From a very young age, we don’t like being reminded over and over, what not to do or what to do. Quite often, we already knew what our limitations were, but just felt insulted being reminded again and again.
Some of the girls used to talk in school when they knew that once the bell rang, talking was forbidden. Later in life, we learned that this was an almost impossible demand.
Just as the snow started to disappear in the spring of 2022, we witnessed . . .
first-hand how frustrated some Canadians were at being told they must continue wearing those inconvenient face masks that most of the world had worn for almost two years.
Even though statistics had proven that vaccination against COVID-19 had reduced overcrowded emergency rooms and COVID-19 severity and even cases, many people were tired of being reminded.
Some jobs required that workers must be vaccinated even though some studies had shown that vaccination was just a hoax? Some very busy border crossings between the U.S. and Canada were blockaded by some disgruntled truckers because both the U.S. and Canadian governments demanded that all truck drivers crossing the borders must be vaccinated. After both the last U.S. federal election and the Canadian federal election, we witnessed some extremely unhappy citizens in both the U.S. and Canada, demand an over-throw of the winning party’s government.
When one of my grandchildren was watching TV as one of these extreme protests was happening, the parents were asked, “Why are people doing that?” The parent replied, “You know when everything at school seems to be going fine, but there is still one person in the class that is very unhappy and just pouts in the corner.” My grandchild then turned, went to the big chair, curled up and cried.
There is a protest this Saturday, May 14, in Montreal at Dawson College, much smaller compared to those on Capitol Hill or Parliament Hill. However, if you live in Quebec, the results that Bill 96 will make to all Quebec citizens and even some people in other provinces will be drastic. The bill is available to anyone to read, but is officially written in 99 pages of French legalese with some hidden implications.
If you are used to working in French, some of the items in the bill will not matter, like all businesses with 25 or more workers must work only in French even if two English people are speaking to each other. All government correspondence, written or oral will be only in the official language of Quebec (French). This also affects farmers concerning crop insurance and stabilization of crops and beef.
It will give the OQLF the right to enter and confiscate computers and cell phones if there is a suspicion of too much information being done in English. Students that are legally French will be restricted as to how many may attend English CEGEPs to improve their English. This will not affect children of well-off families who usually send their children to private schools. The entire bill was developed without input or involvement from the Quebec department of education?
Without adequate competence in English, it will limit any advancement for Quebecers seeking work that will require communicating with people from other provinces or countries not familiar with French. Even though most of the students today graduate from high-school bilingual, because of higher pay and less restrictions in other provinces or countries compared to Quebec, the best educated and bilingual young graduates are moving away from Quebec.
This is clearly a political bill and has little to do with improving education for English or French students. It will even make it legal for Quebec courts to use only French speaking judges in cases where English speaking citizens will be charged.
Do you think that this is worth protesting about?
