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The French term pure laine literally meaning pure wool (and often interpreted as true blue or dyed-in-the-wool) refers to those whose ancestry is exclusively French-Canadian. Another similar term is de souche. (of the base of the tree, or root, old stock).

While most French-Canadians are able to trace their ancestry back to the original settlers of New France, a number are descended from mixed marriages between the French and Irish settlers. When these shared the same Roman Catholic faith, their unions were approved by the once-powerful Roman Catholic Church in Quebec. Another 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 experienced the effects of a policy of immigration from French-speaking countries, which has changed Quebec's culture.

History

The use of pure laine was brought to the forefront following its controversial usage in the front-page article by Jan Wong in Canada’s nationally distributed newspaper, The Globe & Mail, on September 16, 2006, three days after the shooting at Dawson College in Montreal. In her article entitled "Get under the desk," Wong argued that the frequent and historic use of the term pure laine revealed a uniquely Québécois brand of racism. "Elsewhere, to talk of racial 'purity' is repugnant. Not in Quebec." Furthermore, she suggested that the school shootings might have been related to the fact that the perpetrators were not old-stock French Québécois and they had been alienated by a Quebec society concerned with "racial purity."

Wong's accusations were denounced by National Post journalist, Barbara Kay, then-Premier Jean Charest and the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste (SSJB). SSJB President Jean Dorion declared "There is no obsession for racial purity in Quebec, definitely not. The expression 'pure laine' is absolutely obsolete."

However the term was still frequently used in both English and French media. And in 2007, the Taylor-Bouchard Commission included the recommendation that the use of the expression "Québécois de souche" be ended and replaced with the term "Quebecers of French-Canadian origin." The Commission investigated reasonable accommodation of immigrants into Quebec society.

According to David Austin, author of Fear of a Black Nation, (2013) which was based on Austin's two decades of inquiry including interviews and international archival research,

"Québecois has conventionally been used to signify the descendants of Québec settlers from France, the majority habitants of the province, who are otherwise referred to as pure laine (pure wool) or Québecois de souche (of the base of the tree, or root). However, the changing face of Québec's increasingly diverse population challenges the privileged place of those French descendants and calls for a more inclusive notion of what it means to be Québecois or a Quebecer."

— David Austin

Similar terms in English

Unamerican

According to Gilman and Milton the appellation "Unamerican" favoured by Senator Eugene McCarthy is a version of the terms pure wool, true blue, dyed-in-the-wool, and old stock.

Old-stock Canadians

In the 2015 federal election campaign in Canada, which was taking place against the backdrop of hundreds of thousands of refugees of the Syrian Civil War (2011-) fleeing to Europe, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's use of the appellation 'old-stock Canadians' created a media frenzy.

See also

• Québécois (word)
• pur et dur

References

1. ^ Fear of a Black Nation: Race, Sex, and Security in Sixties Montreal. Toronto: Between the Lines. 2013. p. 255. ISBN 9781771130103.
2. Wong, Jan (September 16, 2006). "Get under the desk". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 20, 2006.
3. "Charest seeks Globe apology over notion culture a factor in school shootings", Canadian Press via The Gazette, September 19, 2006, retrieved September 20, 2006 {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
4. ^ Robitaille, Antoine (September 19, 2006), "Les pures laines coupables?", La Presse, retrieved 20 September 2015 {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
5. Vastel, Michel (18 September 2006), "Le racisme sournois du Globe & Mail", L'actualité blog {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
6. ^ "Charest seeks Globe apology over notion culture a factor in school shootings", Canadian Press via The Gazette, September 19, 2006, retrieved September 20, 2006 {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
7. Ottawa, The (March 20, 2007). "''Don't faint, I'm siding with a separatist''". Canada.com. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
8. Post, National (September 23, 2006). "''L'affaire Wong' becomes talk of Quebec''". Canada.com. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
9. Katia Gagnon : La commission Bouchard-Taylor... à l'envers | Actualités | Cyberpresse
10. "Leaked accommodation commission report sparks fury in Quebec". CBC News. Montreal. May 19, 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
11. Gilman, Sander L; Milton, Shane, eds. (1 September 1999). Jewries at the Frontier: Accommodation, Identity, Conflict. Chicago: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252067924. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
12. "'Old stock Canadians,' egg timer, creepy set top debate's odd moments Moderator David Walmsley's Irish accent and a ringing bell get reaction on social media CBC News Posted: Sep 17, 2015". CBC News. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
13. Muise, Monique (September 18, 2015). "'Old-stock Canadians' are those already here, says Harper spokesman". Global News. Retrieved September 21, 2015.

Further reading

• Taras Grescoe. Sacre Blues: An Unsentimental Journey Through Quebec. Macfarlane Walter & Ross, 2004. ISBN 1-55199-081-4

• Culture of Quebec
• Quebec political phrases
• French words and phrases
• Racism in Canada