When we moved to Canada we were allowed to be schooled in English. Within a year or two they passed a new law that said you could only be educated in English if your parents were educated in English in either Quebec or Canada (don't remember which). Coming from England, my parent's education didn't qualify. There was no grandfathering, letting us continue in English because we'd already started in English. My parents didn't know French, and wouldn't be able to assist in learning it, or helping with homework. In response, we left Quebec and moved to the Toronto area.
If they hadn't passed their law, I would have stayed, made French friends, shopped at French stores, and generally been immersed in the culture they want to protect, and learned French. My brothers would have too. Instead, we all vaguely know grade-9 core French, but not enough to actually communicate with anyone. Pretty much the exact opposite of what they want.
Years later, they enacted French language laws, harassing stores over English signs, talking English to English customers, etc, all making it harder to be a tourist location.
All their efforts seem to be more effective at driving away the non-French as opposed to spreading adoption and appreciation of French. Maybe that's their real plan. Their calls for separation are another sign that driving away the non-French may be the real goal... they want to be left alone... Which just seems incredibly short-sighted. If you're too isolated from the rest of the world, the rest of the world will move on without you.
Hmmmm...
Why do you see being independent as isolating from the world? I see it more as directly integrated rather than in a diluted way. I have noticed most countries don't undo their independence willingly, so it must not be that bad.
It's reducing likely immigration (see my initial post), and the language laws around talking to customers and signage are likely harming tourism. I saw recently that some government forms are no longer going to be available in English. They're not being proud of being French, but actively hostile to anyone who isn't a francophone.
With fewer people visiting the province, and bringing diversity into Quebec, and with Quebec families wanting French, being less likely to visit anything outside of Quebec, then yes, it comes isolating.
Sure, some will learn another language and travel, but their government sure is working hard to ensure that's less likely. Early bi-lingualism can make it easier to pick up more languages. Equally, forced early mono-lingualism will make it harder for future Quebecois kids to break out of Quebec.
Europe has fairly open borders. Many countries citizens speak multiple languages. A store keeper in Italy won't risk a $2,000 fine for greeting a long-time foreign customer in their native tongue, but that's a risk in Quebec. They even proposed turning everyone into snitches by splitting the fines with people who turn in Anglophones ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOxpLv1j5fg ). How can all these European countries live with their openness? Is Italy living in fear of becoming non-Italian? Is Germany living in fear of becoming non-German? Outside of Europe, is Japan at risk of becoming non-Japanese? No. Everywhere else has managed to retain their culture without being actively hostile to their neighbours.
These are extreme populist measures to appease the average nationalist-bended Québécois and guarantee re-election.
That is the goal
If Quebec lost the French language overtime that would be an organic cultural correction in line with what the majority wants. If they didn’t want it, they’d preserve it.
But if we want to shape culture and protect the past, why not go further in the past and promote indigenous languages too? They were there first.
Language is an evolving tool. If we’re to protect English today from 600 years ago then we would still be speaking Germanic or something like that.
I speak more Russian than I do French, but even I can recognize the wonderful culture and je ne sais quoi that comes with Quebec and French Canada's influence on Canadian culture. I'm happy that they are here and that the government has measures to support their voices that would otherwise get lost.
I'm not sure I'd apply a left-wing / right-wing label to it. A lot of people see French as a minority language in Canada that must be protected, others see it as an issue of pure nationalism, it can come from a lot of directions.
It's not unique to Québec either, similar programs exist among linguistic minorities in Africa, Eastern Europe and even Asia.
The people of Quebec are wonderful and very friendly (seriously); especially in the Montreal area where I live..
However, there is a difference in being a proud of your culture and shoving it down other people's throats.
These things piss off the majority of us in Quebec because the government is wasting taxes of hard working people. They should spend it instead on infrastructure, education and healthcare..
Frankly such moves don't even help give expand the culture. The government hardly support the authors, musicians and other artists.
They don't attempt to make Quebec a welcoming place for all, they double down and add even more roadblocks for outsiders to get more insights on its great culture..
I'm not saying I agree with this particular initiative, but this is about survival of their very culture, not narcism. What an awfully uncharitable thing to say.
It's funny, if the Inuit government had a similar initiative in Nunavut to support their culture, literally no-one would have a problem with it.
Make of that what you will.
The rest of Canada has Canadian content rules codified in our Broadcasting Act. The idea is that it should create a market for art our various Ministries of Culture pay for via grants. But in practice, Canadian terrestrial radio plays one hell of a lot of Nickelback and Trooper…