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The French term pure laine (also incorrectly rendered in English as pur laine), literally meaning pure wool (and often interpreted as true blue or dyed-in-the-wool), is a politically and culturally charged phrase referring to the people having original ancestery of the French-Canadians. Another similar term is de souche (roughly in English, old stock).

While many French-Canadians are able to trace their ancestry back to the original settlers of New France, many are descended from mixed marriages between the French, the native Indians and Irish settlers. When these shared the same Roman Catholic faith (some Indians converted), their unions were approved by the once-powerful Roman Catholic Church in Quebec. Another complicating factor was the settlement of many English people in the region, many of whom were ultimately assimilated into the francophone culture. Recently, Quebec has also enjoyed the benefits of a policy of immigration from French-speaking countries, which has added to, and changed, French-Canadian culture.

While not inherently racist or offensive, the term can be used in such a way, or interpreted as being so. In a multicultural society, those who emphasise the entitlements of more established residents -- such as pure laine residents of Quebec -- could be seen as discriminating against newer arrivals. As in many societies, immigration to Quebec has proved controversial, particularly as regards the presence of non-white ethnic minorities.

The use of pure laine is sometimes deprecated . Regardless, English-language commentators Brigitte Pellerin of the Ottawa Citizen and Jan Wong of The Globe and Mail continue to use the term. Mainstream French-language newspaper La Presse, however, still uses both the terms pure laine and de souche.

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society President Jean Dorion has declared "There is no obsession for racial purity in Quebec, definitely not. The expression 'pure laine' is absolutely obsolete." .

These feelings are best illustrated by some people reactions of a recent Parti Québécois policy proposal debate.. On October 18, 2007, Pauline Marois, leader of the Parti Québécois submitted a Private Member's Bill in the National Assembly (Bill-195: Quebec Identity Act) in which it is proposed that any future citizenship in a separate Quebec be based on French language requirements, and that people would have to pass a French proficiency test to merit full citizenship.

This proposed legislation was immediately discredited, having been criticized by many significant politician and commentator in the province (including former PQ Premier of Quebec Bernard Landry.) It can be noted however, that to obtain the citizenship many countries, including Canada, the immigrant has to learn one of the official languages.

References

1. "Charest seeks Globe apology over notion culture a factor in school shootings" by the Canadian Press, The Gazette, September 19, 2006, retrieved September 20, 2006
2. "Les « pures laines » coupables ?" by Antoine Robitaille, La Presse, September 19, 2006.
3. Don't faint, I'm siding with a separatist
4. L'affaire Wong' becomes talk of Quebec
5. Katia Gagnon : La commission Bouchard-Taylor... à l'envers | Actualités | Cyberpresse
6. "Charest seeks Globe apology over notion culture a factor in school shootings" by the Canadian Press, The Gazette, September 19, 2006, retrieved September 20, 2006
7. "Citizenship proposal has a price" by Chantal Hébert, Toronto Star, October 26, 2007.

Further reading

• Taras Grescoe. Sacre Blues: An Unsentimental Journey Through Quebec. Macfarlane Walter & Ross, 2004. ISBN 1551990814

• Misplaced Pages neutral point of view disputes from April 2008
• French loanwords
• History of Quebec
• Quebec political phrases