Quebec
PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
Quebec and its Language Based Conflict in Modern Society
Quebec still has not found a permanent, long term solution that satisfies the needs of French Quebecois and keeps English speaking Quebecois united with Canada. Possible solutions abound, but many will not be effective. Visit this page to find out about what we believe to be the most effective solution.
The Parti Quebecois saw a return to power in 2012, winning the Quebec general election. This has caused recent unrest, rising tensions, and a recent resurgence of the 'language wars', though full blown "wars" have not occurred. The Parti Quebecois now seeks laws reucing English use in commonplace locations in daily life, including schools and streetside stores. Anglophones fear insignificance due to the decreasing importance of their language. This is ironic, as in the past, the Francophones felt the same way, inspiring their sense of nationalism. L'Office Quebecois de la Langue Francaise requires French letters on signs to be times the size of other languages. As store owner Harry Schick interprets it, "...Is a Francophone customer three times bigger than an Anglophone customer?...They deserve equal rights...". Immigrants to Quebec from outside provinces must attend Francophone schools. Today's policies in Quebec seem to support French as a more dominant language (especially those included in Bill 101) in contrast to the past, where French was on equal terms with English or even less relevant. The liberal former Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau established a policy of bilingualism during his tenure in the 1960s. The proposal of Bill 14 by the Parti Quebecois has also stirred up conflict. Read more in depth in the left column.
Bill 101, also known as the Charter of the French Language, has established French as the official language, along with several policies discussed above. The Parti Quebecois' current attempts to strengthen language law base off of nationalism and a supposed endangering of the French language.
An example of actual conflict occurred during Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois's speech on September 4, 2012. A gunman killed one and wounded another in the middle of her address. The gunman serves as a symbol for the ongoing hostilities caused by insecurity of language policy in Quebec today.
Conflict has arisen over public use of various languages.
Parti Quebecois Leader
RAMIFICATIONS OF BILL 14 ACCORDING TO TIME.COM
If Bill 14 passes, military families living in Quebec but liable to be relocated at any time will no longer be permitted to send their children to English-language schools. Municipalities whose Anglophone inhabitants make up less than 50% of their populations will lose their bilingual status, meaning, among other things, that residents won’t be able to access government documents in English. For the first time, companies with 25 to 49 workers will be required to conduct all business in French, a process set to cost medium-size businesses $23 million. French speakers interested in attending English-language colleges will take a backseat to Anglophone applicants. The language inspectors will be able to instantly search and seize potentially transgressive records, files, books and accounts, where currently they can only “request” documents that they believe aren’t in accordance with the law. And no longer will they grant a compliance period. As soon as a person or business is suspected of an offense, “appropriate penal proceedings may be instituted.”Read more: Quebec’s War on English: Language Politics Intensify in Canadian Province | TIME.com http://world.time.com/2013/04/08/quebecs-war-on-english-language-politics-intensify-in-canadian-province/#ixzz2uwGHMwkJ