MONTREAL - It's no secret that sometimes it's hard to get a job in this province if your name doesn't sound pure laine.

There is often subtle and not-so-subtle discrimination towards anglophones and allophones.

So there are obvious inequalities. How many anglos work in the Quebec public service?

Let's face it, I have as much chance of being elected premier of Quebec as I do of being in the starting lineup for the Habs this year

Back in the day, anglos and francos took turns in the Montreal mayor's chair.

After all, we co-founded this city, although the separatist proponents of revisionist history would try to like to try to erase that fact.

So the odds are stacked against us.

Now Pauline Marois wants to test us for language skills if we aspire to office.

Now there was a flip flop after she first announced it, saying that it would only apply to newcomers.

But come on. She already showed her hand here.

Marois is acting like a schoolyard bully with her crass identity platform.

Our First Nations have already weighed in on this and they don't like it one bit.

Imagine making the Cree of northern Quebec take a French test. After all, they were here first. It's ludicrous.

It's a politics of division plain and simple. We do belong here. It's our home madame

It's not like we speak Ferengi, it just feels like it sometimes.

Referendum talk overshadows others issues

The remainder of this campaign will probably be dominated by the referendum question.

The PQ obviously can't take no for an answer.

Now it has come up with this harebrained idea that would initiate a referendum process if 15 percent of the population sign a petition.

You could find that many hardline separatists in a New York minute.

Marois doesn't really seem clear on what would happen next: more confusion.

As a matter of fact, she doesn't seem clear on much in this campaign except her desire to break up the federation.

On just about every issue, she says ‘it should be studied and discussed and solutions will be found.’

People should come together, she says.

But on the breakup of the country, let the chaos begin.

Now if 15 percent of Quebecers wanted a referendum on the price of beer, or on whether milk and cookies should be served on afternoon breaks, then according the PQ, it would go to a vote.

I'm not sure it would apply however if English speaking Quebecers had enough signatures to force some relaxation of Bill 101.

Once again, two classes.

Liberals are alone as big-party federalists

And Francois Legault?

I do believe him when he says he would not hold a referendum.

But when he says losing a referendum would be the worst possible thing for Quebec, you have to think twice

After all, for our community, a loss is a win. At least he is offering a referendum free-zone.

Let's face it. If unity is the issue that’s most important to you, there is really only one candidate who speaks for Canada, love him or loathe him.

And Jean Charest has a week to make his case one more time.

If not, we just may have to get used more lobsters trapped in the pot, caribou falling off cliffs, in other words a collective case of separation anxiety.