[lg policy] Canada: Maxime Bernier gives us a [language] policy debate, like it or not

[Harold Schiffman]

language policy
Dan Arnold: Maxime Bernier gives us a policy debate, like it or not


Dan Arnold  February 9, 2011 – 10:32 am

With the exception of Maxime Bernier rising to the defence of Tony
Clement on the census issue, it has been a very mavericky year for the
former Cabinet star. Although I disagree with the bulk of what he has
said, it’s nice to see someone in Ottawa interested in debating issues
that are worth debating.

Issue: Bill 101
Bernier Position (Feb 2011): “We don’t need Bill 101 to protect the
French language.”
Conservative Position: “Taisez-vous!”

Read more: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/tag/language-policy/#ixzz1DZOABmiQ:

Maxime Bernier
Member of Parliament for Beauce

If we want conservative principles to win the battle, we have to
defend them openly, with passion and with conviction.



- Maxime Bernier, January 21, 2010



My position on Bill 101


Last Friday, I gave an interview to host Jordi Morgan at the Halifax
radio station News 95.7. As part of a discussion on the federal
government’s intrusions into areas of provincial jurisdictions, the
show’s host asked me whether governments have a role to play in
fostering a national identity through legislation, with laws like the
Canada Health Act.

 I answered that people know who they are and that it’s not the
government’s role to create and protect a national identity. I used
Quebec as an example and said that we don’t need Bill 101 to protect
the French language.

I did not expect to create such a storm by expressing my belief that
we should let people act like free and responsible individuals,
including when it comes to protecting their language, instead of
relying on government coercion to do it for them.

This has since generated several denunciations from public figures in
Quebec and a wave of angry comments on the Internet.

Some people say I am not a “real Quebecer” and are accusing me of
“attacking Quebec” simply because I want to be more popular in the
rest of Canada. They seem unable to conceive that it’s possible to
have a different position than theirs on the basis of fundamental
principles.

My position is this: Yes, it’s important that Quebec remain a
predominantly French-language society. And ideally, everyone in Quebec
should be able to speak French. But we should not try to reach this
goal by restricting people’s rights and freedom of choice.

French will survive if Quebecers cherish it and want to preserve it;
it will flourish if Quebec becomes a freer, more dynamic and
prosperous society; it will thrive if we make it an attractive
language that newcomers want to learn and use. Not by imposing it and
by preventing people from making their own decisions in matters that
concern their personal lives.

Whenever the issue of Bill 101 is raised, it is often claimed that
“there is a consensus in Quebec” about it: apart from some extremist
English-rights activists and traitors to Quebec, everybody is presumed
to agree with Bill 101. It’s a settled matter that cannot be
questioned. That makes it easier to isolate and denigrate those who
raise any criticism about it.

But that consensus simply does not exist. For example, a poll
conducted last year by the respected firm Léger Marketing showed that
66 per cent of Quebecers, including a 61 per cent clear majority of
francophones, agreed with the principle that everyone in Quebec should
be free to choose their language of education.

Why should francophone parents not be allowed to send their children
to an English or bilingual school for parts of their studies, so that
they become completely fluent in both languages? English is the
language of 350 million people surrounding us. It is also the most
important international language all over the world. Mastering it is a
major asset.

Not only this, but there has been an important English-speaking
population in Quebec for 250 years. Unless we believe that Quebec
today is simply an extension of New France, and that only descendants
of the French settlers are real Quebecers, then English too is part of
Quebec’s identity.

In a free and democratic society, we should be able to say these
things and debate them calmly without being pilloried. I am
disappointed to see that many will even question my right to express a
personal opinion on this matter in public.

What is also troubling is that there is no one in Quebec at the
political level who is willing to speak up for this silent majority
that wants fewer restrictive laws and more positive incentives to
promote the use of French while remaining open to English. What should
we conclude from this, other than that this is a clear indication that
our political life is somewhat dysfunctional?

That being said, Bill 101 is a provincial issue and my position does
not involve my party or my government. I speak here as a Quebecer. I
will continue to do so because I love Quebec and I want it to become
the freest and most prosperous place in North America.

http://www.maximebernier.com/en/2011/02/ma-position-sur-la-loi-101/


-- 
**************************************
N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to
its members
and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner
or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents.
Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal,
and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message.
 A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well.  (H. Schiffman,
Moderator)

For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to
https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/
listinfo/lgpolicy-list
*******************************************

_______________________________________________
This message came to you by way of the lgpolicy-list mailing list
lgpolicy-list at groups.sas.upenn.edu
To manage your subscription unsubscribe, or arrange digest format: https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/lgpolicy-list