Expert: Adam D. McDonald - 2/20/2002

Question
hi, i'm a history 11 student, and i have to prepare for a debate. The topic for the debate is "Aside from language, there are only minor differences between a French and an English Canadian".  Also, i am assigned as to be the affirmative side for this debate. I'm just wondering what are some ideas that i can use to defend and develop my arguments; it would be a great favour, too, if you can give me some hints as to where i might be able to find some facts to back-up the ideas (from reliable sources ofcourse). Thank you for everything.

Answer
Hi Helen,

Thanks for your question. I've included below a list of some points you can bring up in your debate, as well as some of the sources you can use to further develop your arguments:

Canadians have been ruled by the same government since 1760 (The British, and then Canadian self-government since 1867)
The same Constitution is in place across the country; we're all subject to the same set of laws.
The country is no longer divided into French/English Canadians. Instead, we tend to identify more and more with our regions (B.C., The West, Ontario, Quebec, Maritimes). This suggests that, where differences exist, they are regional in nature and not based on language.

I don't really have the space here to go into a lot of detail, but if you email me privately at admcdonald@sympatico.ca, I can give you a whole whack of sources.

Adam