Supreme Court rules against Quebec's language law

[calculoso]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...b=TopStoriesV2

The country's top court has struck down a Quebec law that restricts immigrants from attending English-language schools, prompting reactions of disappointment and anger from provincial politicians.

The decision has the potential to ignite the province's divisive language wars and could even inflame divisions across the country.

The unanimous Supreme Court of Canada ruling went against two appeals by the Quebec government. In their decision, the justices called Bill 104 "excessive" and said it infringed on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

[Hemi-Cuda]

good, the French are damn near fascist with the whole language thing

[Redliner]

It truly is ridiculous. When I lived in Montreal a man was apprehended for fire-bombing Second Cup coffee houses simply because the sign said "The Second Cup" and not "La Deuxième Tasse". What was even more appalling was that he received a comparatively light sentence because he was able to prove that he waited until the establishments were closed and empty before chucking his molotov cocktails. It's great that he didn't hurt anyone, but crazy that in Quebec, language protection is apparently an adequate reason for willful and wanton destruction of private property.

I couldn't get out of that place fast enough.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by Redliner

It truly is ridiculous. When I lived in Montreal a man was apprehended for fire-bombing Second Cup coffee houses simply because the sign said "The Second Cup" and not "La Deuxième Tasse". What was even more appalling was that he received a comparatively light sentence because he was able to prove that he waited until the establishments were closed and empty before chucking his molotov cocktails. It's great that he didn't hurt anyone, but crazy that in Quebec, language protection is apparently an adequate reason for willful and wanton destruction of private property.

I couldn't get out of that place fast enough.

Red, I couldn't agree with you more. Sometimes I wonder if there is something in the water in that province. They see things, basic things, completely differently than the rest of the Dominion, thereby contributing to their ever-burgeoning reputation as a hot-bed of religio-lingua fanaticism and intolerance.

[The Special One]

I completely understand why the Quebecois people are so opposed to English. Look at what the British establishment did in places like Australia and Ireland - almost completely wiped out their native culture and languages. I can understand and appreciate that they are fighting tooth and nail not to fall into the same trap.

[onetwo_threefour]

Originally Posted by The Special One

I completely understand why the Quebecois people are so opposed to English. Look at what the British establishment did in places like Australia and Ireland - almost completely wiped out their native culture and languages. I can understand and appreciate that they are fighting tooth and nail not to fall into the same trap.

I agree in principle and the historical evidence backs you up, but I would suggest that the lengths to which Quebec goes are ridiculous. I think in the modern era, the cultural colonialism problem you are worried about is overblown. I like the idea of a French speaking province in the country and don't mind extra funding to maintain that heritage and even some restrictions on the public display of English to preserve it, but in a global culture, some of the laws go to far in those regards.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by The Special One

I completely understand why the Quebecois people are so opposed to English. Look at what the British establishment did in places like Australia and Ireland - almost completely wiped out their native culture and languages. I can understand and appreciate that they are fighting tooth and nail not to fall into the same trap.

Different time and era. Modern Quebec has no need to be as defensive about it in the 21st centruy.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by calculoso

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...b=TopStoriesV2

What is this the Windows 7 version of this. Quebec has the Not-withstanding clause. The will use again........


Sorry....no change.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by The Special One

I completely understand why the Quebecois people are so opposed to English. Look at what the British establishment did in places like Australia and Ireland - almost completely wiped out their native culture and languages. I can understand and appreciate that they are fighting tooth and nail not to fall into the same trap.

Ya I can see the complaint. Both Australia and Ireland are better off than Quebec. Stupid British

[transplant99]

Good.

The divisive Quebecios radical element has gotten away with this crap for far too long.

Could you imagine the ourage from the Quebecers if an immigrant from france landed in Alberta and was FORCED to attend english only schools?

Responding to the ruling, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe invoked the sovereignty argument as a possible reaction.

"It's the Supreme Court of another nation -- the Canadian nation. We need to draw lessons from this. For as long as we belong to Canada, there will always be situations like this."

Go inhale fumes you fascist pig.

If you aren't part of the nation of Canada, quit using it's currency, quit taking handouts from the other provinces, quit using the Canadian military, and stop referring to yourselves as french canadians only when it is to your benefit.

And there are still those that were down with this freaking ######bag being part of the 3-stooge triumverate to take down the Cons and assume control of the country??

Wow.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Quebecers who speak of the "Quebec nation" should be shot.

[kipperfan]

The french are lucky we ALLOW them to speak French, end of story. When you lose a war you don't earn the right to dictate your living conditions and laws in the land said war was lost, just doesnt work that way.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by The Special One

I completely understand why the Quebecois people are so opposed to English. Look at what the British establishment did in places like Australia and Ireland - almost completely wiped out their native culture and languages. I can understand and appreciate that they are fighting tooth and nail not to fall into the same trap.

Maybe they should have fought tooth-and-nail in 1759 when it actually would have mattered.

And the Australia comparison doesn't pass muster. Not sure about the parallels between European colonization (Australia) and engaging in combat operations, across multiple continents, with your age-old enemy. The British fought the French in many places, including New France, and hammered them each time on the field of battle, thereby effectively 'conquering' the region and becoming the dominant player or hegemon in that area. This is usually what happens in war.

For all intents and purposes, the residents of New France were fortunate that they were still able to speak their language and practice their religion without fear of reprisal. As history has shown us, this was not the case in areas conquered by the Spanish, or more recently in areas of the former Soviet Union, where it was a crime - punishable by imprisonment and/or hard labour - to speak your native language (non-Russian) in many areas. This was REAL subjugation.

[dre]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

The french are lucky we ALLOW them to speak French, end of story. When you lose a war you don't earn the right to dictate your living conditions and laws in the land said war was lost, just doesnt work that way.

All this reminds me of Ghandi for some reason. Its really disappointing that when I cheer for the flames tonight you will be doing the same.
War sucks and it should not happen. If Quebec said that every child going to school must learn the language of music, would you be OK with that? Maybe thats not a good example, but oh well.

"Gandhi is near death from starvation when a crazed man,
a Hindu, arrives with food that he insists Gandhi must eat. He
demands, “Here! Eat! Eat! I’m going to hell—but not with
your death on my soul!”
Gandhi replies, “Only God decides who goes to hell.”
“I killed a child!” the man confesses. “I smashed his head
against a wall!”
Gandhi asks, “Why?”
“Because they killed our son... my boy! The Muslims killed
my son!”
Gandhi sees the man’s unbearable grief and remorse. He
gently tells him, “I know a way out of hell. Find a child, a child
whose mother and father have been killed—a little boy—and
raise him as your own. Only be sure that he is a Muslim...”
The man’s expression changes to one of hope. He sudden-
ly sees a way he can undo what he has done and effect a resti-
tution. He can replace his own son and provide a Muslim or-
phan with a home and parents. It is a perfect solution.
And then the Mahatma adds, “And you must raise him as
a Muslim.” "

[peter12]

Gandhi can suck it.

[The Special One]

You guys need to take a basic Canadian history class! There is a reason that Quebec gets special treatment, the English bargained with them in order to coerce them into confederation. Canada as you know it would not exist without these concessions!

It is the same reason that the federal government must provide equal funding for the Roman Catholic school board. Have you ever wondered why they don't provide equal funding for Muslim or Jewish schools?

The level of ignorance in this thread is astonishing.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by The Special One

You guys need to take a basic Canadian history class! There is a reason that Quebec gets special treatment, the English bargained with them in order to coerce them into confederation. Canada as you know it would not exist without these concessions!

It is the same reason that the federal government must provide equal funding for the Roman Catholic school board. Have you ever wondered why they don't provide equal funding for Muslim or Jewish schools?

The level of ignorance in this thread is astonishing.

What does this silliness mean? This isn't about special treatment, it's about the Supreme Court ruling that Quebec language laws are a violation of Canadian basic rights and freedoms. Of course, Quebec never signed the Constitution, so maybe that's what gives them the excuse to behave like a bunch of authoritarian doofuses...

[The Special One]

Canada doesn't have a constitution. We have something quite different called the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. You need to go back to grade ten Social Studies.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by The Special One

Canada doesn't have a constitution. We have something quite different called the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. You need to go back to grade ten Social Studies.

Nice one... It's called the British North America Act, formally patriated as the Canada Act in 1982 which officially devolves all political power to Canada from Britain.

This act formed the pretext to the Constitution Act of 1982 which serves as the present Canadian Constitution. The Charter is just one part of the Constitution. We still have to deal with federal/provincial powers etc...


Gosh, you are such an idiot. Read up on it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Act,_1982

[NBC]

Originally Posted by The Special One

You guys need to take a basic Canadian history class!

Already did that, took lots of them. It just didn't happen to be at Bleeding Heart University.

There is a reason that Quebec gets special treatment, the English (I think you mean the British) bargained with them in order to coerce them into confederation. Canada as you know it would not exist without these concessions!

Again 1759 pre-dates Confederation in 1867. For over 100 years language, religion, culture wasn't an issue as they were free to practice, etc. and had sweet FA to do with the Confederation Act.

It is the same reason that the federal government must provide equal funding for the Roman Catholic school board. Have you ever wondered why they don't provide equal funding for Muslim or Jewish schools?

I have nothing to add here.

The level of ignorance in this thread is astonishing. I'll say.

The real problem here is the fundamental lack of understanding regarding Quebec's own history, by Quebeckers. Kind of reminds me of how the Japanese like to gloss over certain parts of their history while over-playing others.