This week, the adoption of Bill 96 in the National Assembly will mark another milestone in the policy of division so dear to the government of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ).
Under his nationalist pretensions, François Legault will have chosen to nourish a mistrust of identity throughout his first mandate.
Dig the ditches
Everyone agrees that French must be protected in Quebec, if only because our province constitutes the last significant mass of Molière’s language in the sea of English speakers that the rest of Canada and the United States represent. United.
Those who claim that French is doing great and not backing down are either out of touch or in bad faith.
On the other hand, we should have taken the time to find ways to protect our language (and our culture) without antagonizing anglophones and allophones.
Fixed-date elections oblige, we cut corners. But isn’t that the CAQ’s secret recipe? If it’s popular, so much the better, if it divides, perfect! We will always have the notwithstanding clause and the gags to shove our policies down the throats of minorities.
Blow on the embers
Since his election, the Prime Minister has chosen a vocabulary which, if it cannot be described as incendiary, is at least provocative, bordering on dangerous. It will be remembered that Philippe Couillard had once accused him of fanning the embers of intolerance; there are still good examples.
Take this reply to the Blue Room on the fact that “immigrants are driving down wages while Quebecers like it, good wages”. At the same time when the Conseil du patronat wants to see immigration increase and the same week when we are calling for a permanent solution to the problem of the colander on Roxham Road.
François Legault has far too much experience to believe in chance.