Xref: utzoo can.politics:1996 can.francais:89
Path: utzoo!lsuc!maccs!gordan
From: gordan@maccs.McMaster.CA (gordan)
Newsgroups: can.politics,can.francais
Subject: Re: Bourassa and bill 101?
Message-ID: <1733@maccs.McMaster.CA>
Date: 22 Dec 88 01:04:48 GMT
References: <1988Dec13.133220.28851@lsuc.uucp> <4321@hcr.UUCP> <809@auvax.UUCP> <230@electro.UUCP> <813@auvax.UUCP> <16956@onfcanim.UUCP>
Reply-To: gordan@maccs.UUCP ()
Distribution: can
Organization: Worldwide Phlogiston Cartel
Lines: 24

In article <16956@onfcanim.UUCP> dave@onfcanim.UUCP (Dave Martindale) writes:
>
>The problem is that the anti-English group is extremely vocal, and
>this is an extremely emotional issue to them.  There have already

It is a mistake to imply that those opposed to full bilingualism in
Quebec are merely part of a radical fringe.  Some members of Premier
Bourassa's own caucus are staunch supporters of Bill 101, and were
lobbying to have Bill 101 reconfirmed in its entirety.  Bourassa, in
effect, did no more than bow to certain political realities.  If he
failed to come up with a solution acceptable to all, it is only because
it doesn't exist.

The typical reaction in English Canada has been surprise.
Unfortunately, the rest of the country went to sleep after the
referendum and thought that the "problem" of Quebec nationalism was no
longer an issue.

Before criticizing Quebec too virulently, remember that it is still
the most bilingual province by far.  A unilingual anglophone can still
get by very nicely in the western half of Montreal.  We're not talking
some picturesque little multicultural neighborhood or even something
the size of Toronto's Chinatown -- in half of the Montreal Urban
Community, including half of downtown, you need not speak a word of French.