Newsgroups: can.general
Path: utzoo!telly!tmsoft!ead
From: ead@tmsoft.uucp (Elizabeth Doucette)
Subject: Re: Canada: one, two (or many) cultures?
Message-ID: <1989Jul28.141936.7028@tmsoft.uucp>
Followup-To: can.general
Reply-To: ead@tmsoft.UUCP (Elizabeth Doucette)
Organization: EAD MoneyHealth Inc, Toronto, Canada
References: <3190@uwovax.uwo.ca> <1989Jul27.092203.16418@xenitec.uucp> <28025@watmath.waterloo.edu> <1728@eric.mpr.ca>
Distribution: can
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 89 14:19:36 GMT

In article <1728@eric.mpr.ca> durham@handel.UUCP (Paul Durham) writes:
>In article <28025@watmath.waterloo.edu> rwwetmore@grand.waterloo.edu
(Ross Wetmore) writes: 
>>
>>  Also, remember that not all francophones live in Quebec. While language
>> ...

>OH, you mean _Canadians_ of Ukrainian and Italian origin ! Well, Canada has
>two official languages, French and English, a fact which is known to every 
>immigrant. That is, it is the responsibility of immigrants to fit in to
>one of the official language groups, although of course they are perfectly
>free to speak, eat, worship etc. as they please. 
>
>The right of French-Canadians to their own language and institutions has
>been officially recognized since 1763. To compare the French-Canadian
>nation ( and I use this word without any connotation of sovereignty ) with
>immigrant groups shows a lack of understanding which is all too common
>among English-Canadians.
>
>
>P. Durham
> 

Federal Canada has two official languages.  Provincial Canada does not
and I think that is part of the problem.  I grew up in the only
French/English bilingual province, New Brunswick, (I'm not sure if
Manitoba has become French/English bilingual but I don't think so
yet). 

In Moncton, the French High School used to use English text books.
This is terrible and the problem was fixed.  But that didn't take the
resentment away right away.  There is still some tension between both
the French and the English, but as more and more of high school
graduates are bilingual, the tension is lessening.

It was nice living in Montreal for 6 years.  Many children spoke three
languages. French, English, Greek or French, English, Italian or
French, English, Persian, etc., etc.  When Levesque went to the people
of the province with the referendum to separate from Canada, the
people said no.  Before the vote, both French and English speaking
people were calling in to radio programs commenting on how upset they
were with Levesque.  At one time, French speaking people in Quebec
were concerned about the province becoming uni-lingual English.  Many
businesses conducted work in English.  I think it was very natural for
Quebec to try to preserve the French language and I'm glad they did. 

Quebec is not a bilingual province and neither is Ontario.  I have
lived in Toronto for 8 years now.  I experienced culture shock when I
first moved here because most signs (except federal jurisdictions, the
airport, etc.) were uni-lingual English.  I did not like it.

In the past 8 years, bilingual street signs have sprung up,
English/Greek, English/Chinese, English/Italian, etc.  Toronto is
trying to respect the multi-cultural environment.

As more and more Asians immigrate to Canada from China and Hong Kong,
the number of Chinese speaking people may out-number French speaking
people.

Quebec, French Quebec wants the constitution to state that it is a
distinct society.  What about the french in Manitoba, in New
Brunswick, in Yarmouth Nova Scotia?  Why should French Quebec be a
distinct society?  Because they were one of the first peoples in
Canada?  What about the Native Indians?  They are not receiving the
tolerance that they deserve.  Their rights are not enshrined in our
constitution.  I've mentioned this several times now and most people
seem to have ignored it.

We should be ashamed at how we have treated the Native Indians.  They
were abused by the French and the English.  Our society seems to abuse
first and ask questions second.  What about our environment?  We can't
blame it all on the Americans.  Are we willing to reduce our standard
of living, to not buy environmentally harmful products, to recycle
more, etc., etc.

This discussion is a very complex one.  Canada is a distinct society.
The people in Canada are special.  All cultures, minorities and
majorities should be respected.  But in my opinion, we must WANT to be
Canadian.  Otherwise, we cannot survive as a nation. 

Elizabeth