Quebec, the French Language, and Quebecois Identity

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

The question for me is why they continue to sing the national anthem at all - the way professional entertainment sports tries to wrap itself in patriotism, police and the military is nauseating, imho.

Good question.

[JHikka]

s

Originally Posted by thewave46

They know their target audience.

Yep. There should only really be anthems for national team events, but given that these same franchises do things like military appreciation or police appreciation nights it makes sense why they'd continue on with anthems.

[Acajack]

According to sources Quebec Liberal leader Dominique Anglade will be stepping down and leaving politics this morning.

[lio45]

What a surprise …

[Acajack]

Pretty much inevitable, though a bit faster than I expected.

[MolsonExport]

The PQ leader should follow her cue. Their performance was equally terrible.

[lio45]

Actually the PQ and PLQ were at polar opposites in this campaign, both surprised by performing not as expected. The two big surprises of the campaign were Anglade performing that poorly and PSPP performing that well.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Pretty much inevitable, though a bit faster than I expected.

Another "inevitability" IMO is the eventual convergence of center-left sovereigntist forces into an alternative to the CAQ.

Look at this data:

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2022/11/05/sondage--pequistes-et-solidaires-veulent-sallier

He has a great point: for the very first time, QS is NOT ascending anymore. It make business sense to not acquire your competition if you can simply wait until it dies and reap the rewards of being the sole remaining option in your segment without having to lift a finger or make any concessions; but that's an "if".

A merged PQS would be the opposition right now and completely unlike the current Liberals, that opposition right now would be a government-in-waiting.

Eventually, we'll get tired of the CAQ and we'll want an alternative. When that day comes, that alternative WILL get elected. QS alone likely will never be that alternative. (Duhaime's party has an already greater probability of being it... which is saying something )

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by lio45

Actually the PQ and PLQ were at polar opposites in this campaign, both surprised by performing not as expected. The two big surprises of the campaign were Anglade performing that poorly and PSPP performing that well.

Yes, ironically the PQ is at a historic low for the number of seats, but PSPP was probably the consensus choice from political observers as the best performer of the campaign.

They were predicted to get only 1 seat and ended up with 3.

The PQ is still in a precarious position with its future very cloudy, but PSPP showed that the body still has a pulse.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Yes, ironically the PQ is at a historic low for the number of seats, but PSPP was probably the consensus choice from political observers as the best performer of the campaign.

They were predicted to get only 1 seat and ended up with 3.

The PQ is still in a precarious position with its future very cloudy, but PSPP showed that the body still has a pulse.

The PQ and Liberals traditionally always get rid automatically of leaders who "fail to deliver" (which is why no one made money by betting on Anglade's ousting), but this time, PSPP did so well that I am sure he's going to be staying.

[MolsonExport]

Lio on the left, Acajack on the right.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Lio on the left, Acajack on the right.

Nice one, except that we're just relaying what basically all of the pundits were saying.

(OK, maybe not The Gazette.)

[MolsonExport]

^I haven't read the Gazette since...2005? I'm much more likely to read LaPresse

[lio45]

I am so powerful that “my opinion” that Anglade performed poorly and PSPP performed well is going to result in 1) Anglade out and 2) PSPP being the first PQ leader in ages to survive an election.

I bent the real world to my will

[thurmas]

I would think a QS PQ merger would have to happen soon as they could legitimately be a Quebec NDP like in BC or Manitoba that could have a shot at government most elections.

[thewave46]

I'd am curious if the PLQ is as down-and-out as some might say. The federal Liberals were looking pretty sad post-2011, but they rebounded. Is there a chance the PLQ finds the magic again? Or are they doomed to be mostly irrelevant except as kingmaker in a minority government situation?

I'm not sure how ideologically split the PQ and QS are, mostly. The current federal Liberals are close enough to the federal NDP to be kissing cousins right now, but they eschew a formal merger because it means the Liberals have to take on NDP's....more extreme members and limits how rightwards the Liberals can shift without alienating the base.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by thewave46

I'd am curious if the PLQ is as down-and-out as some might say. The federal Liberals were looking pretty sad post-2011, but they rebounded. Is there a chance the PLQ finds the magic again? Or are they doomed to be mostly irrelevant except as kingmaker in a minority government situation?

I'm not sure how ideologically split the PQ and QS are, mostly. The current federal Liberals are close enough to the federal NDP to be kissing cousins right now, but they eschew a formal merger because it means the Liberals have to take on NDP's....more extreme members and limits how rightwards the Liberals can shift without alienating the base.

There is still definitely a niche for the PLQ going forward in Quebec, and this gives them a "floor" of sorts that they'll probably never go below. They are arguably very close to it now.

But being the "party of non-francophones" in Quebec makes forming even a minority government impossible.

For a very long time, the PLQ was the party of businesspeople and the self-made rich in Quebec - this included a couple million francophones. Add to them the non-francophone vote and it was a winning combination fairly often.

But the CAQ stole away most of those francophone business types, and there is no indication they will be coming back to the PLQ anytime soon.


EDIT: The PLQ is also dead last or next-to-last among the major parties in terms of fundraising, for a couple of years running.

[Acajack]

Not in Quebec but related to French.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has announced that the province will no longer be offering French immersion in Grade 1 as of next September and will begin phasing it out in the other grades.

Canada's only bilingual province will become the only province in Canada that does not offer French immersion as an option to anglophone students.

[MonctonRad]

Higgs has also recently mused about the elimination of the office of the provincial official languages commissioner.

It appears he has decided to follow Quebec’s lead on these issues (no English immersion in Quebec etc).

[Acajack]

Actually Québec does have some English immersion programs in French schools.

Anyway we are not recognized as a bilingual province in the Constitution.