French vs. English Volume 11

Slim Pickings For Language Zealots

One of Quebec's most successful retailers DOLLARAMA finally launched a website, although I'm not sure what for, it's not like they're going to announce a sale or something, but no matter.

The company rushed the launch to coincide with corporate meetings announcing a surge in profits. Unfortunately the French version wasn't quite finished and a note on the site indicated that the French version would be launched within two weeks.

To the barricades!!! French language militants flooded the OQLF (the language police) with complaints pointing out that the company was violating the law that demands that Quebec companies have French web sites.

Reaction of the OQLF?...  Gimme a break......

French singer disses the French language.
On a recent edition of the Radio-Canada talk show Tout le Monde en Parle two interesting guests were queried about their roots to the French language.- French singer/actress Charlotte Gainsbourg was in town for a singing gig and made an appearance on the Radio-Canada Sunday night talk show. The show's sovereignist host, Guy A. Lepage, ever obsessed with the French language asked her why she chose to sing mostly in English. Without batting an eye or attempting to give the weakest politically correct answer, the ex-ingénue commented that she found French inconvenient and difficult language to work in. Ouch!!!!! A shocked host quickly changed subjects....What the boys on the show may not know is that while she appears to be a red-blooded Francophone, she is in reality, a closet Anglophone, having been educated in English.
A second guest was none other than Montreal comedian Sugar Sammy ( Sam Khullar) a product of an immigrant Indian family. Of course that meant that he was forced into a the French education system despite the fact that his parents spoke English. He has, like so many other under those same circumstances become a bone fide Anglo, who is devastatingly funny in both English and French. I'm surprised that they had him on the show because he is the poster boy of what French language militants fear the worst, an immigrant turned Anglo. Arrghhh... He was quite funny, said Bill 101 sucks and even did a great impression of a Haitian hockey commentator. A funny interview, once again for the separatist panel members.

Language cops target sex store.
Boutique Séduction a Montreal North sex store, has been ordered by a Quebec Court judge to pay $500 for selling an item called "Sleeve Super Stretch" whose packaging was in English only.
In a 10-page ruling, Judge Gilles Michaud  said, it’s important for consumers to be able to understand written instructions on the items they buy. Link

Should the "The UPS Store"be "La Magasin SCU"

The ubiquitous Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste held a 'massive' demonstration of one hundred twelve militants in front of a Repentigny UPS store protesting that the name of the establishment is in English. The Francophone master franchisee who has no control over the registered trademark was treated to assorted insults in a letter accusing him of disrespecting francophone Quebeckers. The fact that the business is run completely in French is decidedly beside the point and a spokesman for the SSJB warned of a boycott.

More French Language & Sovereignist Groups

It seems that every few days a new organization or group is created either to defend the French language or promote sovereignty.
This week's entrants, a new political party named the Quebec Renouveau received a lukewarm reception, even from sovereignists who complained that a new political party would go even farther in splitting the sovereignist vote. One person commented that the party's new logo look like it belongs on a tub of BECEL butter!

If you think that there aren't enough organizations out there defending the French language you'd probably be in agreement with members of these groups who gathered to welcome a new entrant into the club.
Le Mouvement Montréal français 
Forum jeunesse du Bloc québécois
Comité national des jeunes du Parti québécois
Mouvement étudiant pour le français de l’Université de Montréal
Mouvement étudiant pour le français de l’UQAM
Conseil jeunesse de la SSJBM
Comité souverainiste de l’UQAM
Mouvement des étudiants souverainistes de l’Université de Montréal
Jeunes patriotes du Québec
Mouvement pacifique pour l’indépendance du Québec
Réseau de Résistance du Québécois

All these groups were supposedly represented at the Club Soda last week to welcome aboard the latest entrant, the  Mouvement des cégépiens pour le français.
The announced attendance of 300 probably meant that about 150 showed up and that was with free entertainment and refreshments....Ugh....

Union Complains about too little French Representation
The Syndicat des Communications de Radio-Canada, the union that represents Francophones workers of the the CBC in Quebec and New Brunswick, is complaining about the marginalization of Francophones on the Board of Directors of the CBC. With the naming of Torontonian Edward W. Boyd to the board, Francophones are reduced to just 3 members out of the eleven positions (27%). The union wants to see a return to the good old days where Francophone representation on the national board reached as high as 42%. After all, fair is fair. LINK

Black-Eyed Peas Unwelcome in Quebec City
It seems that some French language militants are furious that Anglophone groups will be headlining this summer's Festival d'été de Québec (Quebec Summer Festival.) Complaining in a letter to LE SOLEIL , a certain Yvan Giguère says that it is a travesty that more Quebec artists aren't being presented instead of groups like The Black-Eyed Peas and Iron Maiden. Trouble is, the only way to make the festival pay is to bring in artists that sell. You'll remember this same argument occurred over Paul McCartney's concert in Quebec that drew over 300,000 people. Come to think of it, maybe not everyone in Quebec thinks it a bad idea to go to a concert featuring some of the world's best talent!