I'm in Montreal, native French speaker, albeit fully bilingual and my feeling is that two French debates are unnecessary. One can't complain about equal treatment as there is only one in English anyway. Carney's French is generally sufficient to get his point across. Where Liberals are trending in the province - mostly Greater Montreal area, western Quebec, Eastern Townships - are not where Quebecers are French language purists/absolutists. Quebecers are very pragmatic (this may surprise the ROC?) and realize that the province's social fabric, culture and language stand a better chance of survival with the Liberals than the Conservatives.
Carney can end all the debate about French debates by going on “Tout le monde en parle.” He would probably do just fine and it is probably a better setting to introduce himself further to Quebec than a debate.
Poilievre on the other hand has never been on “Tout le monde en parle” (to my knowledge). If he is smart, he would take the risk and accept the invitation. But I don’t think he will.
The fundamental problem for the BQ right now is that for Quebec to be strong Canada needs to be strong and that's just not really compatible with separatist nationalism, and it's not really a great fit with Legault style autonomous nationalism either. Carney will make mistakes in French, he just made a pretty horrible one today on the Ecole Polytechnique shooting. But I think most voters in Quebec are smart enough to recognize the difference between a momentary gaffe in someone's second language, and the actual ideas they intend to implement for Canada and for our lives in this country.
As a former Montrealer, I can say without a doubt, Quebecers are very strategic voters. I was disappointed when Mr. Carney announced he would not do the French debate. I completely understand why.
But I believe French Quebecers would understand if he said “look my French is not yet good enough to debate, but I want to speak to you. So I’m going to have an interpreter work with me. I’m going to continue to improve my French until I can speak directly to you. After all, we have ASL interpreters working with us.”
I’m sure French speaking Canada would understand and appreciate that they weren’t being left out.
Lack of respect may be too strong a sentiment imo….more like lack of awareness. For what it’s worth- and no disrespect intended, I kind of like “booze up”….seems fitting with Trump hanging over our heads. I hope these things do not negatively effect PM Carney too much, after all Danielle Smith continues to embarrass herself and Canada by making appearances in the US (like Prager U) and as long as Mr. Poilievre continues to avoid getting a security clearance, the Conservatives cannot be taken in good faith, and will ultimately loose votes for that reason.
2 debates are enough, I loved a lot of French first PM and at times their English was a little off so what they did right by me in the west. This is a nothing issue in my opinion
And another day of the Liberals owning the news cycle, with Poilievre forced to talk about how he won his job, not getting his security clearance, etc.
Mark Carney should have one of his Quebec team Steven Guilbault, Melanie Joly, or Domenic Leblanc do the Liberal debate for him and the party. It’s worth a try. Vive le Québec.
Mark Carney's problem goes beyond his poor command of French; his problem is a lack of respect for Quebec culture. For example, the French adaptation of the commercial featuring actor Mike Myers is offensive. He simply subtitled the ad in French, without any effort to adapt it to Quebec's cultural reality. Talking about characters from a 1970s children's show in English Canada has no resonance with Quebec culture. That's what's shocking with Mark Carney, this sense of indifference.
And if I may, I would like to add this: When will English Canada understand that the "Elbows Up" slogan, which Carney absurdly adapted literally (On lève les coudes), does not work in French? In Québec, "Elbows Up" means to booze up.
For me, this kind of indifference toward Quebec culture represents a lack of respect. The campaign is still young. We'll see if these blunders catch up with him.
Thank you for this perspective.I am learning a helluva lot over here in the Stack and I am particularly grateful for your no nonsense perspective,I don't always agree but am appreciative and I always learn something.Who said you can't teach an old grandma new tricks!!!
Chantal Hébert has said at least twice that, from what she's seeing, Carney's French doesn’t matter.
I heard her say that.
I'm in Montreal, native French speaker, albeit fully bilingual and my feeling is that two French debates are unnecessary. One can't complain about equal treatment as there is only one in English anyway. Carney's French is generally sufficient to get his point across. Where Liberals are trending in the province - mostly Greater Montreal area, western Quebec, Eastern Townships - are not where Quebecers are French language purists/absolutists. Quebecers are very pragmatic (this may surprise the ROC?) and realize that the province's social fabric, culture and language stand a better chance of survival with the Liberals than the Conservatives.
Carney can end all the debate about French debates by going on “Tout le monde en parle.” He would probably do just fine and it is probably a better setting to introduce himself further to Quebec than a debate.
Poilievre on the other hand has never been on “Tout le monde en parle” (to my knowledge). If he is smart, he would take the risk and accept the invitation. But I don’t think he will.
The fundamental problem for the BQ right now is that for Quebec to be strong Canada needs to be strong and that's just not really compatible with separatist nationalism, and it's not really a great fit with Legault style autonomous nationalism either. Carney will make mistakes in French, he just made a pretty horrible one today on the Ecole Polytechnique shooting. But I think most voters in Quebec are smart enough to recognize the difference between a momentary gaffe in someone's second language, and the actual ideas they intend to implement for Canada and for our lives in this country.
As a former Montrealer, I can say without a doubt, Quebecers are very strategic voters. I was disappointed when Mr. Carney announced he would not do the French debate. I completely understand why.
But I believe French Quebecers would understand if he said “look my French is not yet good enough to debate, but I want to speak to you. So I’m going to have an interpreter work with me. I’m going to continue to improve my French until I can speak directly to you. After all, we have ASL interpreters working with us.”
I’m sure French speaking Canada would understand and appreciate that they weren’t being left out.
Lack of respect may be too strong a sentiment imo….more like lack of awareness. For what it’s worth- and no disrespect intended, I kind of like “booze up”….seems fitting with Trump hanging over our heads. I hope these things do not negatively effect PM Carney too much, after all Danielle Smith continues to embarrass herself and Canada by making appearances in the US (like Prager U) and as long as Mr. Poilievre continues to avoid getting a security clearance, the Conservatives cannot be taken in good faith, and will ultimately loose votes for that reason.
2 debates are enough, I loved a lot of French first PM and at times their English was a little off so what they did right by me in the west. This is a nothing issue in my opinion
And another day of the Liberals owning the news cycle, with Poilievre forced to talk about how he won his job, not getting his security clearance, etc.
Mark Carney should have one of his Quebec team Steven Guilbault, Melanie Joly, or Domenic Leblanc do the Liberal debate for him and the party. It’s worth a try. Vive le Québec.
Mark Carney's problem goes beyond his poor command of French; his problem is a lack of respect for Quebec culture. For example, the French adaptation of the commercial featuring actor Mike Myers is offensive. He simply subtitled the ad in French, without any effort to adapt it to Quebec's cultural reality. Talking about characters from a 1970s children's show in English Canada has no resonance with Quebec culture. That's what's shocking with Mark Carney, this sense of indifference.
And if I may, I would like to add this: When will English Canada understand that the "Elbows Up" slogan, which Carney absurdly adapted literally (On lève les coudes), does not work in French? In Québec, "Elbows Up" means to booze up.
For me, this kind of indifference toward Quebec culture represents a lack of respect. The campaign is still young. We'll see if these blunders catch up with him.
I am not bilingual. But listening, is Pollievre that good in French?
On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd score Poilievre at 9.
Carney is 6.
Singh is 7.5.
Justin Trudeau was 9.5 (not 10).
.. Really ! And your ‘score would be ?
Why not ‘translate the infamous ‘He called us all Misogynists’ Comment ?
And please add just enuff ‘context per the dialogue that just precedes the ‘host’s prompt .. aussi ? .. You did give Mr Poilievre a ‘9 .. correct ?
Full Disclosure - I’ve had a bakers dozen Quebecers translate it ..
Am Non Partisan - Agnostic - White Male - Irish Heritage - Senior Canadian
.. even with my ‘bar french’ from Ottawa / Hull bartending can accomplish this
🦎🏴☠️🍁
Thank you for this perspective.I am learning a helluva lot over here in the Stack and I am particularly grateful for your no nonsense perspective,I don't always agree but am appreciative and I always learn something.Who said you can't teach an old grandma new tricks!!!
Correct & spot on!
The Montrealers who are voting Liberal don’t necessarily watch TVA because of its separatist slant