way that many Canadians outside of Quebec trivialized the situation,.
and the province^s demands. Others believe that this problem is.
indirectly the result of Canada^s official bilingual status. The.
reasoning behind this is that biligualism serves to even further.
alienate and differentiate the French within the country. This poses a.
difficult conundrum. Bilingualism can not be abolished because while it.
serves to alienate, it is also perceived! by the French as preserving.
their unique culture and identity. One hope is that through Canadian.
media a new stronger more unified identity can be achieved. Arguably,.
the CBC is this best forum for this shift in values because of its.
status as a Canadian symbol. This concept is further validated by.
Gerard Veilleux, president of the CBC in 1996.
Today in Canada, no one is sure what values all Canadians do share in.
common. That uncertainty obviously makes it harder for the CBC to do.
its job effectively. But I would also argue that at a time like this, a.
strong CBC is even more essential than ever, to assist in redefining.
and rebuilding the nation-to be one of the principal forums for this.
national process of soul-searching and consensus-building. It is not.
entirely unfeasible to think that the CBC has the potential to unite.
Canada through its dedication to no particular province in Canada but.
instead the entire country. The lack of patriotism within Quebec is.
directly reflected in the inflexibility of Canadian citizens outside of.
Quebec. Quebecois are further alienated and exasperated by the mood of.
intransigence on the part of other Canadians. This desensitization and.
refusal to acknowledge the severity of the issue at hand provokes.
Quebec^s feelings of neglect. The Maclean^s 15th annual poll found that.
in Quebec the ^percentage of respondents saying it is likely Quebec.
will be a separate country within the next 50 years^(Macleans, 1998).
was 56% compared to that of 38% in the rest of Canada.