Re: Quebec election
 

But dont you already have your own Republic of Newfoundland flag;)
http://www.heritage.nf.ca/pwg.html

Re: Quebec election
 

What about trucking?? The East is heavily dependent on Southern ON for goods from there and the US via the GTA. You are not allowed to enter the US with a Canada to Canada shipment. Even if you were their hours of service are different than ours ie less drive time and less flexible rest provisions so would be a pain and increase costs.

Although I did read not so long back there is a study being done to put a toll road in from the NB border near St Stephen across Northern Maine to somewhere near Sherbrooke QC (bugger :D ) They might have to rethink and build it all the way to Cornwall ON (more chance of platting fog)

Re: Quebec election
 

At the end of the day (this is Souvy's thread after all) every one is sick to death of comments like that.

Re: Quebec election
 

Which would you recommend? For Calgary for example?

Je suis simplement curieux.
Ich bin einfach neurig.
I'm just curious.

Re: Quebec election
 

As I said previously French is a decent enough choice for anyone as a second language. For someone who's primary goal in life is to work for the federal goverment it would be an excellent choice.

At work native English speaking Canadians are in a minority. Native French speaking Canadians are non existent. Chinese would be the best match to the poorest ESL speakers.

Portugese or Spanish would lead to some interesting trips with work.

Mrs jimf is fluent in French and German but hasn't found any particular use for them here. She goes out of her way to use them for interests sake. Her Russian and Italian are a bit rusty now but wouldn't be much use here either anyway.

Re: Quebec election
 

Have you tried Mandarin? It's difficult, and for many people impossible because of the tones in it and the lack of a phonetic script.

Re: Quebec election
 

+1

Re: Quebec election
 

I'm rather surprised at how little publicity the "unfortunate shooting" received.

Re: Quebec election
 

Oh, I don't know. If she's fluent in German she would've spotted my typo in neugierig.

Re: Quebec election
 

I spotted it you racist.

Re: Quebec election
 

I am confused. Not for the first time. However, unlike Former what's 'is name, I won't bridle. I'm actually impressed about something or other. I'll work it out later.

Re: Quebec election
 

She has rather better things to do than read and comment on your posts...............

Re: Quebec election
 

Wonderful. And you?

Re: Quebec election
 

Manderin usually gets grouped with Korean, Arabic and Japanese as the most difficult for English speakers to learn. I have no intention of ever attempting any of them.

Re: Quebec election
 

Yes Poutine is rather difficult to get hold of in Calgary.

Re: Quebec election
 

For your information the CAQ are neutral. They are neither Federalist, nationalist or separatist. The campaigned on the basis that separation would not be discussed in their party for at least 10 years.

as a party they have members from all areas, though their leader used to be a member of the PQ, though he said he has moved on from this.

as you should know, Montreal was at one time the capital of Canada and would probably still be today if the English had not burned down parliament.

If Quebec were ever to separate, I think Canada would be poorer and blander for it.

Where else would you have cabinet minister in the boots of cars, tanks on the streets quelling native uprisings, naked students marching down the streets, Judges being prosecuted for murder and mafia crime families and biker gangs murdering each other every few months.

I say only in Quebec.

Re: Quebec election
 

Nope. In the same league, though.

Went outside for a smoke. Sat on the stool. Didn't notice that one stool leg was dangling over a step. Stool went. I went with it. Arm out to stop myself.

You can guess the rest.

Left wrist is braced (hand useless) and I'm making full use of my emergency reserves of Tylenol-3.

Re: Quebec election
 

What about trucking? Ever heard of In transit movements which is done everyday
(a) In-transit – The movement of goods from a point in the United States to another point in the United States through Canada, as well as the movement of goods from a point in Canada to another point in Canada through the United States. Goods in-transit are controlled on Form A8B, United States – Canada Transit Manifest.
Sure it might be a pain and Im sure Quebec would offer the same if they did seperate and would not charge for this service as they also need goods from Southern Ontario and the West.
I know its only been a couple of days but still no reply on my questions.
Have the PQ come out with a cost of introducing their own currency, passports and everything else that comes with being your own country?

Re: Quebec election
 

Does anyone in Quebec care about the cost of anything? Their debt burden suggests not.

Re: Quebec election
 

Thank you.

CAQ is not separatist or federalist. It is hot on promoting francophonie within the confederation. That is a very important distinction.

An earlier poster made a reference to 8 million francophones being irrelevant (or insignificant). I seem to recall someone else taking a similar view some decades ago...........

Francophone North Americans are not hungry for France. They have nothing in common with the place. They are North Americans that speak French.

I am getting a bit pissed of with this imperialistic/colonial/Daily Mail racism.

Incidentally; last paragraph of your post. Ever heard of Italy?

Re: Quebec election
 

The answer to your last question is "probably not". The issue is emotional, not sensible.

Institutions such as AC and VIA could not continue to be based in QC.
Corporations based in QC would relocate (it's happened before).
A large chunk of Canada's military is based in QC.
A very large chunk of the Federal government is based in QC (Gatineau) and the Ottawa offices are stuffed with Quebeckers. This city (4th largest in QC) needs Federalism. The region is called "Fortess Western Quebec" by the Liberals and for good reason.

Re: Quebec election
 

Thank you for that and probably what a lot of others think as well.
Sort of a bit like the Scots who also speak a different language :lol:

Re: Quebec election
 

You are to receive the understatement of the week award for this comment :p

Its more hassle than its worth and US border is bad enough. It would be easier to kick the Quebecers off the south shore. ;)

Re: Quebec election
 

But that wouldnt be cricket old chap. Lets be sensible and not emotional as Souvy states Im pretty certain that Quebec will NOT seperate but continue to talk about it and further alienate themselves because the rest of us are sick of listening to this crap and really dont give a toss if they do as the sensible ones amongst us know they cannot afford to do it.

Re: Quebec election
 

Images of chasing Quebecers off the south shore in whites with bat in hand :rofl:

Agreed though - thats why they voted non twice. Enough people in Qc to realise that it would be economic suicide.

Im of the opinion that if they really wanted it let them have it as long as its not to the detriment of the eastern provinces due to the geography.

Re: Quebec election
 

The 8m or so individuals in Quebec are as relevant as anyone else in NA. No more and no less. They are just as special as anyone else in NA. No more and no less. They are just as entitled to vote for who they want to represent them. No more and no less.

When the government representing those 8m chooses to require that commercial activity within that juristiction is undertaken in a language other than the language commonly used by the remaining 392m then businesses based outside that juristiction will have to make a decision whether it is worthwhile operating in that juristiction. Those within the juristiction imposing language requirements shouldn't be suprised if businesses outside that juristiction decide that operating within that juristiction is not worthwhile. To that extent the juristiction, as a consequence of its own decisions which it is fully entitled to make, becomes less connected to the rest of the same continent.

Re: Quebec election
 

Legislatively enforced official languages are always crap idea. Let people speak what they want to.

Re: Quebec election
 

Decided years ago. Even the companies that left after Bill 401 still do business in Quebec.

Re: Quebec election
 

Are you suggesting that QC-based businesses only communicate with non-QC clients in French? If you are, you've got things seriously freakin wrong.

Re: Quebec election
 

I think it's the other way around, I think he's saying that businesses outside Quebec won't deal in French. We know that they do, we've only to look at the nearest consumer product to see that, so I think the idea here is to diminish the value of speaking French to people who don't live in Quebec.

Re: Quebec election
 

Try telling that to the new Premier of Quebec. You could try to tell her something similar in relation to religious symbols too, not that it would get you anywhere:p

I am puzzled by the fact that, it would appear, it is OK to act in a overtly bigoted fashion if you are a politician in Quebec, but political suicide to do so elsewhere in Canada, and not a mention of such made by the "enlightened" posters on this board.

Re: Quebec election
 

Any business I have worked with in Quebec communicates with non Quebec clients in English not in French. Jimf you have got it wrong.

Re: Quebec election
 

Of course many will still do business of some sort in Quebec. It's just that it likely to be less extensive than it would be if there wasn't a language requirement.

Re: Quebec election
 

Clearly I'm not suggesting that at all.

Re: Quebec election
 

Putting French and English on consumer products throughout Canada is a different issue. The size of the market and additional cost is obviously a combination that businesses will tolerate. The cost is passed onto the customer anyway.

Re: Quebec election
 

I'm glad one of us understood what he wrote. I found it a bit contorted.

The Quebec companies I deal with mostly have English as the default setting.

Re: Quebec election
 

The only industry I know well in Canada is insurance. Insurance companies do avoid Canadian markets with legislation they consider onerous, for example, I know of a company that will decline business in NB after year end because new rules outlaw the use of credit rating as a criterion. Similarly few companies bother with NF because it has few people and lots of laws. Quebec however is a market every company wants because it has a lot of insurable risks, doing business in French isn't an issue because the companies already do business in French, German, Spanish, Russian, every language used in markets with lots of people.

Re: Quebec election
 

Bigoted or not lily-livered?

The QC view seems to be "integrate or f**k off". The official standpoint elsewhere may be lamer.

FWIW, the nastiest examples of blatant racism I have come across in conversation over the last 16 years have been in BC, AB and ON.

Re: Quebec election
 

You don't need to label in both languages in all provinces. If you don't intend to sell in QC or NB, you can stick to English.

Re: Quebec election
 

It was clear. You will see what you wish to see though.