Bilingualism: Address delivered before the Quebec Canadian Club

The recording captures a 1916 address delivered before the Quebec Canadian Club, where a prominent lawyer and politician speaks in English about a contentious educational issue in Ontario. He explains the origins and intent of Regulation No. 17, a law that seeks to limit the use of French in primary schools, and outlines how the rule governs both classroom language and formal study of French. The speaker frames the problem as both practical and cultural, noting the difficulty of assessing each child's language needs and the broader implications for the francophone community.

With a calm, measured tone, he walks listeners through the specific provisions of the regulation, emphasizing its restrictive impact on teaching and communication. The address blends factual detail with a clear moral appeal, urging the audience to consider the consequences for bilingualism in Canada. Listeners gain insight into early‑20th‑century debates over language rights and the political landscape that shaped them.