréal que j’adore. Dommage que la discorde règne au Québec où se trouve cette ville magnifique. Je ne veux pas qu’on y touche.
Vous êtes si gentille de m’avoir écrit.
Je penserai à vous.
Bises,
Micheline
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Thank you for a very interesting article, dear Micheline.
I confess I don’t understand people who fight against multilinguism either.
Being bilingual is not a problem and should be taught to little kids.
My -just- 4 yr old Canadian grand-daughter, who is with us in Belgium at the moment, speaks fluent French (her mother’s language), fluent Ukrainian to her father and paternal grand-mother and of course fluent english with her friends and at the daycare. She also sings songs in all three languages.
Does she make mistakes? – Sure, but so does my 5 yr-old other (and Belgian) grand-daughter who only speaks French, goes to school, and is still unable to pronounce the sound “sh”…
I understand the pressure felt by French-speaking people, who are afraid of being swallowed by the dominant English language (as in “passe-moi l’jam”, shorter than “confiture”), but, as you wrote, one can learn correct language – both of them- at school…
Portez-vous bien, bises,
Lou
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Dear Lou,
Learning other languages is easy and fun. The best time to teach a child languages is before the age of 12. That is a scientific fact and an excellent friend of mine who moved to Germany from Poland at approximately the age of 12 is the living proof of this. She then went on to learn French and English. She has her doctorate in English literature and degrees in French and French-Canadian literature. She also knows English-Canadian literature very well.
When we moved to Victoria, British Columbia, we (my two sisters, my brother and I) learned English very quickly which I believe can be explained by our frequent visits to Massachusetts where my grandfather lived. What we learned was the syntax of English.
Of course people make mistakes whether they are unilingual or multilingual. These can be corrected in the classroom, doing homework with one’s classmates and reading.
I am thankful to my parents for having had as best friends a Belgian couple. Henri’s vocabulary was extensive. I could listen to him for hours. He and my father shared similarl interests. As for Mariette, she spoke excellent French and also made sure I learned a little German: the syntax. Then came Spanish…
There could be a degree of ignorance among souverainistes. They have put their head in the sand. I know people who say, for instance: j’ai acheté qu’est-ce que j’avais besoin. That’s not French, that’s English. In English “what” can be translated as “ce que”, “ce dont”
and the interrogative “qu’est-ce que,” “de quoi”, etc. Learning French as a second-language can help eradicate these errors. At what point in the history of the French language the “de besoin” existed but one would have said, “ce que j’ai de besoin”.
There is nothing wrong with knowing several languages. On the contrary. It’s a blessing.
Dear Lou, take good care of yourself.
Love,
Micheline
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