In some ways it was a step forward because we enjoyed the same right as other francophone minorities across the country, but in other ways it's a step back because there used to be more interaction as Catholics. Now it's this is the English side, that is the French side.
I would point to Northern Ireland, where, ironically, they use the same language, be it the Irish Catholic nationalists or the Protestant minority, yet look at the result. There's an old joke in Ireland that two men are in a pub, another man comes in, and the two men ask, “Are you a Catholic or are you a Protestant?” And he says, “I'm an atheist.” They say, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, but are you a Catholic atheist or a Protestant atheist?”
That's Quebec. That's it. What is an anglophone, what is a francophone...?
So whatever basis you use to start to separate these kids could have a result down the road. And as I mentioned, and I'll mention once again, I don't think everything is perfect. At some point you'll see the results of these segregated institutions if you're successful in getting a “yes” vote, because the anglophone institutions help create a feeling of separateness that will lead them to push for partition of Quebec. I don't support the partition of Quebec, but I'm telling you, I live amongst those people. That's the feeling. They will support partition.
So at some point, separate schools--there will be a cost to Quebec as a whole.
