The contemptuous attitude of Quebeckers towards Marc Garneau’s French is understandable. Member of Parliament for Westmount, he is at the service of his constituents. Moreover, a good part of the headliners of the Liberals in Quebec – starting with the Trudeaus, from father to son – represent non-French-speaking voters. Normal. They are placed in “safe counties” with an Anglo-ethnic majority so that they can be elected.
They remind me of Charles-Michel de Salaberry, whose family, after having served France, entered the service of England. A British officer, he stopped an American force advancing on Montreal at Châteauguay in 1812.
Photo from the National Archives of Canada
This vintage drawing shows Charles-Michel de Salaberry during the Battle of Châteauguay.
He is presented as a hero. From the British Empire, yes. Salaberry had already fought France in the West Indies and then Napoleon in Europe.
The de Salaberrys have a history of disloyalty towards Francophones. Like many lords after the Conquest, they integrated into the new British elite that settled here, buying their lordship and marrying off their daughters.
For the English, a family tradition
The father of the winner of Châteauguay, Ignace de Salaberry had become friends in Quebec with Prince Edward, the father of Queen Victoria. He took advantage of it and made his three sons profit from it, who served in His Majesty’s armies.
Melchior-Alphonse de Salaberry, the son of Charles-Michel, also a British lieutenant-colonel, participated in the crushing of the patriots during the troubles of 1837-1838.
Photo by the Archives Service of the University of Montreal
Melchior-Alphonse de Salaberry
Elected in 1841, he was one of the only two French Canadians to support the Governor General, Lord Sydenham (successor of Durham and Colborne), in his policy of union of the two Canadas to accelerate the anglicization of the colony demanded by the English.
His younger brother, Charles-René-Léonidas de Salaberry, after having also served in the British army, never did anything but live off the prestige of his name. He was one of three federal commissioners responsible for making contact with the Métis during the Red River uprising in 1869-1870. Louis Riel refused to negotiate with him.
Opportunistic politicians
It is one of our characteristics in Quebec to honor opportunistic politicians who are ready for all ignominy to get elected with the support of the English.
The federal government is the direct successor to the British colonial power, whose objective has always been to wipe French-speakers off the map. Remember – two cases among many others – the Durham report and the deportation of the Acadians, the only abused minority to whom Justin Trudeau did not apologize and ask for forgiveness.
Our Liberals in Ottawa and in Quebec are the Salaberrys of our time.
Dorval Airport honors Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who, during the October crisis, imprisoned 467 Quebecers without any charges being brought against them.
To scare the world. And who repatriated the constitution without Quebec’s approval in 1982. To give Quebeckers the thumbs up.
His son follows in his footsteps. Like those of Salaberry.