Québec needs an English-language newspaper
Québec doesn’t have an English-language newspaper. Québec doesn’t have an English-language television, radio station or Internet portal.
The Québécois are keeping silent in the lingua franca of the Internet.
In 2008 that means Québec doesn’t exist.
French-speaking North Americans who are celebrating 400 years on the continent have no media of their own to talk to the 400 million English-speakers who surround them.
Is it any wonder the wildest politically-fictional fantasies still circulate about Québec?
An Indian or an Armenian googling some news about Québec has 10 times as many chances to come upon Barbara Kay’s or Mordecai Richeler’s paranoiac diatribes about a fascist ethnic tribe trying to wipe it’s province clear of strangers and “coloreds” than a simple description of the French Language Charter.
What about the Montreal Gazette? The Gazette is not a “Montreal newspaper that happens to be in English” as columnist Henry Aubin once told me. It’s the newspaper of Montreal’s English-speaking minority. Period.
One token separatist columnist is not enough to fairly translate the diversity of thought of a population twice as numerous as Ireland’s. The Gazette deserves credit for giving some space to strong voices, from former RIN leader Pierre Bourgault in the 80′s to the current incumbent Josée Legault, but one person can’t possibly incarnate the diversity of ideas and opinions barely skimmed by 13French -language dailies.
Is it any wonder Canadians confuse the Parti Québécois, small-town nationalists, right-wing conservatives, 19th century ecclesiastic ideologues and violent student radicals of the 1970′s into a single seditious movement of anti-Canadianism that has to be crushed?
Why does Québec need an English-language newspaper? 2 reasons:
1. Because if Québec doesn’t talk directly to the world, it lets Barabara Kay, Jan Wong, Mordecai Richler and the Gazette do it for them. If the curious individuals around the world have access to The Gazette’s, The National Post’s and The Globe and Mail’s perspective on Canadian events, they should have access to Québec’s. Or more accurately to the plural: Québecs’.
2. 48 000 newcomers will come to Québec this year. At least half of the will not speak French when they arrive. Many of them will have some understanding of English, though. These people will learn to know their new country through the biased, truncated and partial coverage of the Anglo minority’s newspaper. With no access to French-language media, they will assimilate and adopt the Anglophone perspective and identity. They are entitled the French majority’s perspective as well.
What I hear you saying is that Quebec needs an English nationalist paper. Which is a bit of an oxymoron.
SUZANNE
January 8, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Nope. I’m saying Québec needs an English-language newspaper where French-speakers would make all editorial decisions in order to properly reflect French-speaking thoughts and ideas.
Why is that an Oxymoron? Are good ideas in French bad when translated in English?
angryfrenchguy
January 8, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I thought the whole point of the nationalist movement was not to have French people have to speak English any more and be “masters in one’s own house”.
SUZANNE
January 8, 2008 at 7:10 pm
One of the objectives of the various ‘nationalist’ movements was not having the French-speakers forced to speak English to work and to be treated as equal citizens.
Most of us are quite happy to ALSO speak English and to have access to English-language books, songs and movies.
And now we are going to use the language you forced us to learn to tell the world how much of an hypocritical and discriminatory place Canada really is.
I believe it is called, in English, poetic justice.
angryfrenchguy
January 8, 2008 at 7:28 pm
I consider myself a strong and long-standing advocate of a Quebec-wide English-language media owned and operated by a committee of citizens reflecting what contemporary Quebec society is, as opposed to what alienated Canadians and alienated Quebecers want it to be. For example, if there were 20 people on the editorial committee, there would be 10 women, 10 men, 16 native French-speakers (including 15 of Quebec origin), 1 native English-speaker and 3 native speakers of other tongues. We should purposely over-represent Aboriginal by making sure that one of the three native speakers of other tongues is an Amerindian or an Inuit. All these people should be fluent in French and English.
Until the objective of the Charter of the French language, to have French be the uncontested public language in Quebec, becomes a reality, an important percentage of our co-citizens will remain immune to mainstream Quebec culture which goes on in French and instead feed on English language culture which originates mostly from the USA and the ROC.
But isn’t it a contradiction to use English if we aim to have French be common to all in Quebec? Not really, because it is Quebec’s true self that we will translate and express, as much as possible, in that language. Therefore, it will be Quebecers’ representation of themselves shown to those of us who are poorly acquainted with it. In addition, when people from Canada, the USA, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia etc. will care to learn about Quebec, they won’t be exclusively exposed to a uniform anti-Quebec coverage of everything that goes on in our country.
This will not help the progression of French, but it will help fighting the anti-French and anti-Quebec prejudice. It will help our national unity, while the linguistic divide lasts.
Since the end, in 1837, of the Montreal Vindicator, a newspaper founded by Daniel Tracey, from Ireland, later edited by Edmund-Bailey O’Callaghan (a good friend of Louis-Joseph Papineau), the patriotic voice of Quebec has expressed itself almost exclusively in French. This was some 170 years ago.
Sure, a lot of the militant writings of Quebec’s contemporary patriots have been translated to English, but who reads books?
Mathieu Gauthier-Pilote
January 11, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Migth be a good idea.
For example, Cuba has his own (official) journal translated in many languages.
Some of you may say the comparison is weak when considering the propaganda purpose of that newspaper, but eh, one day Quebec should take care of that too… But let’s call it “sensibilisation”, not propagande, whatever the difference is…
Maheek
February 20, 2008 at 1:20 pm
oh yeah,
an official organ with the truth – like pravda. citizen’s committee and everyone can be comrades.
how will we be able to afford new ribbons for the typewriters?
johnnyonline
February 23, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Maybe I’m an exception among Anglophones, but if I want information about what’s going on in the five sixths of Québec that is Francophone, I prefer the French language source every time, be it newspapers or any other medium of communication. I think that these sources are generally the best mirror of the society they serve. I use English language sources mainly as supplements.
littlerob
April 1, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Planet Mars needs a english language newspaper. Who cares about Québec City anglo newspaper ? You know what Québec City needs ?
Less incompetent, arrogant and lazy government workers. Less stupid fascist federalist politicians. Less far right racist pro-american colonized morons. Québec city needs a good kick in the ass and I needs tostart behaving as a real “capitale nationale”. Don’t get me wrong. I love Québec City, but they are soo inward looking that they don’t know what is going on in Montréal or the rest of the world.
Marc Authier
April 11, 2008 at 7:30 am
“the language you forced us to learn”
Are we “forcing” you to write in English too? Poor martyr. Oh, the YOU you refer to is a francophone.
Billy Bob
May 23, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Boo-hoo-hoo. “Anti-Quebec” this. “Quebec prejudice” that. Plains of Abraham this. Quiet revolution that. Boo-hoo-hoo. Ah, yes. The little 85% majority that could. The Quebec Nation? Whatever!
“Canada doesn’t care about us anymore”… Maybe we should leave”. “They don’t like us”. “Bien non… we can’t, we do not have any money?!?!” “Mon dieu, what now?!?!” “Let’s just keep using these catchy buzz words like prejudice, and anti-Quebec. Then we’ll just go back to kicking the crap out of the Anglo’s who refused to leave there city that their families have lived in for 200-300 years. Bien oui, c’est ca. Let’s pass a law that they are not allowed to think in English! That English thoughts threaten our “society”.”
Got news for you my fellow Quebecers (Canadiens)… 9 other provinces have officially “stopped caring”. No. Not because they dislike you. Not because they view French as inferior… but because… wait for it… after awhile… watching babies throw toys out of their strollers… get’s boring!
Ottawa will keep entertaining you for as long as the current distribution of power exists. Once those seats are no longer such a big deal, you will be treated like every other province. With Ottawa’s complete and utter indifference. Enjoy the spot light while it lasts. It may not happen in our life times, but trust me, it will happen.
Nobody hates you. Nobody thinks less of you. If they do, that doesn’t make them anti-Quebec. That’s makes them ignorant, and likely… there “others” they don’t like either!! Again, ignorant.
On another note…. just wanted to give you all a little dose of reality. I was born in Quebec. My siblings were born in Quebec. My parents. Great grand parents. Great-great grandparents. I am a Quebecer, and a Canadian. 200+ years of history my family has in Quebec. Now? As an Anglophone, I don’t recall my family getting a monthly cheque from this great Anglo-elite conspiracy that apparently existed? No one brought us our cheque down to Verdun? Matter of fact my father was a police officer that was never promoted while his Francophone counterparts did. My grandfather, who was a WWII veteran died prematurely because the only job he could find after the war was cleaning chemical train cars. My other grandfather was a printer who Francophone run and operated union went bankrupt from mismanagement… yep, we Anglos sure were “living the high life”! Then, in the 70′s the victimized majority said “salut, bon chance”. Yes indeed. We had it good! Buy the way. I’m not from England, and I could care less what happened because of the redcoats! They were doing that garbage to EVERYONE! They were the most powerful nation on earth for centuries. Get over it! You know who couldn’t get jobs? Do you know who was mistreated… poor people. French speaking, English speaking, Polish, Chinese, etc. etc. that’s who. Learn your history. Stop creating the past! It makes you look dumb! Revisionism is for dictators. Not intelligent people!
Well guess what? There are about 600,000 people that left, and about 1,000,000 non-French speaking people left behind. Those are some pretty angry folks that are JUST about to start speaking up. So, like the English (People in/from England) eventually had to… you’re going to start hearing it back. As for the rest of Canada that this has never effected, aside from all the tax money they’ve wasted listening to both of us… they likely just keep not giving a rat’s behind. And they shouldn’t.
You opened Pandora’s box with your “Quiet revolution”….
Thanks for entertaining a little reality for a moment. Please continue complaining about how the 85% majority is threatened and mistreated.
Merci et bonjour.
Proud Angryphone-Proud Canadian
October 3, 2008 at 12:37 am
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Felecia Pennington
November 12, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I am amazed that Anglo Canadians have been as patient as they have been on having French forced down their throats for so long. Quebec is a spoiled child with very Adult parents who will listen endlessly to how bad the French in Quebec are indeed treated and then the Anglo parent will kiss the child and tuck them in for the night. You poor poor souls.
Ken Russell
November 24, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Ken Russell
It was a complete mistake for the British and later Canada to garante the rights of the French Canadian to use the French Language in the Constitution Act of 1867. The Constitution Act of 1867 prcolaimed both English and French as Official Languages of the Dominion of Canada and the Province of Quebec.
Constitution Act of 1867
Use of English and French Languages
Section 133
Either the English or the French Language may be used by any Person in the debates of the Houses of Parliament of Canada and of the Houses of Legislature of Quebec: and both those Languages shall be used in the respective Records and Journels of those Houses: and either of those Languages may be used by any Person in or any Pleading or Process in or issuing form any Court of Canada established under this Act, and in or from all or any of the Courts of Quebec.
The Acts of the Parliament of Canada and of the Legislature of Quebec shall be printed and published in bot those Languages.
The Quebecois being the ungrateful bastards they are repayaed the tollerance of both the British and Canada by creating such anti-English Language Laws like Bill 22 (Official Language Act of Quebec) and Bill 101 (Charter of the French Language) which illegaly removed English as a rightful Co-Official Language of the Province of Quebec and made French the Sole-Official Language of the Province of Quebec. We must take a stand to defend the English Language and the Anglophone minnority in the Province of Quebec and the best way to ensure the rights of Anglo-Quebecers and the protection of the English Language is for waves of Anglophones to move to the Province of Quebec and either outnumber the Quebecois (Which should have happen centuries ago) or restore the Anglo-Quebec population back to its historical high of 25% of the Province’s population. I am infavour of increasing the Anglophone population of the City of Montreal back to being a majority at 61% of the City’s population and increasing the Anglophone population of the City of Quebec City back to being a large minnority at 43% of the City’s population.
We must encouage a million or more English speakers to migrate to the Province of Quebec to strenthen the English speaking population there.
The English Language should be restored as the Co-Official Language of the Province of Quebec and restore the Province of Quebec to being a bilingual province which how it was created in 1867. English should be restored on signs, ect at the same size of that of French. English Culutre and Language should have equal rights in the Province of Quebec as French Culture and Language.
The Current Demographics of the Province of Quebec
80% (Francophone)
10% (Anglophone)
The Current Demographics of the City of Montreal
70% (Francophone)
18% (Anglophone)
The Current Demographics of the City of Quebec City
97% (Francophone)
2% (Anglophone)
The numbers of Anglophones in the Province of Quebec and in the City of Montreal and particulary in the City of Quebec is far to low to ensure the survival and protection of the English Language and Culture. So the Anglophone Population needs to be increased drasticaly in the Province of Quebec and the City of Montreal and very very drasticaly in the City of Quebec City.
Proposed Demographics of the Province of Quebec
75% (Francophone)
25% (Anglophone)
Proposed Demographics of the City of Montreal
61% (Anglophone)
39% (Francophone)
Proposed Demographics of the City of Quebec City
57% (Francophone)
43% (Anglophone)
BTW. You can tell when a Language and Culture is on life support when they need draconian laws like Bill 22 and Bill 101 and a Language Police toboot. If French Culture and Language of the Province needs these laws and a language police to survive it does not deserve to survive and should peacefully die out.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
LONG LIVE A UNITED CANADA
UnitedEmpireLoyalist
May 11, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Brilliant!!!! I am not a nationalist but I cringe every time I read the Gazeete, The National Post or the G&M on issues dealing with Quebec politics. It is just so biased and does not reflect Quebec reality. And unfortunately it fans the flames of anti-Quebec sentiment by presented biased views. Like littlerob, I read the French press if I want to know what’s up in current events in Quebec
S. Church
June 20, 2009 at 3:26 pm
@ UnitedEmpireLoyalist
Manitoba was created a bilingual province. It no longer is.
Ontario used to have laws favorable to its French-speaking minority (still not as good as those Anglo-Quebeckers have always had here in Quebec, mind you). And yet, those were abrogated in the 1910′s.
On what ground should the Quebec English minority gain a status that hasn’t, to this day, been given back to French minorities in other provinces?
What’s good for the goose is no longer good for the gander?
Oh, by the way…
One of your point was that French should die out if it is to survive by man-made laws only. Yet English should be enforced in Quebec… by law?? Are you serious? As you put it yourself, if English can’t survive in Quebec without state legislation, well that’s just too bad. Just shut up and assimilate. How can I say, hum, ah oui : PARLE BLANC.
AngloPhiliac
August 11, 2011 at 9:52 am