Quebec, the French Language, and Quebecois Identity

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Yes and even 35% is a majority of Francophones. Another big chunk emotionally wants to be/already thinks they are a separate nation but just realizes how much poorer they would be post separation. Especially with the transformation in the Quebec economy over the past 40+ years into one that supports everyone.

Canadians think that Quebecois are spoiled.
Quebecois think that Canadians oppress Quebecois.
Quebecois think that Anglo Quebeckers are spoiled.
Anglo Quebeckers think that Quebecois oppress Anglo Quebeckers.
....

Sept en haut, svp.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by lio45

The pictograph being unintelligible isn’t a problem if you think about it, because anyone with the qualifications to legally drive a truck with an explosive load in a given jurisdiction will be familiar with the standard pictograph that jurisdiction uses to indicate an alternate route. It could be the Hello Kitty head and it would do its job.

So you agree that they are unintelligible as well.

Of course it’s not a problem, as professional drivers would have that as part of their training. I am amused, though, at some of the choices that are made. The first time a tourist (such as myself, or Ackajack, evidently) sees the exploding vehicle sign, they might interpret as a cause for concern…

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

One wonders how much could be saved by consolidating them into a single service? Not going to happen, of course.

What do you mean by that? They already are a single corporation and share HR, contracting, finances, a Board of Directors, etc.

If you mean a single TV or radio network with some stuff in English and some in French, what would be the audience for that?

It would make it even more irrelevant to anglophones and compromise the decent market share it has in French Canada.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I wonder if SRC will use this as an opportunity to purge the organization of the remaining federalists in the publicly funded national French language broadcaster???

That used to be the case in the past (Liberals used to call the news network RDI "RDOui") but Radio-Canada is way more blatantly pro-Canada and federalist these days. The transition has been very subtle but real.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Quebec is in the news a lot in the ROC these days, and not for the usual language reasons. Some big stories coming out of La Belle Province that showed up on the main landing page of various, mainstream English media outlets I frequent:

- McGill going on a hiring freeze, blaming the government's decision to hike out of province tuition. Okay, so this one is language related.

- The suspicious death of Daniel Langlois (the Henry Ford of CGI?). His death may have made the news here because film production is a big industry across Canada.

- The Quebec teachers strike, which seems like the longest and most severe one we've had since the Mike Harris teachers strikes in Ontario of the 90s. What is the mood in Quebec around this? If I remember back to the Ontario strikes, sympathy began to run out after the teachers were still on the picket lines after three weeks and it probably helped Mike Harris get reelected.

- QS tells men they can't run as candidates in byelections and loses Olivier Bolduc. This is not front page news over here, but probably got amplified by culture warriors.

Most people are pro-strikers and Legault's approval rating has plummeted as a result.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

The first time a tourist (such as myself, or Ackajack, evidently) sees the exploding vehicle sign, they might interpret as a cause for concern…

That exact warning sign would be great in the parking of any Italian restaurant famous for being a favorite meeting place of Mafia bigshots: "your vehicle may explode when you'll try to leave"

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Quebec is in the news a lot in the ROC these days, and not for the usual language reasons. Some big stories coming out of La Belle Province that showed up on the main landing page of various, mainstream English media outlets I frequent:

- McGill going on a hiring freeze, blaming the government's decision to hike out of province tuition. Okay, so this one is language related.

- The suspicious death of Daniel Langlois (the Henry Ford of CGI?). His death may have made the news here because film production is a big industry across Canada.

- The Quebec teachers strike, which seems like the longest and most severe one we've had since the Mike Harris teachers strikes in Ontario of the 90s. What is the mood in Quebec around this? If I remember back to the Ontario strikes, sympathy began to run out after the teachers were still on the picket lines after three weeks and it probably helped Mike Harris get reelected.

- QS tells men they can't run as candidates in byelections and loses Olivier Bolduc. This is not front page news over here, but probably got amplified by culture warriors.

I think the Daniel Langlois is in the news as a wealthy Canadian was murdered in Mexico. A purely anonymous couple would have gotten similar coverage.

Didn't see coverage of QS but it will resonate in the rest of the country as there is a strong silent majority tired of this kind of crap. Quebec is interesting as in some ways it is the most progressive but it also has less patience for political correctness or reasonable accommodation as the phrase that has some of the most buzz.

Originally Posted by Acajack

Most people are pro-strikers and Legault's approval rating has plummeted as a result.

Is the causality on this clear? If so wouldn't he just buy them off the way Ford did with the EAs? (Granted Legault is one of the smarter more strategic thinkers in Canadian politics and Ford one the least). I know Quebecers are more pro union so I'm sure there is more support but thought his approval had fallen before this.

[MolsonExport]

Is Legault the new Trudeau of Quebec? ie., getting blamed for everything? Legaultwithoutaraise?

[Acajack]

He was already sputtering due to some unpopular decisions so this is just adding to the torrent.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Is Legault the new Trudeau of Quebec? ie., getting blamed for everything? Legaultwithoutaraise?

BC NDP still popular but most other long serving governments are as you say getting blamed for everything and this seems to be the case in our cultural counterparts like NZ. UK and US have their own unique issues but inflation etc isn't helping the incumbents either.

If this is the end of the CAQ (Election far too long from now to make that even guess) and the PQ come back it could change our federalism discussions again. Risky of course but we do need some constitutional tinkering and it won't happen without Quebec demanding it. Alberta could actually separate and still be ignored.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Quebec is in the news a lot in the ROC these days, and not for the usual language reasons. Some big stories coming out of La Belle Province that showed up on the main landing page of various, mainstream English media outlets I frequent:

- McGill going on a hiring freeze, blaming the government's decision to hike out of province tuition. Okay, so this one is language related.

- The suspicious death of Daniel Langlois (the Henry Ford of CGI?). His death may have made the news here because film production is a big industry across Canada.

- The Quebec teachers strike, which seems like the longest and most severe one we've had since the Mike Harris teachers strikes in Ontario of the 90s. What is the mood in Quebec around this? If I remember back to the Ontario strikes, sympathy began to run out after the teachers were still on the picket lines after three weeks and it probably helped Mike Harris get reelected.

- QS tells men they can't run as candidates in byelections and loses Olivier Bolduc. This is not front page news over here, but probably got amplified by culture warriors.

To answer your question, the mood in Quebec is very pro-teachers. Even people like me (who are generally not too union-friendly) are on their side. The government has been incredibly incompetent this past year — sometimes it’s almost like they’re trying to be as unpopular as possible.

[ToxiK]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I wonder if SRC will use this as an opportunity to purge the organization of the remaining federalists in the publicly funded national French language broadcaster???

If you believe that Radio-Canada is a nest for separatists you must be among the people that would consider Robert Bourassa or even Philippe Couillard "separatists" because they don't always merely obey Canada's wishes...

[New Brisavoine]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

The first time a tourist (such as myself, or Ackajack, evidently) sees the exploding vehicle sign, they might interpret as a cause for concern…

Wait until you see that road sign (it's in the south of France):

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by lio45

That exact warning sign would be great in the parking of any Italian restaurant famous for being a favorite meeting place of Mafia bigshots: "your vehicle may explode when you'll try to leave"

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

Wait until you see that road sign (it's in the south of France):

Dinosaur crossing! Do not get out of your car or you may be eaten...

[New Brisavoine]

No. It means: warning, Québec separatists ahead.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Dinosaur crossing! Do not get out of your car or you may be eaten...

They used to have these in Ottawa near the Museum of Nature, but I believe they've been taken down.

https://audeladupaysage.com/2015/04/28/attention-traverse-de-dinosaures/

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

No. It means: warning, Québec separatists ahead.

Some would say it's a fitting analogy.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Some would say it's a fitting analogy.

What, that separatists are dinosaurs?

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

What, that separatists are dinosaurs?

I mean, it does feel that way.