Two issues in Canada that I don't understand

[Krikit 1,164]

Snow tires = useless. Woopedoo you'll need them 4 days out of the season when it actually snows a lot. Rest of the time the road is on asphalt anyways.

- 400$ taxpayers.

Best practice, L2 Drive safe. Snow tires isn't going to suddenly make people drive safe, and it doesn't mean snow suddenly becomes irrelevant.

Errrr...... you haven't spent a fall/winter/spring in Quebec, have you?

I'm looking out the window at asphalt right now. Longueuil. You just drive careful when there's a snowstorm

So is that a yes?

[Carlawarla 1]

Quite a funny thread! My we're a humorous bunch! Some very good answers to #2. Hope some of that helps you DeadPoolX. The animosity towards Quebec really depends on where you live I think.

I will comment on #1 and say that I believe it is a provincial thing because I had a hyphenated last name during my first marriage, and I just brought my marriage license or copied it to where I was applying for a name change. When I returned to my maiden name I just brought my BC or mailed a copy of it to places where I wanted my name changed back. It was no big deal, and I don't remember ever paying for it at all.

[warlord 73]

Seeing as how I am not Canadian, I have trouble understanding a couple of issues. Here they are...

1. If a woman wishes to have a double-barreled name (i.e. Smith-Jones), why must she fill out a "change of name" form in British Columbia? It wouldn't take a huge leap in logic to understand that a woman with a double-barreled surname, after reviewing her birth and marriage certificates, wouldn't be the same person. As far as I know -- and I may be wrong about this -- this isn't a problem in other provinces. Perhaps the worst part about it is the woman will have her birth certificate legally changed. Why should she have to go through that? It seems odd and unnecessary.

2. What is the deal with Quebec? I know it's part of Canada, but there seems to be some animosity between Quebec and the rest of the Canadian provinces. I'm not quite sure I understand the reason why or the origin of it. Could someone here help me out a little?

1. No clue closest I've been to British Columbia is Seattle.

2. Simple, because they're french.

(I couldn't resist saying that for #2, no hard feelings, just having fun)...

[thetreble 19]

I learned when we looked into taking my kids there that if the parents have not attended a English speaking school IN CANADA the kids are required to go to a French speaking school, due to something that was passed in the 70's.

Ahhh yes.... the Quiet Revolution in the 70s is what you are speaking of. It was essentially a revolution against the anglophone upper class and it was a move to see french supremacy. (ie. why your kids would have to go to a french speaking school)

It was a movement that sparked french nationalism and language laws, sign laws, etc.

Quebec is a beautiful and interesting place. However, depending on where else you live in Canada, friction can be noted. I lived in Ottawa 5 years prior to immigrating to the US. Ottawa is a very French city, which a lot of people don't realize unless you live there. Most of the downtown core, where I lived, which is by Gatineau, QC is pre-dominantly french. At times I had a hard time with people in customer service snubbing me because although my french listening skills are good, by verbal has taken a back seat vis a vis 10 years ago. A few times I even had people refuse to serve me because I was not fluent in french, hey..it happens!!

Regardless...I love the French and Montreal. Unfortunately the past has caused a wall to go up between la belle province and the rest of us. I pray that ultra-nationalists never pull us apart. They belong with Canada as they are such an important part of our nation. I think their government is a little dodgy and they do cry like babies when it comes to politics (there are so many great services in QC like free childcare)... but that has nothing to do with the people for the most part.

Long history between the English and French, Deadpool. Would take us hours to explain it in full detail.

[trailmix 77]

Sure Winter Tires are the best, but not everyone can afford them. Forcing people to stop smoking is for the best, so why not enact that law as well, that would save many more lives than a winter tire law. People have to learn to adjust their driving to the situations. Just because a sign says you can do 100 km'hr, doesn't mean it is safe to do so.

Really we should ban alcohol too.

Edited January 13, 2009 by trailmix

[CDAgirlMI 51]

Snow tires = useless. Woopedoo you'll need them 4 days out of the season when it actually snows a lot. Rest of the time the road is on asphalt anyways.

4 days out of the season...ya, maybe where YOU live.

I don't care how much $$ snow tires are, I'll always have them on any vehicle I own. And NO, I'm not one of those people who thinks they're invincible cause I drive a truck with AWD & snow tires. I just want the best I can get while I still live in a climate where it precipitates snow & freezing rain.

And on the Quebec - rest of Canada issue.... yeah, I have a lot to say, but like some others on here, I'm gonna hold the comments to myself, hehe.

[SpiritAlight 1]

HFCS and high fatty processed foods should be banned!

Let's make the list.

Hahahaha!!!

[trailmix 77]

HFCS and high fatty processed foods should be banned!

Let's make the list.

Hahahaha!!!

Well they are seriously talking about banning plastic grocery bags in Calgary...there you go.

[SpiritAlight 1]

HFCS and high fatty processed foods should be banned!

Let's make the list.

Hahahaha!!!

Well they are seriously talking about banning plastic grocery bags in Calgary...there you go.

They are being banned left right and centre!

Yippee!

[ozone_1974 1]

2. What is the deal with Quebec? I know it's part of Canada, but there seems to be some animosity between Quebec and the rest of the Canadian provinces. I'm not quite sure I understand the reason why or the origin of it. Could someone here help me out a little?

Moral of the story, no matter if it is a long or short story ... can't we all get along and just learn from previous mistakes ? Just remember that what governments wants us to think and what we personally think are 2 different things

[thetreble 19]

2. What is the deal with Quebec? I know it's part of Canada, but there seems to be some animosity between Quebec and the rest of the Canadian provinces. I'm not quite sure I understand the reason why or the origin of it. Could someone here help me out a little?

Moral of the story, no matter if it is a long or short story ... can't we all get along and just learn from previous mistakes ? Just remember that what governments wants us to think and what we personally think are 2 different things

Well its not just Government (bad) and What we personally think(good). A lot of people have serious feelings about the French from first hand experience, nothing to do with the government imposes on us at all.

[Bern. 3]

Wait, plastic bags are BANNED in Calgary now? >_> I mourn for all cashiers everywhere simply because I used to be one.

[trailmix 77]

Wait, plastic bags are BANNED in Calgary now? >_> I mourn for all cashiers everywhere simply because I used to be one.

Not yet, it has gone through 1 vote now I think - which means it will happen no doubt.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I just recently started using those reusable bags! At 1 of the Giant grocery stores by us, you check out a scanner (with ur bonus card), so u scan ur item and place it in ur bag!! When ur done, u goto a self checkout, pay for the items and thats it!! love it!!

[SpiritAlight 1]

More on Quebec:

As a Quebecker, and an anglo, we had a different experience than being born into a Quebecois (aka French Canadian) family.

Plus my family being from Greece, hence making my brother and I "first generation Canadian", was even a different experience than my fellow anglo friends.

At home almost all of us of European descent (the Greek, Italian, Spanish, Portugese kids of immigrants) had tons to contend with.

Parents from the "old world" have pride and so we learnt to read and write their language, plus English day to day in school plus the daily French course taught by teachers from France. A completely foreign French!!!

Quite the confusion and mishmash of cultures and perspectives.

So...now maybe you understand me a little bit better...hahaha!

Regardless of whether I ever make sense to anyone, the immigrants' kids (like me) had a really rough upbringing.

Old world strictness at home and super relaxed Canadian friends and their parents.

I loved visiting my anglo and franco friends' homes.

Their folks were cool and quite the contrast to my home.

I have digressed...the point I was attempting to make before I got nostalgic was this:

When Quebec tried separating via referendum the first time, it was 1980.

Many of my friends and their families moved out of the province the months before the referendum.

Everyone was scared of what might come down the pipe if indeed it became a sovereign nation.

The vote?

It was very close.

IIRC, it was about 55-45 or maybe even 53-47 percent a NO.

The next referendum was in 1995. The year I moved to Vancouver.

I applied and got a voting package mailed to me.

Even if you were out of province but had moved within a year (I think it was a year) you could still vote.

It was so complex. Sign here, dot there, fill in this and that, put this in this envelope and that envelope in that envelope etc etc etc.

Huge margin for error.

Yup...probably every vote from outside the province got junked.

Hahaha!

The separatists lost again by a very close margin.

In my first 2 years or so in BC every time I met someone there, they would quiz me on what does Quebec want? etc. etc.

I felt like Quebec's ambassador.

After a while I missed the French, I missed the culture, I missed the speed-driving, and I missed the whackiness that is unique to a place like Montreal.

What, at first I thought was awesome: English signs (of course in B.C.), later turned out to feel too uni-lingual and narrow-mindedness.

Hey Quebec is too narrow-minded in its push for unilingualness too.

(I love inventing words.)

The U.S. is kind of like that too.

Maybe Montreal has a niche carved out so deep, that anyone from there feels like they are part of the same family.

I find that every where I travel and meet someone from Quebec it is instant friendship.

I also have writer/professor type friends living in Montreal.

They are anglos and are Quebec separatists.

A rare breed.

They believe the model would work.

Quebec has hydro power, fresh water, mines, forests, all kinds of industry, etc etc...it is self-contained.

I used to think this was horrible.

The only thing I think about it now is what would happen to the Maritimes?

Hey, and did you know there is a strong separatist movement in B.C. as well?!

I discovered that when I moved there.

That is my dissertation on Quebec.

Thanks for indulging me by reading it.

Edited January 13, 2009 by SpiritAlight