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As Quebec again strengthens language laws, members of minority communities are reminded, even subtly, that in the eyes of their government, they are not quite equal in standing to their francophone counterparts. Misguided language policies, inspired by ethnocentrism that flies in the face of science, have unfortunately sowed the seeds of cultural divide between citizens.

I am reminded by that link between policy and people when, every so often, I am asked variations of the same question: Why do you, a lifelong Quebecer raised in a francophone neighbourhood, have an anglophone’s accent? It’s the equivalent of asking, why don’t you seem like one of us; why is your laine still somewhat impure?

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The query, most recently from an educated, apparently tolerant francophone entrepreneur, doesn’t offend me. It points to relatively common questions that many francophones might have about anglophones and other minorities; questions about cultural integration, exemplified by exercises like the amusing 2013 Journal de Montréal survey, which indicated that anglophones are largely ignorant of major Quebec cultural influencers like Marie Mai, Guy A. Lepage and Jean-René Dufort.