“Quebec is the Canada we should want”
Nice piece by Mike Spry here: Quebec is the Canada we should want: There is a richness, a depth to Quebec that is evidence of not a culture of entitlement, but rather enlightenment. A lower drinking age, dépanneurs, a Francophone celebrity culture, successful indigenous film and television industries, cheese curds in gas stations, topless lunch buffets, a uniting affection for Les Canadiens, and, yes, a long history of social protest. All of these entities are elements of a people who make demands of their government and state, not for the Quebec they believe they deserve, but rather for the Canada we need.
Read, read. Also in French.
Spock 07:27 on 2012/05/22 Permalink
Very endearing elements… :)
Robert H 13:54 on 2012/05/22 Permalink
An excellent essay; irony of ironies, Quebec, the seat of separatism, is the most Canadian of all provinces in its conception of a government’s obligation to the citizenry, and Montreal the most Canadian of its cities in its coexisting, increasingly co-mingling franco-anglo-allo demographic vortex. We know all about what a corrupt, backward hell hole Quebec is, how we have the worst government, the most potholed roads, the highest taxes, the most chaotic society. We get to hear and complain plenty about that and we will continue to do so, because we aren’t naive, complacent pollyanas. But every now and then, it’s refreshing to be reminded why living here is so worthwhile, why we haven’t all pulled up stakes and moved to Calgary, Toronto, or Vancouver where as we all know, everything is just wonderful and money trees rain bills of large denominations on the locals. And it has even more to do with one’s ideals as it does with how much one has in the bank.