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I had to Google her. Finnish girl on a British talent show (X Factor).
This seems to be part of a new trend: people trying their luck on talent shows in other countries.
Our version of The Voice has had people from France trying out every single season they've had.
While they are not "foreigners", Quebec talent shows also get lots of English-speaking Canadians who try out for them (some of them speak French, some of them don't).
This is partly because shows of this nature are very rare in English Canada, as their TV networks prefer to show the American versions.
And the Americans have tightened up restrictions for foreign contestants on talent shows (and also game shows) recently, so some Canadians feel they don't have anywhere to go - except for the French-language shows in Quebec.
It sounds very odd to me to have demonstrations on your national holiday. Sounds inappropriate. I'd expect celebrations or nothing from those that don't care.
6 December is a very different holiday from 4 July for you. You hold a barbeque, invite your family and friends, fire fireworks and celebrate a victory and a birth of a nation.
We light candles, go pay our respects to the graves of WWII veterans, eat good food, watch on TV the military parade and when the elite have a party at the Presidental Palace.
This theme is obviously a good breeding ground for extremist movements. The far right protests against capitalism, the far right protest against the EU, refugees and whatnot.
I had to Google her. Finnish girl on a British talent show (X Factor).
This seems to be part of a new trend: people trying their luck on talent shows in other countries.
Our version of The Voice has had people from France trying out every single season they've had.
While they are not "foreigners", Quebec talent shows also get lots of English-speaking Canadians who try out for them (some of them speak French, some of them don't).
This is partly because shows of this nature are very rare in English Canada, as their TV networks prefer to show the American versions.
And the Americans have tightened up restrictions for foreign contestants on talent shows (and also game shows) recently, so some Canadians feel they don't have anywhere to go - except for the French-language shows in Quebec.
We still make them sing in French fairly often though. Here is an anglo kid from Ontario who speaks almost no French singing La Quête (originally by Belgian singer Jacques Brel).
Do all people in Gatineau speak English to an adequate level? You're neighbours with the capital after all, so would make sense.
Also, is it true that less than half of Québec City residents can't hold conversations with people from the other provinces of Canada, because they're completely mono-lingual?
Bi-lingualism is great, but it seems a bit pointless to be a Canadian and not speaking English even as a second language
Do all people in Gatineau speak English to an adequate level? You're neighbours with the capital after all, so would make sense.
Also, is it true that less than half of Québec City residents can't hold conversations with people from the other provinces of Canada, because they're completely mono-lingual?
Bi-lingualism is great, but it seems a bit pointless to be a Canadian and not speaking English even as a second language
Gatineau is the most bilingual large city in the country, but there is still just under 30% of the population that speaks only French. So I know lots of people whose English is very shaky and limited to very basic words: "Yes No Toaster", as the joke goes here.
One guy I know who lives near me is the head of a major department for our city of 275 000 people, he is university-educated, drives a luxury car, has a chalet in the hills, travels abroad, and speaks only very basic English. I've been with him across the river in Ottawa and he struggled to communicate.
For Quebec as a whole, about 40% of the population can speak English. So close to two thirds cannot.
In Quebec City it's just under 65% that speaks French only, and even in the biggest city Montreal it's just under 40% who speak French only.
As for being part of Canada, well Canada is not a unitary state. It is very decentralized and so much of the administration and services are handled by the provinces (in our case, Quebec). The services offered by the Canadian federal government are also very bilingual, so no problem with French only with them.
Don't forget the area of Canada where a traveller can for all intents and purposes get by using only French (basically all of Quebec plus parts of Ontario and New Brunswick next to Quebec)extends for over 2000 km from end to end, or the distance from Brest on the Atlantic coast of France to Brest at the border between Poland and Belarus.
Of course there is far less population in this area but still, in every town you enter you will be able to refuel your car, check into a hotel, chat with the locals, have a drink, shop for groceries, go the movies... in French.
The Internet has it that the far left dispersed to their holes in peace, not trying to provoke the police to gain bad publicity as being merely rowdy hooligans. Estimates of the anarchists/communists: 3000, nazis (including Swedes and Norwegians): 200-300, alt-right: 2000, randoms: 2000.
Isn't English compulsory as a second language in school in Québec though? If not that's pretty crazy, even with the federalism!
Are you sure people didn't just say they were bilingual in the case they were fluent-ish? Perhaps a larger number could go to Toronto and pull through?
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