101 on 101

When it was originally conceived, Bill 101 was to protect the French language in Quebec. The language charter was designed to protect an island of French in a sea of North American English.

The debate has waxed and waned over its usefulness - and the carve outs - and ultimately whether or not the provisions of the charter violated another one. The Supreme Court of Canada has twice said "yes. Change it."

Last week, Mad Max Bernier (Beauce - Tea Party) made an off the cuff remark about the continued need for the language charter. Speaking to an English audience, he remarked that the language could survive despite it.

He was immediately castigated by the Quebec intelligentsia. "He can't mean we don't need 101," they cried. "Education! Signage! Tradition!"

Ironically - this week anyway - bill 101 does more to regulate the internet than the CRTC does.

As a unilingual who can speak French from time to time, it isn't my position to tell what is needed to preserve the French language. Personally, I think it is the giant "WALMART" signs that are a greater threat than "Schwartz's Bifteck," but what do I know.

What I do know is that it is kind of silly for the Quebec intelligentsia to say we need to rely on this regulatory approach to preserve the language when a charismatic French speaker stands up and says we don't. Their own arguments point to the fact that the traditions will carry forward because of the culture of the province. Sadly, they are also indicative of what is evolving into the culture of the province.