Right-wing U.S. commentator on Montreal
Right-wing American commentator Tucker Carlson has waded into our affairs, claiming that Montreal has been “cleansed” of its anglo legacy. This wouldn’t matter except it’s all over social media Saturday morning.
Ian 11:58 on 2024-01-27 Permalink
Wait, Tucker Carlson has friends?With that backpfeifengesicht?
Marco 12:44 on 2024-01-27 Permalink
Still doesn’t matter.
Ephraim 12:45 on 2024-01-27 Permalink
He’s still around? I thought he was cancelled. Fox sent him packing after paying $787.5 million to Dominion Systems, no? (They still fighting the Smartmatic lawsuit) Is he still playing his covert WP stuff? Couldn’t we just ban him from the country for that?
Chris 16:52 on 2024-01-27 Permalink
If Tucker’s name wasn’t on the article, it would look like what a lot of local anglo-activist types would say (about the Montreal stuff).
dhomas 18:23 on 2024-01-27 Permalink
@Ian In Quebec, we call him “une tête à claques”. 😉
Ian 19:03 on 2024-01-27 Permalink
In Quebec we speak many langauges, despite what Tucker’s “friends” tell him 😉
Kate 19:18 on 2024-01-27 Permalink
Chris, workers at the SAQ have been forbidden to say Bonjour Hi.
Am I allowed to laugh?
DeWolf 20:44 on 2024-01-27 Permalink
When was the last time any clerk actually said bonjour-hi at the SAQ? I’ve certainly never heard that and I’m a fairly (ahem) frequent customer.
I remember one time when I was being helped by an SAQ worker – a francophone Black woman, for the record. Just as she was finishing explaining something to me, we were interrupted by a pair of older white American women asking a question in English. The SAQ worker looked at them a bit haughtily, then very slowly and deliberately said, “Bonjour!” The women both looked embarrassed and the one speaking responded, “Oh, bonjour, I’m so sorry.” The SAQ clerk then laughed and proceeded to help them in very fluent English.
I found it quite funny. A reminder that SAQ workers are (in my experience) generally quite helpful and competent, but they don’t take any shit, and they certainly aren’t going to bend over backwards to accommodate a customer whose behaviour they don’t appreciate.
Ian 21:00 on 2024-01-27 Permalink
I have also found that regardless of what part of town you are in, even *gasp* in the West Island SAQ workers are francophones and have absolutely no desire to speak English unless they have to … though I have had several switch to English if they found my accent in French too cringe … though in those cases I insist on speaking French anyway since apparently I need the practice, a tleast to be able to speak French to their satisfaction. Those people are rare, thoguh, and overall my experience of the SAQ has been pretty much “speak French and everyone is friendly”.
Kate 00:19 on 2024-01-28 Permalink
Near where I live, there are 2 SAQ outlets where workers have actively spoken English with me, even though I’ve spoken French (not much French – just saying I don’t have a points card, basically). Both are older men and clearly have no objection to embarking on speaking English, even extending my interaction at the cash. I suppose I look anglo – blue eyes, reddish hair – and they’re probably bored as hell when things are quiet. But I’ve never said Bonjour Hi to anyone at the SAQ.
Annette 02:55 on 2024-01-28 Permalink
«[Bloc Québécois MP Jean-Denis Garon] told La Journal this week that, “without the richness of French and its culture, what distinguishes Montreal from Milwaukee or Madison, Wisconsin?”»
Just think about how sad and misguided that mindset is.
Meezly 11:16 on 2024-01-28 Permalink
A recent visit at a SAQ in the Plateau, they were playing the entire album of a “vintage” Irish shoe gaze band. It wasn’t music you heard at a typical SAQ. At the cash, I asked in English, so who’s the MBV fan? He made a kind of sweeping gesture, “We all are.”
MarcG 12:17 on 2024-01-28 Permalink
My wife is Montreal-born-and-raised and did French immersion, her French is excellent, but has strawberry blonde hair and grey-blue eyes. My French is bad considering I did French immersion in Ontario and have lived in Quebec for a long time – but my father is Quebecois so I look Quebecois. When she interacts with public service people they immediately switch to English to accomodate her even though she doesn’t need it and I mostly get served in French with a confused look on their faces while I stumble along.
Chris 12:53 on 2024-01-28 Permalink
Kate: better to laugh than cry!
JP 14:59 on 2024-01-28 Permalink
I actually didn’t realize there was a Quebecois look….I didn’t think there was a unique hair or eye color. This is interesting.
Ian 19:07 on 2024-01-28 Permalink
There are definitely steroetypes, but as in all stereotypes, there are exceptions.
carswell 19:24 on 2024-01-28 Permalink
@JP Franco Quebecers invariably peg me as an anglo, even before I utter a word. (My genetic background is northern European, including a quarter French.) Decades ago, I assumed it was because I’m tall and Québécois weren’t. But now a number of them are (am reminded every time I go to CEPSUM) so it’s got to be something else.
Tux 01:00 on 2024-01-29 Permalink
That guy should stay in the states, so, for that matter, should fear-based reactionary politics.