June 2024
Welcome Back!
Where have we been this month??
Both, Myrtis and Colin were interviewed on CJAD by David Hertel this month. Also, Myrtis, Colin, Charles Roburn and Avi Karp attended the the QCGN AGM, cocktail and the launch of the Y4Y Quebec organization. Myrtis Fossey had a roundtable session with our West Island Regional Team on June 25, which included Jonathan Gray, Regional President for Montreal and West Island and Cynthis Costigan and members.
This month, you can read articles from our Education critic, Jonathan Gray, a commentary from Will Twolan regarding the potential trade sanctions the United States are considering based on Bill 96, and an opinion piece regarding fund raising from Avi Karp.
Also, we are including a letter that the Canadian Party of Quebec has sent to the Right Honorable Justin Trudeau, all Federal Party Leaders and all Provincial Premiers concerning moving forward with the 11th province.
I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy St. Jean Baptiste and Canada Day week-end and a safe, healthy and happy Summer.
We will be back with Political Frontline in late August.
Liz Campbell
Canadian Party of Quebec
Good reading!!
Thoughts from the CAPQ Education Critic
Jonathan Gray
Canadian Party of Quebec
As I sit to write this opinion piece, I feel multiple emotions; frustration, anger, confusion, guilt, mistreatment, and hopefulness. I would like to focus on hopefulness. Before I do though, you should know where I am coming from. As a high school science teacher in one of the few POLITICAL FRONTLINE 2 remaining public English institutions in Laval and Montreal, I work daily with teens, their families and administration. I felt it was important to share a personal perspective and not just come off sounding like another critic complaining about the same things we know are wrong, unfair, unjust and petty. After seeing the positive reaction to Mr. Colin Standish’s (party leader) write up of his personal Bishop stories, it became evident that real life stories are what people need to hear, and not some hypothetical scenario.
Why hopefulness, well because we MUST be an intelligent enough population to see the Legault government’s actions for what they are. Bill 96, Bill 21 and Bill 40 have all been developed with the strategic aim at diminishing English rights and freedoms. We are seeing the attrition of English schools, in particular, at the elementary and secondary levels. Some have called these actions a resemblance to those of a Fascist organization. And I agree. “Too much English on the streets of Montreal” is what Legault has said. He even said that “more French should be spoken in the home”. Who is he to dictate what we do in our own homes. Can you think of any other historical leaders who told a people that their language and culture were not acceptable? If you can, then you know it doesn’t end well for people. Are we not a major tourist destination, for Americans and Europeans? The tentacles of Bill 96 are reaching far and wide, but I am hopeful that our society is intelligent enough to see it and end its cancerous spread by electing representatives who will fight for fairness and respect.
As I was having dinner with family and friends the other day, a very interesting debate arose. We were talking about French in Quebec and French in the rest of Canada. I really saw things from a different perspective that night regarding Legault’s and other ‘nationalists’ absurdities. It made me question even more the insanity of the current provincial government's agenda.
One of our guests was in favor of moving their children out of English schools and placing them in French schools, so as to assist them to get ahead, they said. This, I might add, would be to the detriment of the English Boards. The purpose was to strengthen their child’s French language proficiency. They were also leaning towards understanding Quebec’s desire to put forth policies to ‘protect’ the French language and culture. They mentioned how they feel the Federal government has not made significant efforts to strengthen French services and access throughout our “bilingual” country. Here is where it gets interesting. If the Federal government were to implement more stringent requirements and make more services accessible in both languages (which there already are in many cases), this would still not satisfy Legault’s claim. He would still claim that Canada is not doing enough, and he would therefore, establish more protectionist rules in Quebec.
Something I have wondered about for a while, and mentioned to several people; if the purist population of Quebec is dwindling and they are not replenishing their numbers with the ‘pure laine’, to secure their language and culture, then how is increasing immigration of French speakers and non-French speakers supposed to satisfy the government’s agenda of saving Quebec culture and language. I find it particularly baffling how this is supposed to rescue the culture, especially when immigration is from diverse cultures.
Interestingly enough, there are more French speakers in the province of Quebec than there have ever been. I am hopeful that intelligent people, whatever their languages, see the fear mongering of Legault’s CAQ.
Equality, not just for Equalization payments to Quebec, but sharing sanctions too.
By William E Twolan
Former CaPQ Candidate
Bill-96 is no stranger to Quebecers and human rights watchdogs, but to the rest of Canada, Bill 96 could get personal. The United States government officials have been considering slapping Canada with sanctions due to Bill-96s infringement on the 1974 Trade Act. What this means is, the rest of Canadian provinces will face the same nationwide sanctions due to Quebec’s combative and Charter infringing stance on limiting English in the province. This situation is increasingly disturbing for a plethora of factors;
One being that while the Government of Canada sits idly by while Quebec violates the Canadian Charter, it’s our neighbors to the south, the U.S Government, that are the first federal body to take issue with Bill 96. As well, it’s not only the U.S Feds blowing the whistle on Bill 96 but, the complaints in the trade realm stretch from Microsoft to Hershey’s. These large corporations are voicing their concerns to U.S Officials as Quebec attempts to illegally encroach on big corporation’s trademarked names, which, Quebec has no legal jurisdiction over.
The possibility of U.S Sanctions on Canada won’t just be limited solely to Quebec, but to the rest of the Canadian provinces and territories. What a gift Quebec could end up enshrining on the rest of Canada, especially those provinces that end up forking over money to Quebec in the form of equalization payments.
The economic impact Canada could be facing is all due to Quebec’s needless, illegitimate and charter infringing crusade to stomp out Quebec Anglos charter rights in the province. But, at the fin de la Journée, Quebec shares the blame with Ottawa and its 338 federal MPs, the supposed character defenders, on failing to protect Quebecers basic charter rights.
Now, because of the idleness of Canadian federal and provincial leadership, we are faced with potential sanctions from Canadas closest ally and trade partner. This all comes in the wake of last week’s vote in the Quebec Legislature, which passed unanimously, a motion seconded by the QC Liberals, to only recognize Quebec as a unilingual entity. The silence is deafening from Ottawa, and Quebec Liberals, as both entities are standing by while Canada gets hit by the political fallout of the remorseless actions of Quebec.
FUNDRAISING
BY
AVI KARP REGIONAL
EVENT COORDINATOR
CANADIAN PARTY OF QUEBEC
Political contributions are not only important, but they're necessary. This is why it is the last step in a political awakening. I am not denying that there are other ways to be politically active, from activism (on-line or not), making phone calls, and knocking on doors to every tough conversation one has, all are achieving the goal of how grassroots politics is won, one conversation at a time.
But let’s say that you have kids, work a fulltime job, have chores, the list goes on! Life is busy, but you want to make room for a cause you care about. Allow me 5 minutes to convince you why it’s easy to still be involved; because political contributions are matched by Election Quebec, an easy way to support your beliefs and its impact is far more reaching than you realize.
In politics there usually is some benefit when making contributions. On the federal level it is in the form of a tax deduction, while on the Quebec provincial side your contribution is increased by Election Quebec. Every dollar you give is further enhanced by a multiple of 2.5 times to make your expectations and rights translate into actions. When you contribute to your provincial party, you can be sure you are making a difference in creating the society that you want to be living in.
Our beliefs, values and culture are important, they are what drives us to act; what drives us to feel. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Politics is just putting your beliefs into action. But every step of the way costs money! From the staff that’s hired, to the pens they’re signing the pay cheques with. Every stamp, pencil, printed sheet, every piece of merchandise, every light turned on, every phone call costs money. A political party has to take in enough contributions to not only keep the lights on, but to do the very activism you need and require!
Every dollar donated to a political party is used to help fight your beliefs at the National Assembly and apply pressure onto the current provincial government! Did they run an outreach event? It’s thanks to your donations. Did they spend time making phone calls? Once again, it's thanks to your donations. The reality is, I would rather a party get their contributions from the people it seeks to represent, rather than loans.
Lastly there is an important distinction to be made when it’s time to enter your credit card number to help preserve your beliefs. Elections Quebec allows you to donate up to $100.00 annually during a non-electoral year and $25.00 for a membership card. For every $100.00 you contribute Election Quebec will deposit $250.00 in the party account.
I do hope I have convinced you to donate to the Canadian Party of Quebec, and that you will enjoy the benefits and privileges of living in a developed country where many Canadians fought and died for this democracy and we too should fight to preserve it.
HELP US FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!! JOIN THE CANADIAN PARTY OF QUEBEC
We are currently looking for individuals that can join our Executive Committee.
If you are feeling the need to get involved and have skill sets in Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Fundraising or any other area of expertise, we want to hear from you. Members of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors are strictly on a volunteer basis.
Interested in becoming a candidate for 2026, now is the time to contact us.
Contact me at info@canadianpartyquebec.ca.
Also, if you have not already made your contribution of $100.00 or renewed your $25.00 membership, we are now in 2024. Please contribute and renew your membership by going to canadianpartyquebec.ca and clicking on the contribute button on the menu bar.
Liz Campbell
Thank you again for your ongoing support and have a safe long week-end!
