Campaign notes of the day
Pauline Marois would ban non-French-speakers from running for office at any political level. (Will native French speakers also have to pass a French exam? What happens if some rustic candidate for mayor of a small town flunks out?)
Also Tuesday, a longtime Liberal party organizer suddenly stepped up for the CAQ.
Dhomas 05:12 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
Watching the debate Monday night, I was struck by Marois’ hypocrisy. She claimed “how will the mayor of a city represent his constituents to the rest of Quebec if he cannot speak French?” (paraphrasing here).
Mme Marois: you want to be Premier of Quebec? How will you represent your constituents to the rest of Canada with your poor level of English?
Ian 05:53 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
That’s a very good observation, Dhomas, that hadn’t occurred to me before – a Premier’s job is, to some extent, to work with other Premiers and lobby on behalf of the province overseas.
ant6n 05:54 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
How will she just represent the whole province of Quebec?
Jack 06:29 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
The PQ if elected will ban Cree and Inuit from running their school boards and municipal councils, on the basis of this language qualification. You think Richler sullied the name of Quebec worldwide, wait till the international media get hold of this, Quebec will be compared to…………
Bert 06:31 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
I can’t believe I am actually defending Marois… Her English is not bad, it’s just that she is not confident about it, for whatever (IMHO unjustified) reason. She makes a big deal about speaking in English, refusing English debates, pre-clearing english language interviews, etc. She makes a show of it for no reason, like a toddler throwing a hissy fit.
It may be that she lacks personal confidence, it may be that she doesn’t want to expose herself to to any possible criticism.
Jack 07:36 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
@ Bert the reason she doesn’t debate in english, is more in tune with what Mathieu Bock-Cote said,” Quebec has one official language, why should she debate in english”, it would gain no votes and hurt her with her base.What is interesting is her generation, Louise Beaudoin,Louise Harel, etc. not speaking english was a badge of honour, that thankfully is not shared by the newer generation of French origin quebecers. One other thing not shared is the de-colonization language that Marois uses so frequently in French, liberte, empancipation,etc.,it sounds so old even Loco Locass can’t make it hip.
Bill Binns 08:46 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
@Jack The de-colonization stuff is hilarious. When I first read some of those comments, I thought it was just a weird translation thing. I wonder if the rank and file PQ imagine their ancestors hunting mastadons across the Canadian shield as the glaciers receded.
It makes me think of the Christian Fundamentalist museums in the US that show Jesus riding a saddled dinosaur.
Bert 08:59 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
According to a CBC article “Parti Québécois leader Pauline Marois has declined to take part in an on-air English debate, claiming her English is not strong enough.” Global reports “Marois cited her language ability as an issue, saying that she is not comfortable enough to conduct such an important discussion only in English. ” That certainly does not sound like a “I only have to speak French.” to me.
By completely ignoring the Englsh, which is fine for me, she just further alienates potential votes.This just allows her a version of “…. money and the ethnic vote…”, which she has placed her party in.
Why does she not do what she has proposed that civil servants do, just answer in French when you think the people involved understand French? Because she would look arrogant and elitist.
jeather 09:36 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
“It’s like saying the Inuit were here first so you all have to speak Inuktitut.”
What I wouldn’t give.
“Without [the ability to speak French], a person could not be a candidate in elections, participate in the public financing of political parties or petition the legislature to address grievances.”
That sounds more extreme than other articles, which suggest that you need Quebec citizenship to run for office (etc), but that everyone who was born here automatically received such citizenship. (Which I also disagree with.)
Would this work for federal MPs?
Jean Naimard 09:37 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
SPEAK WHITE!
How come those who are appaled at Pauline’s command of english do not say anything about those other provincial prime ministers who cannot utter a word of français?
The canadian double-standard at work again!
If it’s good for the goose, it can’t be for the gander!
I read the comments here, and I feel I gone back 50 years in time.
Ian 10:07 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
According to Graham Fraser, Canada’s Commissioner of Official Languages, six of Canada’s premiers are bilingual… without the legal obligation to be. That’s the talking point here, the legal obligation part.
Taylor C. Noakes 11:48 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
@JeanNaimard
The only threatened cultures and peoples in Québec are the First Nations.
They should use all the same rhetoric and tactics of the PQ to further their cause.
At least they’d be justified.
Anto 13:13 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
http://pq.org/actualite/communiques/le_parti_quebecois_veut_faire_du_francais_la_langue_incontournable_au_quebec
Jean Naimard 13:29 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
As it happens, the natives are the least threatened in Québec, because law 101 also protects native languages, and native children are schooled in their native language from the onset.
Kevin 13:55 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
@Jean Naimard
The premiers of Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick should be required to speak passable French.
Given the number of Quebecers who head west, it’d be a good idea for Alberta too.
In BC it makes more sense to speak Cantonese/Mandarin/Urdu.
But then again, I have no problems with Pauline’s command of French. She speaks it quite well.
Chris 16:50 on 2012/08/22 Permalink
Is this PQ proposal meant to solve some actual problem? Has the electorate been electing representatives that they can’t communicate with? Seems unlikely.