[lg policy] Canada: Decision for Quebecers

[Julia deBres]

Yes, and it's a false dichotomy in any case to say that people have to choose either their language or economic prosperity.  It doesn't have to be like that. 




________________________________
From: Christina Paulston <paulston at pitt.edu>
To: Language Policy List <lgpolicy-list at groups.sas.upenn.edu>
Sent: Mon, 23 November, 2009 6:21:04 PM
Subject: Re: [lg policy] Canada: Decision for Quebecers

Stan, you are usually pretty sensible.  The Francophones  did not know the impact their language policies would have on the economy when they implemented them, so you cannot say "by choice". Christina





On Nov 21, 2009, at 12:00 AM, Stan Anonby wrote:

> Montreal was prospering economically in the '60's; but a shrinking percentage of Quebec residents were speaking French. The writing was on the wall. Basically, the Quebecois chose their language/culture over economic prosperity. It's a tough call, and you've got to admire them for it. Today, threatened languages/cultures the world over usually have to make the same choice.
> 
> Stan Anonby
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harold Schiffman" <hfsclpp at gmail.com>
> To: "lp" <lgpolicy-list at groups.sas.upenn.edu>
> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:06 AM
> Subject: [lg policy] Canada: Decision for Quebecers
> 
> 
>> Decision for Quebecers
>> 
>> 
>> The Ottawa CitizenNovember 19, 2009Comments (8)
>> 
>> In 1967, Montreal was the capital of Canada. Not in name, but in most
>> everything else. People from all over the globe converged on Montreal
>> for what was probably the greatest world's fair, Expo 67. The business
>> community, with its precious head offices, located in Montreal. It
>> spoke two languages so the city was ideally suited to serve business
>> and culture in Quebec and the rest of Canada.  In addition to
>> language, that situation arose because the Canadian highway and
>> railway systems ended in Montreal. The city had the first major
>> airport in Canada for flights from Europe making it a natural
>> entrepôt. The Port of Montreal did big business, located between the
>> St. Lawrence Seaway and the Atlantic.
>> 
>> In addition, capital flowed from, as it was called then, St. James
>> Street, universities grew in two languages, labour was plentiful, and
>> a country of resources and a world of traders stood at its door.
>> Montreal could speak English to North America and French to
>> Europe.Then Montreal, and Quebec, gave it all away. Restrictive
>> language policies made Montreal look inward. It went from being the
>> major centre of Canada to the major centre of Quebec. Head offices
>> fled to Toronto in the face of separatism so the delicate factors of
>> production that so favoured Montreal disappeared. Why do business in
>> Quebec in French, companies concluded, when you could conduct affairs
>> in English in Toronto to serve the bulk of North America? Language
>> policy divided Quebec from its position of trade and wealth.
>> 
>> Now former Parti Québécois premier Jacques Parizeau is promoting his
>> book on sovereignty and dragging out all the old saws about
>> independence; for example he argues a national securities regulator
>> would undermine Montreal's economic position. Oddly, it was people
>> such as Parizeau who did that already. Quebec has an opportunity to
>> prosper if Canada signs a free-trade deal with the European Union.
>> Montreal could become the entrepôt again between two continents. Or it
>> could answer the siren call of nationalism, looking inward. It's up to
>> Quebecers to decide.
>> 
>> http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/Decision+Quebecers/2239238/story.html
>> 
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