So, I am trying to hold an idea of Canada in my mind where the story of Italian Canadians (and West Indians and Maghrebi and Ukrainian and, and, and) is as foundational and collectively held as the story of the Great Peace and the Acadian expulsion or the national railroad. If there is a "we" here, as a Canadian, it's my story too. It feels strange and uncomfortable, which is why I started this poll. And, why, I think, it has so few responses. Anyway, I am Yes, but it's hard.
Edited 26d ago
I should probably point out that many people here in Canada fucking *hate* the very idea of this kind of equitable multiculturalism. The idea that arepas and poutine are both fully and equally Canadian sounds like hell to them. This is not unusual anywhere, I don't think.
@evan Perhaps it would be useful to move this to specifics. For instance: Is Québec justified in expecting immigrants to become francophone and implementing policies to do so?
@mpjgregoire such a good question! I think the central pillar of civic nationalism in Quebec is the French language -- more even than shared values or institutions. To the extent that it goes past what could be simple ethnic nationalism, I think that's a really good step forward.