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Re: “Young anglos should see the world, then build a home in Quebec” and “A beautiful home for bilingual youth” (Letters, Aug. 24)

Andrew Caddell and Richard Sauvé write that there is a positive future in Quebec for anglos who are bilingual and, as Sauvé says, are “totally integrated Québécois.”

While I agree that young anglos are now more bilingual than previous generations were, they haven’t been integrated in one important respect: their employment in the Quebec public sector. Only one per cent of employees in this sector are anglophones, and this may help account for anglophones’ higher unemployment rate and lower average income in Quebec compared to francophones.

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The solution to this problem lies with English educational institutions at all levels, which must ensure their graduates have the qualifications to work in the public sector and the knowledge of how to apply. Human resource representatives of all public-sector organizations should be invited to address students in these English institutions to make clear that their applications are welcome and will be considered without any negative bias.

Maybe then anglophone graduates and anglophones in general will be more integrated in Quebec society.

Robert Hajaly, Montreal

English schools require support

Re: “Young anglophones would be better off leaving Quebec” (Opinion, Aug. 22); “Anglos have rights and a responsibility” (Letters, Aug. 24)

Parents want the best for their children, and many will do everything possible to put their kids on the path to success. In Quebec, some of them will choose to send their kids to French schools, eschewing English and immersion schools, to maximize the likelihood that their fluently bilingual children will thrive in our province.

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Without meaning to judge the decisions of parents regarding their kids’ education, it raises the question of what impact the choice of French schooling will have on the English school system. Certainly, the diminishing number of students in English schools is of concern to the anglophone community.

This is particularly pertinent at this time when there have been differing views on whether young anglophone Quebecers should be encouraged to stay and fight for their rights, or leave the province for better opportunities in other cities or countries where their rights may be more respected.

English schools are at the heart of the anglophone community. Diminishing the number of students poses a threat to the presence and vitality of that community.

Goldie Olszynko, Mile End

Majority votes and minority rights

Re: “A Quebec constitution wouldn’t make anglos feel more secure” (Letters, Aug. 28)

The concern that a Quebec constitution might be used to “cement the current discriminatory situation” against anglophones is understandable, given the recent actions of the CAQ government in overriding minority protections in the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, for example, by passing Bill 96 using its parliamentary majority.

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That said, there is nothing to prevent a Quebec constitution from including a revised amending procedure that would make it more difficult to further override minority rights through a simple majority vote in the National Assembly.

In this respect, we can look to former prime minister Pierre Trudeau’s efforts to protect Canada’s French-speaking minority through the adoption of the new constitutional amending formulas in the renewed Canadian Constitution of 1982, which usually require much more than a simple majority vote in Canada’s Parliament.

Richard Walsh Smith, Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce

School system’s diversity targeted

Re: “At the EMSB, a new school year brings renewed commitment” (Opinion, Aug. 29)

English Montreal School Board chair Joe Ortona eloquently captures the growing unease many Quebecers feel about the CAQ government’s policies and their impact. Ortona is right to highlight Bill 21’s effects on the education system. How can we, as a society that prides itself on diversity, justify policies that marginalize people based on their faith?

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The CAQ’s stance on this issue seems to disproportionately affect women, particularly those who wear religious symbols like the hijab. Does this align with Quebec’s commitment to equality and freedom of choice? By enacting such discriminatory measures, the CAQ isn’t protecting secularism, but rather perpetuating inequality and infringing on personal freedoms. How can we claim to support women’s rights while simultaneously restricting their career opportunities based on personal attire and religious beliefs?

Furthermore, Ortona’s observations about new French language requirements for the English education system raise serious concerns. How can Quebec foster an inclusive and effective educational environment when it’s imposing additional linguistic barriers that may alienate both educators and students in the English-speaking community? Are these policies truly about integration, or are they more about enforcing conformity at the expense of multicultural heritage?

If the CAQ is serious about building a better future for Quebec, it must move beyond these divisive and discriminatory policies. We need a government that values the contributions of all communities, respects individual freedoms and recognizes that our strength lies in our diversity.

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Lindi Ross, Carignan

Denial of funds is self-serving 

Re: “‘Cheap nationalism’ has been a mainstay of CAQ government” (Toula Drimonis, Aug. 22)

Toula Drimonis’s detailed column about the Quebec government’s blocking of essential federal aid to seniors in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve deserves the widest possible circulation.

Considering this financial aid would provide 1,000 meals a week for seniors for more than 18 months, Quebec’s refusal is nothing but selfish nationalism. The CAQ must not be allowed to get away with depriving low-income seniors of much-needed nutrition.

Shloime Perel, Côte-St-Luc

Anger cuts across partisan lines

It is particularly interesting that Josée Legault, a Journal de Montréal columnist, accused the CAQ government of “cheap nationalism” regarding the blocking of federal aid for vulnerable seniors. If politicians cannot act in the best interests of the people, they shouldn’t get involved in the first place.

Gerry Raven, Hampstead

Wallets open for Paralympic trip

Governor General Mary Simon attended Wednesday’s opening of the Paralympic Games in Paris as part of a six-day itinerary that has also included a reception hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. I wonder how much this jaunt is going to cost.

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Ian Copnick, Côte-St-Luc

Grandparents have much to teach kids

In the field of education, along with parents, teachers and other school personnel, there is another group of individuals that often plays a significant part in shaping the learning environment: grandparents.

Throughout history and across cultures, grandparents have passed down wisdom and traditions to their grandchildren. They have provided security and have helped shape children’s character and beliefs, serving as role models for the future.

However, with changing family dynamics, the fast pace of modern life and time constraints placed upon parents, some grandparents have taken on a pivotal role in the upbringing of children beyond traditional roles of love and care.

Grandparents often act as co-educators for their grandchildren — a task that comes with challenges because of the pervasive influence of video games, cellphones and social media.

Being a grandparent in a constantly changing world requires adaptability and understanding.  Grandparents possess valuable life experiences and can offer invaluable knowledge. This is especially true when it comes to the intricacies of the province’s new mandatory Culture and Citizenship of Quebec course.

Chris Eustace, Pierrefonds

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