Those who suggest anglophones should be grateful for what they have, and just shut up, clearly do not see “les autres” as full-fledged Quebecers.
“Quebec anglophones are the best-treated minority in the world.”
This cliché is often repeated in Quebec, used pejoratively by nationalists or language hawks as a reflex mechanism to belittle criticism or concerns expressed by members of the province’s English-speaking minority about restrictive language laws.
The existence of these institutions, which serve all Quebecers, should be a source of pride for Quebec. Instead, there are those who begrudge them, pointing to them as reasons why anglophones have no justification to raise red flags about minority rights, or ask questions when those institutions are being unfairly targeted. They quickly draw on an outdated caricature of the spoiled Quebec anglo, in stark contrast to minority communities in the rest of Canada.
The word treatment is defined as “the manner in which someone behaves toward or deals with someone or something.” Parents can provide a home and pay the expenses of their child, yet mistreat them verbally or psychologically. Does that mean the child is well treated?
Quebec anglophones live here and should be entitled to institutions and services proportional to their demographic importance. Those who suggest they should be grateful for what they have, and just shut up, clearly do not see “les autres” as full-fledged Quebecers.
Most anglophones genuinely share the desire for the protection of French, ensuring its constant presence and primacy, but not to the exclusion and marginalization of other languages and communities. The fact that the government finances the community’s institutions is important, but it should not give licence to any belief that they can therefore chip away at rights and the viability of those institutions and expect the minority to stay silent.
Robert Libman is an architect and planning consultant who has served as Equality Party leader and MNA, mayor of Côte-St-Luc and a member of the Montreal executive committee. He was a Conservative candidate in the 2015 federal election.