These organizations need to calm down over this one. You’re really going to try to get rid of the first Indigenous governor general because she doesn’t sufficiently represent a settler culture?
Without having taken a side in this despite being a quebecer, I want to point out that the original debate was about the uselessness of having monarchy figures in our government.
Sadly, it seems that proponents of keeping the monarch have shifted the debate’s spotlight on the fact that the lady in from the first nations.
I am a republican (in the anti-monarchist sense, not the American sense) so if we want to end that institution and get rid of the office of governor general entirely I’m on board with that. But that’s not what’s happening here. Should the organizations be successful in their case, the office of governor general will continue. It will simply force the first Indigenous holder of it out because she doesn’t speak a settler language.
I can’t begin to describe how bad that will look from a country that is supposedly pursuing reconciliation with it’s colonial history.
I’m not gonna weigh in on whether they’re right or wrong for it, but Quebec has almost a quarter of the country’s population. It makes sense to want to be represented properly. I also think it’s important to have the indigenous population represented though. I don’t think it’s all black and white.
I can see why they’re doing it, but I don’t know if they’re right to do it.
Yup. Historically Quebec was treated as a second-tier province because of the religious sectarianism that migrated with the British/French colonizers. Most of Canada’s PM’s were Protestant and most of Quebecoise were RC.
After the religious aspect began fading into the background Quebecoise still felt disenfranchised (which, in reality, they were) so the focus became language/culture vs religious affiliation. Then the October crisis happened.
To be a pedantic, they’re a fifth of the population (approx. 21%), down from 27% in 1971 and about 35% at the time of confederation.
Your point still stands though. The convention for GGs has been to alternate between English and French, though typically bilingual in both to a greater or lesser extent.
The people launching the suits are hardcore Quebecoise rights activists:
The lawsuit was launched by two Quebecers’ rights associations, including Justice pour le Québec, which was led by Frédéric Bastien until his death earlier this year.
…
In 2020, [Bastien] filed a complaint after the Canadian Human Rights Commission failed to provide a French version of a federal challenge to Quebec’s secularism law.
Two years later, Bastien filed a human rights complaint for racism after being denied a job opportunity as a white man. The role was only open to women, Indigenous people, people with disabilities and people of colour.
There are undoubtedly Indigenous candidates who would meet the constitutional requirements. It’s worth asking why the government didn’t bother to select one of them.
It’s just, you know. Quebec is the product of colonialism as well. Perhaps they should let this one slide. Let Mary Simon give all her public addresses in Inuktitut if that will make it seem more fair.
From what I understand, they have a different point of view: Quebec won concessions by surrendering to the British, and they see those concessions being eroded.
When it comes to a ceremonial position that is otherwise ignored, it would look way better to concede and take the L. But I think they’re afraid this is a slippery slope.
These organizations need to calm down over this one. You’re really going to try to get rid of the first Indigenous governor general because she doesn’t sufficiently represent a settler culture?
Without having taken a side in this despite being a quebecer, I want to point out that the original debate was about the uselessness of having monarchy figures in our government. Sadly, it seems that proponents of keeping the monarch have shifted the debate’s spotlight on the fact that the lady in from the first nations.
I am a republican (in the anti-monarchist sense, not the American sense) so if we want to end that institution and get rid of the office of governor general entirely I’m on board with that. But that’s not what’s happening here. Should the organizations be successful in their case, the office of governor general will continue. It will simply force the first Indigenous holder of it out because she doesn’t speak a settler language.
I can’t begin to describe how bad that will look from a country that is supposedly pursuing reconciliation with it’s colonial history.
I’m not gonna weigh in on whether they’re right or wrong for it, but Quebec has almost a quarter of the country’s population. It makes sense to want to be represented properly. I also think it’s important to have the indigenous population represented though. I don’t think it’s all black and white.
I can see why they’re doing it, but I don’t know if they’re right to do it.
How does having someone born and raised in Québec not count as Québec representation? Is she not colonialist enough for us?
Maybe address the root cause and ensure la Commission scolaire Kativik is resourced to teach Inuktituk, English, and French.
Edit: spelling est difficile.
@moody @grte
Yup. Historically Quebec was treated as a second-tier province because of the religious sectarianism that migrated with the British/French colonizers. Most of Canada’s PM’s were Protestant and most of Quebecoise were RC.
After the religious aspect began fading into the background Quebecoise still felt disenfranchised (which, in reality, they were) so the focus became language/culture vs religious affiliation. Then the October crisis happened.
To be a pedantic, they’re a fifth of the population (approx. 21%), down from 27% in 1971 and about 35% at the time of confederation.
Your point still stands though. The convention for GGs has been to alternate between English and French, though typically bilingual in both to a greater or lesser extent.
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The people launching the suits are hardcore Quebecoise rights activists:
…
There are undoubtedly Indigenous candidates who would meet the constitutional requirements. It’s worth asking why the government didn’t bother to select one of them.
It’s just, you know. Quebec is the product of colonialism as well. Perhaps they should let this one slide. Let Mary Simon give all her public addresses in Inuktitut if that will make it seem more fair.
I agree completely.
From what I understand, they have a different point of view: Quebec won concessions by surrendering to the British, and they see those concessions being eroded.
When it comes to a ceremonial position that is otherwise ignored, it would look way better to concede and take the L. But I think they’re afraid this is a slippery slope.
Yeah, this is so tone deaf. Par for the course with the language police though.
“settler culture”? I think Oregon Trail was a ways back.
So are some Quebecois language police types.