Comments on: A New Speaker in Quebec

By: Old Dominion Tory

Old Dominion Tory — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:59:11 +0000

Thank you, Andrew, for this post about Quebec and for the other posts. Although my family is Acadian in origin, I always have had a soft spot for “La Belle Province,” specifically because the French culture remained so strong within it as well as the fascinating history of the province as the heart of La Nouvelle France.

By: L Gaylord Clark

L Gaylord Clark — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:39:45 +0000

Neither Ontario nor Quebec (nor the USA for that matter) are likely to be around much longer in any sort of historically recognizable form.
The vacuum which the disappearance of European civilization is soon to produce will not be filled by the “multi-cultural” mess which we see hideously displayed in our great cities, but by that other historical culture, the East Asian, and in particular by the Chinese.
We’ve had our day folks.

By: The Monarchist

The Monarchist — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:24:32 +0000

“Ontario does not interest me much”

The United Empire Loyalists of Upper Canada would be shocked shocked! that a self-professed monarchist could be so indifferent to their existence. :-)

I suppose the traditional fact that Quebec is more French and Catholic and Ontario is more English and loyalist mostly or partially explains the enormous gap in interest. Or perhaps it’s just the modern multicultural mush that Ontario has become (versus the more nationally strident and culturally defensive Quebec) that is the root of your disinterest.

By: Andrew Cusack

Andrew Cusack — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:57:32 +0000

I suppose for the same reason that “speaker” and “president of the assembly” are used interchangeably. In French, he is the prime minister, and of course in Canada this is usually translated into English as “premier” but since we make no reference to the federal government in this article, it seemed unnecessary to keep to a single term. I have never liked to fake-sounding construct of “first ministers” when referring to provincial premiers and the Prime Minister of Canada. Nor do I like the official title of “First Minister” for the premier/prime minister of Northern Ireland or Scotland.

Interestingly, the office of Président de l’Assemblée nationale was formerly known as the orateur, which is a good cognate to English but is nonetheless poor French.

Mr. Charest was being a bit petty. The decision of the ADQ & PQ was announced beforehand even though it was a last-minute deal. Still, it would have been nice if they had at least spoken to the premier before the announcement.

By: Capt Stephen Chledowski

Capt Stephen Chledowski — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:23:21 +0000

Very Interesting article Andrew;

It does bother me somewhat that Premier
Charest decided to be petty and buck tradition
by not fulfilling his duties to escort the
Speaker to his chair.

I am interested to know why in the article
Premier and Prime Minister are used interchangably in reference to Jean Charest?

By: Andrew Cusack

Andrew Cusack — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:50:14 +0000

Ontario does not interest me much.

By: The Monarchist

The Monarchist — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:21:16 +0000

I am intrigued by your single-minded fascination with Quebec, Mr. Cusack. You must by now have a dozen posts on the province/nation, yet nary a mention of Ontario, a place almost twice as populous and with as much old colonial charm as its Lower Canadian sister.