Gothmog3VZ
New member
I do have to say that anyone who is okay with bill 101 probably didn't think his/her statement through.
I was born in Ontario, spent part of my childhood in Indonesia, then moved here. I was fortunate enough to get through a loophole in the bill (2 years in english private school to be permitted to attend english public school) before it was sealed up. I have no problem speaking French, but I do have a problem with language laws in this province.
Why is it such a terrible thing for people to choose send their children to an English school? It's not a matter of making them - they exist, the infrastructure is there, but the government doesn't want kids attending.
What about pubs like Mckibbins, getting fined for having vintage signs in English? I work in a speedshop, it's the equivalent of having Environment Canada come in and fine us for having photos of my boss' old straight-piped big-block camaro on the wall.
What about not being able to get important services in English? I don't care about coffeeshops or stores, there's always someone on staff who has a basic grasp of English (as a consumer, I can vote with my wallet as well, and if I'm making a more significant purchase, I will certainly go to the place that communicates with me/parents in our more familiar language).
Why do we pay 25 million/year to a branch of the government whose sole purpose is to ensure that French is dominant over English, while the rest of our infrastructure crumbles?
I'm a West Islander, of Eastern European descent, and one of my closest friends is a Frenchman (born/raised in Bordeaux), and we've both gotten horrible treatment before due to our accents. I do know a few West Islanders who are a bit douchey, but I don't blame them - there are times when I'm surprised not more are, particularly considering the treatment I've gotten when going off-island.
I work in a customer service job, and while most of my French-speaking/named customers are awesome (could also be because we're all car guys), there are those who infuriate me. Trying to complain to me that a company like Momo doesn't have a french enough name on their packaging, or the lack of french on an intake manifold gasket (right after you ask for a Holley six-fifty CFM double pumper, and not a Holley six-cent-cinquante pieds-cubiqe-parminute avec deux pomps). These days, the universal language of commerce is English (although given a few years, it's probably going to become Mandarin), and the whole arrogant attitude that the rest of the world should cater to their desires and refusal to speak/learn English is childish and bad for business as well. Trying to sue Walmart, Old Navy, Gap, and a few other companies for not having French names makes me embarrassed to tell people I live in Quebec.
I will concede that I am somewhat biased, having been discriminated against myself as well as having watched/overheard people joking about my parents accents while shopping (Honestly, ignoring all else, why the hell would you make fun of someone who's about to drop $10k in your furniture store? Mental deficiency?). But, as I stated earlier, the only thing I can do as an individual is to vote with my wallet, and I try to exercise that ability on a regular basis. Good customer service (regardless of language, if its someone French struggling with English but trying anyway, I will appreciate that and reciprocate) = repeat customer. Bad service or discrimination = never again, and warning away everyone I know.
/rant
I was born in Ontario, spent part of my childhood in Indonesia, then moved here. I was fortunate enough to get through a loophole in the bill (2 years in english private school to be permitted to attend english public school) before it was sealed up. I have no problem speaking French, but I do have a problem with language laws in this province.
Why is it such a terrible thing for people to choose send their children to an English school? It's not a matter of making them - they exist, the infrastructure is there, but the government doesn't want kids attending.
What about pubs like Mckibbins, getting fined for having vintage signs in English? I work in a speedshop, it's the equivalent of having Environment Canada come in and fine us for having photos of my boss' old straight-piped big-block camaro on the wall.
What about not being able to get important services in English? I don't care about coffeeshops or stores, there's always someone on staff who has a basic grasp of English (as a consumer, I can vote with my wallet as well, and if I'm making a more significant purchase, I will certainly go to the place that communicates with me/parents in our more familiar language).
Why do we pay 25 million/year to a branch of the government whose sole purpose is to ensure that French is dominant over English, while the rest of our infrastructure crumbles?
I'm a West Islander, of Eastern European descent, and one of my closest friends is a Frenchman (born/raised in Bordeaux), and we've both gotten horrible treatment before due to our accents. I do know a few West Islanders who are a bit douchey, but I don't blame them - there are times when I'm surprised not more are, particularly considering the treatment I've gotten when going off-island.
I work in a customer service job, and while most of my French-speaking/named customers are awesome (could also be because we're all car guys), there are those who infuriate me. Trying to complain to me that a company like Momo doesn't have a french enough name on their packaging, or the lack of french on an intake manifold gasket (right after you ask for a Holley six-fifty CFM double pumper, and not a Holley six-cent-cinquante pieds-cubiqe-parminute avec deux pomps). These days, the universal language of commerce is English (although given a few years, it's probably going to become Mandarin), and the whole arrogant attitude that the rest of the world should cater to their desires and refusal to speak/learn English is childish and bad for business as well. Trying to sue Walmart, Old Navy, Gap, and a few other companies for not having French names makes me embarrassed to tell people I live in Quebec.
I will concede that I am somewhat biased, having been discriminated against myself as well as having watched/overheard people joking about my parents accents while shopping (Honestly, ignoring all else, why the hell would you make fun of someone who's about to drop $10k in your furniture store? Mental deficiency?). But, as I stated earlier, the only thing I can do as an individual is to vote with my wallet, and I try to exercise that ability on a regular basis. Good customer service (regardless of language, if its someone French struggling with English but trying anyway, I will appreciate that and reciprocate) = repeat customer. Bad service or discrimination = never again, and warning away everyone I know.
/rant
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