Dear Editor,
The proposed legislation being introduced by the CAQ government to enhance the French language (Bill 96) has very little to do with promoting and protecting French in Quebec. It does, however, have much to do with . . .
inflaming linguistic tensions in the hope of preparing the groundwork for yet another assault on the very fabric of our democracy. The threat of unilateral changes by Quebec to the bargain struck by our Founding Fathers in 1867 is dangerous and extremely unsettling.
As an Anglophone Quebecer, I cannot be terribly surprised by Mr. Legault’s actions given his political lineage and his oft stated desire to separate his citizens not only upon linguistic lines but separate us permanently from this great nation called Canada. I am confident that all Quebecers understand the unfairness and mean spiritedness of this proposed legislation and will join us in fighting for the longstanding spirit of mutual respect that has characterized our dealings with all citizens. He has not caught up with the fact that all Quebecers are weary of the politics of division and merely want to get on with building a great and prosperous society. They recognize that their Anglo brother and sisters support their legitimate desire to promote and protect the French language. I hope that we will, together, fight this gratuitous assault on the rights of one of the founding peoples and uphold the principles of fairness and justice which, after all, are not political tenets but the very essence of what it means to be human.
However much I am not surprised by Mr. Legault’s self-serving motivations, I am deeply outraged by Mr. Trudeau’s response. Your absolute surrender to those proposed actions subverts the very document that give you not only the power to govern, but the absolute, sacred obligation to defend both the spirit and the letter of the rules laid down in Charlottetown in 1867. To say that Quebec has the absolute right to unilaterally change the rules of our confederation has a great many citizens and constitutional experts totally dumbfounded and very upset. If you think that we cannot see the convenient cowardice at play as you sacrifice your moral duty on the alter of political expediency you are most definitely wrong. We see it in all its gory detail.
As a lifelong Liberal supporter, I am saddened to inform you that you are no longer worthy of my vote. I ask you to consider what your father would say of your actions. The one saving grace you may count on is that every single federal party leader has joined you in the ignoble pantheon of cowards. Shame on you all!
It deeply saddens me to note that we Anglophones have been thus abandoned by those politicians we put our trust in to protect our rights. However, we will fight this challenge, as we consistently have. We will remain deeply respectful of our Francophone neighbours’ legitimate fears for the wellbeing of their language and culture. We will continue to support any measures designed to promote and protect French so long as our rights are not unduly infringed upon as a consequence. We will do so confident in knowing the undeniable fact that Quebecers are a generous and welcoming people who want to live in peace and harmony with all.
We have faith that Quebecers will demand that fairness and justice be the hallmark of our society. Quebecers will not tolerate its political elite’s attempts at fomenting discord among the citizens they serve. Together we will continue to build Quebec within a strong, united and prosperous Canada.
Henry Quinn,
Vinton, Quebec
