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I just think it's nonsense that Canada has two official languages... and that's from a quebecer. Two countries with each their own language would save everyone

I just think it's nonsense that Canada has two official languages... and that's from a quebecer. Two countries with each their own language would save everyone involved so much money. Also, bilingualism to me is divide and conquer: how can we (as in the people) change anything if we can't even understand each other ? The status quo can't go on forever.

kolanos 9y ago
This is hardly a uniquely Canadian issue. I looked at public schools in SF and was amused to find there were Mandarin and Vietnamese only public schools that would not accept my English speaking children because they didn't speak Mandarin/Vietnamese. Again, public schools, in the USA, where English was not an option. And the English schools had long waiting lists, go figure.
- simlevesque 9y ago
  > This is hardly a uniquely Canadian issue If you think you gave a good comparison, you clearly lack context. The situation is completely different... it's not really about education, it's about national unity.
  - kolanos 9y ago
    You clearly haven't read my other comment in this thread. But regarding Mandarin/Vietnamese public schools in the United States, how can that not be indicative of a national unity problem? Sure it is not on the same scale. But they're not teaching English, the national language, at all. And they don't really have a choice as their community doesn't speak English, either. So English doesn't really serve a purpose, and by extension neither does integration.
snrplfth 9y ago
Firstly, why have any official languages at all? Aside from government documents and the like (which are routinely translated into 10+ languages anyways), why does any language need to be "the official one"? Also, what does it actually mean "can't even understand each other"? Understand the actual words? Understand as people? Sympathize with? And I'd like to see how the status quo is supposed to be transformed into "two countries with each their own language". Will you slice off chunks of Eastern Ontario? Have enclaves on Montreal Island? Balkanize New Brunswick?

kolanos 9y ago

This is hardly a uniquely Canadian issue. I looked at public schools in SF and was amused to find there were Mandarin and Vietnamese only public schools that would not accept my English speaking children because they didn't speak Mandarin/Vietnamese. Again, public schools, in the USA, where English was not an option. And the English schools had long waiting lists, go figure.

simlevesque 9y ago
> This is hardly a uniquely Canadian issue If you think you gave a good comparison, you clearly lack context. The situation is completely different... it's not really about education, it's about national unity.
- kolanos 9y ago
  You clearly haven't read my other comment in this thread. But regarding Mandarin/Vietnamese public schools in the United States, how can that not be indicative of a national unity problem? Sure it is not on the same scale. But they're not teaching English, the national language, at all. And they don't really have a choice as their community doesn't speak English, either. So English doesn't really serve a purpose, and by extension neither does integration.

snrplfth 9y ago

Firstly, why have any official languages at all? Aside from government documents and the like (which are routinely translated into 10+ languages anyways), why does any language need to be "the official one"? Also, what does it actually mean "can't even understand each other"? Understand the actual words? Understand as people? Sympathize with? And I'd like to see how the status quo is supposed to be transformed into "two countries with each their own language". Will you slice off chunks of Eastern Ontario? Have enclaves on Montreal Island? Balkanize New Brunswick?