蒙特利尔：留学生弃之 投资者喜之

 

蒙特利尔是加国的一个美丽的城市，为市民提供高质量的生活和丰富的文化环境。该城市的犯罪率低，且住房价格合理。但隐藏在宏伟的教堂，顶层阳台和脱衣舞酒吧背后的是日嚣尘上的法语文化。这种文化氛围将大批英语人士赶出魁省，并导致大陆新移民的人口结构产生巨变，从80年代末的大陆留学生到今天的百万富翁投资者。

Montreal was a beautiful Canadian city that provided residents with quality of life and an enriched cultural environment. The crime rate was low, and the home price was affordable. However, lurking behind magnificent churches, rooftop terrace and dance clubs is the growing prevalence of francophone culture that has driven out English speakers and created a dramatic demographic change of newcomers from China – from international students in the late 1980s to millionaire investors today.

自从40年前魁北克将法语定为商业通用语言后，魁省英语人士在经济上倍受排挤，处于高失业率和低收入的不利境地。虽占魁省人口比率的8%，英语人士却仅占政府官员比率的1%。且他们的经济状况每况日下。至2000年，魁省的法语人士收入与英语人士之收入相当或略高。但十几年后，18%的魁省英语人士生活于低收入贫困线下，而相比之下，只有15%的法语人士处于这一收入水平。

Since Quebec law that made French the usual language of business in the province 40 years ago, anglophone Quebecers have faced an economic disadvantage – from higher unemployment rate to lower income. Making up 8 percent of Quebec's population, anglophones represents only 1 percent of civil service employees. Their financial pains have only grown over the years. By 2000, Quebec francophones earned equal or more than their English counterparts. However, over a decade later, more than 18 percent of Quebec anglophones lived with low-income, compared with 15 of francophones.

据2011年加国家庭调查显示，虽然魁省英语人士的平均收入水平高于法语人士，但他们的中线收入却比法语人士低10%。而且，魁省英语人士的收入平均和中线水平都比加国平均收入水平低10%。同时，低收入英语人士在魁省的经济状况最为低略。

According to 2011 NHS, while anglophone Quebecers have a higher average income than the province's francophones, their median income was 10 percent lower. Moreover, both their average and median income is 10 percent below the national average. Moreover, low-income anglophones experienced the worst financial hardship across the province. 

加国统计局称，每年约有7000名魁省人士搬离该省，且自1990年起，魁省英语人士的流失不断增长。从2006到2011年间，大约3万7千名英语人士搬离蒙特利尔，而在相比之下的2001年和2006年间，搬离该省人口数额为11,650。但在最近魁省大选中获胜的CAQ却仍一味推行保护法语文化政策，迫使新移民通过法语考试。而在大批离开蒙特利尔的人士中间，就有我和我的朋友们，当时我们的法语程度仅限于说“一，二，三”，或“太糟了！”等简单用语。

About 7000 Quebecers are leaving the city every year according to StatsCan. Also, the loss of anglophones has been on the rise since the 1990s. Between 2006 and 2011, about 37,000 anglophones left the city, compared with 11,650 between 2001 and 2006. However, CAQ that took power in the recent election continues its French protection policies that force new immigrants to pass French language test. Among the wave of massive exodus were my friends and me whose French skills were limited “C’est la vie” and “un deux trois”.

住在魁北克却不讲法语？从在大街上问路到在超市买菜咨询求助，用英语操练的我常常遭到白眼。即使在紧急情况下，法语人士也不会错过任何一个创造语言政治的机会。据报道，911接线员曾拒绝使用英语向求助者提供帮助，居然以“911接线员没有义务提供英语服务”为借口。总之，法语文化让英语及其他语言人士在魁省成为遭迫害的少数阶层。

Living in Quebec but speaking no French? From seeking help at groceries to asking for directions on the street, I was frequently given dirty looks because I used English to start the conversations. Even in emergency situations, francophones wouldn’t miss an opportunity to make a point about language politics. 911 operators have allegedly refused to offer any help in English, citing “911 operators are not obligated to know English.” The language law has made anglophones or allophones feel like a persecuted minority.

虽然蒙特利尔让那些寻求事业发展的人士们不寒而栗，它的房地产市场却向大陆投资者们暗送秋波，特别是在多伦多和温哥华实施了国外买家税后。近年来，大批中国富豪利用国外投资移民项目涌向蒙特利尔。他们大多数腰缠万贯，不仅拥有160万元以上资产，并在5年内每年能进行80万元投资。

While Montreal losses its appeal to those who desire for career growth, it has become a hot Canadian real estate market for Chinese nationals, as interest slipped in Toronto and Vancouver, following the introduction of foreign buyers’ taxes. Millionaires from China have flooded the city in recent years, taking advantage of the investor program in the province. The overwhelming majority are wealthy enough to own $1.6m in net assets and able to afford an $800,000 of investment a year for five-years.

蒙特利尔的法语文化及不利的商业语言环境对这些讲不了一个法语词的中年大陆投资者来们无伤大雅。毕竟，他们是冲着魁省的豪华物业和高级轿车而来，并为其好山好水而乐此不疲。对他们来说，这个让雄心勃勃的年轻人们看似地狱之城市却无异于人间天堂。

For the Chinese investors –mostly in their middle age who barely speak a word of French, the growing francophone culture and unfriendly business environment don’t matter.  In the end, they were lured by the luxury properties and high-end cars and drawn by the fresh air and clean water that the city has to offer. For them, the place that is hell for aspiring and ambitious youth is a heavenly paradise.