Le projet de loi Marois sur l'identité québécoise

To uni.ca:

Have you all seen the PQ's latest proposal?

Our group (www.uni.ca) has always feared a Quebec constitution. All three parties in Quebec are in favour of one. Last week, the PQ came up with a great idea. As part of their constitution, if you are a new immigrant or come from somewhere else in Canada and can't pass a French test, you do not get full Quebec citizenship and cannot run for political office. That means (name here for any strong Canadian Anglophones) would not be able to run for political office in Westmount, and his political dreams to become leader of the Quebec people will be dashed.....

To me, this is absurd. Apparently, it is not enough that all children of immigrants send their children to French schools, nor can the PQ accept the many statistics that show that the language laws are working and French has never been safer in our lifetimes in Quebec, due to the language laws and the emigration of Anglophones who have not adapted to them.

Some commentators have said this latest PQ proposal smacks of fascism by creating two classes of citizens. I am not sure if I would go that far but it does show the uglier side of the PQ, and an unjustified fear of immigrants with respect to language (in my view). Even Michel David from Le Devoir has panned the PQ proposal, and said that it risks dividing Quebec society even further and undermines the Bouchard-Taylor Commission.

I like to think it shows how desperate the PQ is to remain relevant.

Any thoughts?

_____________________

October 23, 2007 7:30 PM

Anonymous said...

This proposal, very much discussed on Radio-Canada, is certainly troubling.

Thanks to the previous writer for downloading and sending to us that article from La Presse. I am pleased that "...most Quebec constitutional experts conclude that the proposed law is unconstitutional."

J’s closing thought, "I like to think it shows how desperate the PQ is to remain relevant" rings true. Depressing.

Best regards

__________________

Read the article... La Presse, Montréal 10/07

Another article