French versus English Volume 54

Air Canada versus the French language

Most people understand that English is the language of international aviation, in the air and on the ground. Airlines around the world accept English as the lingua franca and so it follows that technical manuals are generally delivered to airlines exclusively in English, even those from Airbus from France and Bombardier from Canada.
Airlines are loath to take on the responsibility of translating these documents over security and safety concerns and so generally ask employees to take maintenance courses in English.

Ever since Aveos closed its Montreal repair facility, Air Canada mechanics from Quebec have been asked to take technical courses conducted in English, in Toronto.
This of course has the union up in arms demanding that the course and manuals be provided in French. Link{Fr}

The company is now demanding that employees understand English as a condition of employment, something they didn't exactly do before and so the union is claiming that this demand is illegal.
While francophone Quebecers have the legal right to work in French, bilingualism may be a legitimate requirement of employment. This situation best illustrates the grey areas of the language debate.

Another great language kerfuffle.

Another March against against English

The Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste (SSJB) is organizing another march, this time in downtown Montreal to visit the various government offices, businesses and companies that are imperiling Quebec by offering service in English. 
According to the FaceBook page created for the event, of the 5,000 some invitees, only about 135 have accepted to attend, which means that in the end, it will be another sparsely attended separatist event, subject to overblown media coverage.
Targeted by the separatists is Revenue Quebec (for having the audacity to collect taxes in English,)  The MUHC, Montreal's largest English bilingual hospital, the Caisse de dépôt (for having two English bosses) and an assortment of other government agencies which have the nerve to offer services in English as well as French.

Talking about Facebook events, you'll recall that a Facebook group has been set up (La surprise de Shebbeare) to organize a 'surprise' march on Hugo Shebbeare's home, an act of despicable intimidation.
The group is tiny, consisting of about 40 people and had as a participant, a member of the Parti Quebecois, who has since withdrawn her name.
Mario Beaulieu, chief cook and bottle washer of the SSJB,  gave an interview feigning ignorance of the group, while maintaining the principle that nobody should be intimidated,
That being said, his name and picture remains on the Facebook page as one of the participants, giving force to the old saying that 'Action speaks louder than words."

Nordiques NHL Dream 'circling the drain.'

 Looks like the dream of an NHL team in Quebec City has taken a hard bodycheck with the announcement by the NHL, that there is a solution that will keep the troubled Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale.
The franchise was the likeliest candidate for re-location.

The second piece of bad news is the fact that the legislation allowing Quebec city to bypass normal tendering process in the construction of the new arena, has been put off until the fall session of Parliament, with the Liberal government unwilling to ram the Bill through at this stage.
This has pushed back the possibility that work can commence this Fall.

The third piece of bad news is the surprise resignation of the man responsible for the whole project, Jacques A. Bédard. The mayor of Quebec, Regis Lebeaume, who has been spearheading the project, refused to shed any details on the departure, fueling wild speculation as to the motives for his departure. Link{Fr}
Perhaps it is the spiralling estimates of the cost of the project which already is determined to be the most expensive arena (per seat) in the NHL. The $500 million estimate is almost 200 million more than a similarly built arena in Pittsburgh. As things go in Quebec, the likely final cost will push the project even higher, leading to another Olympic Stadium disaster.
Oh well.... 'plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.'

In the meantime, read this story about the town of Markham, a suburb of Toronto that is building a $300 million plus arena with no pro team.
God only knows why! Link

Demand for English school to skyrocket

The effect of the cegep and university boycott may have some perverse consequences on English language institutions of higher learning.
As the boycott drags on with no resolution, French students are seeking alternatives for the Fall semester.
You'll recall that 50% of French students remain out of class while less than 10% of English students are still boycotting.
But the most important difference is that the English schools remain open to the majority who wish to attend classes. Those on 'strike' have not been able to shut down the schools and so the semester will be completed on time, for those who wish to continue.

For francophone students who did not support the strike, yet are prevented from attending class in French cegeps and universities, the loss of a semester is a bitter pill to swallow and with nothing resolved, they fear the Fall semester might also be in jeopardy.

Some have decided to apply to French  schools outside Quebec, with the University of Moncton showing a 260% increase in out-of-province applications. The same is likely at the university of Ottawa.

This portends ominously for Quebec's English language universities and cegeps which will likely see a skyrocketing demand from francophones wishing to avoid any conflict and possibility of disruptions.

Over the last few years, Dawson college has seen a rising number of francophone applications and as competition to get in the limited places goes up, standards are going up and up.

English students are being displaced by francophone student with higher marks.
Given the relative difference in size between the English and French system, a serious uptick in demand by francophones may swamp the English system and alarm bells are starting to sound.

New Canadiens GM promises more French

The very first thing new General Manager of the Canadiens did was to demote anglophone coach Randy Cunneyworth.
When asked if French would play a bigger part in the team, Marc Bergevin agreed that it would, indicating that the next coach of the team would definitely be a Francophone someone who was bilingual.
He also indicated that he will hire more scouts to cover the province of Quebec in order to uncover and draft more French players.

The francophone media is head over heals in love and a bit sensitive over suggestions that the best talent may have been cast aside over language.

"In a press conference at Madison Square Garden in New York, before the second game of the series between the Capitals and Rangers, Glen Haley(sic), an analyst with CBC, asked a French journalist "Why do you deprive yourself of the best candidates over the question of language? "

....another insipid reaction was launched against the group of Quebec reporters  by a Philadelphia journalists, just before the third game of the Devils-Flyers series: "You must be happy in Montreal, to have your  French-speaking! GM " Link{Fr}

A bit touchy , don't you think?

Lack of English a problem for parliamentarian

"Some are calling for the resignation of the Conservative's parliamentary secretary for Official Languages because he speaks only French.

For the past year, Jacques Gourde has been turning down invitations from English Quebecer's main community groups.

The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) says the fact that Gourde speaks no English could be dealt with, but the fact that he seems to be avoiding them is a serious concern.

"If our access is limited by a parliamentary secretary who can not or refuses to meet with us because of his limitations in English, that is a problem," says director general Sylvia Martin-Laforge.

In 2006, the Conservatives named Ted Menzies, a unilingual anglophone, to the same position. However, within days the Tories said the appointment was a mistake, and re-assigned him.

"There is a double-standard," says Martin-LaForge, "but as anglophones in Quebec, we often deal with a double standard." Read the whole story

Racist Comedian welcomed in Quebec.

It's strange that there's not much of an outcry either in public or in the press about a French comedian Dieudonné M'Bala M'Bala, aka Dieudonné, coming to Montreal to perform an act which is decidedly antisemitic.
Dieudonné  has been roundly denounced in his home of France as a Jew hating racist, who makes no bones about utter disdain not only for Israelis but Jews everywhere.

 Dieudonné was also the director of an antisemitic film 'L’Antisémite,' financed by the  Iranian government. His antisemitism has become the focus of his professional career.

He was twice fined by the Courts in France for making antisemitic statements in public and was banned from performing in Belgium.

The last time he performed in Quebec, he made some statements that landed him hot water. In a performance in 2006, Dieudonné  called  Patrick Bruel, a French artist, a "liar" and an "Israeli militarist," saying he supported the bombing of southern Lebanon by the Israeli military.

"He was ordered by the Quebec Superior Court to pay $75 000 to singer Patrick Bruel for calling him a "super Zionist militant," and  an "Israeli militarist" who approved  the killing of Palestinian children  in south Lebanon by the Israeli army on the television show 'Les Francs-Tireurs'  in November 2006, on the Télé-Québec network. Dieudonné also asserted that the singer was suffering from the "superiority complex of some Israelis," that is to say he thinks he is part of a "superior race". 

....Dieudonné has become so obsessed with Jews that he founded an anti-Zionist Party  for the 2009 European elections, which was a big flop.

....These examples give a good idea of who this nauseating character is, yet he is still welcomed in Quebec. 

....The French are no longer fooled, why are Quebecers?" Link{Fr}

Read a story about the issue in the National Post

I haven't found one story in the Quebecois media condemning his show or questioning whether it is appropriate to allow an antisemitic show like this to be presented.
Do you think that if he was someone who spewed anti-Muslim hate, the Press would remain so indulgent? 
Methinks NO....

Polls offer disturbing views of attitudes

"A month ago, when The Gazette published poll results showing at least a significant minority of French-speaking Quebecers hold negative attitudes toward the anglophones in this province, some people were quick to express skepticism.

Among the findings of the poll, conducted in late-March by Léger Marketing for The Gazette and the Association for Canadian Studies:

• 53 per cent disagreed that “in Quebec most anglophones feel positively about francophones.”
• 51 per cent disagreed that “in Quebec, most francophones feel positively about anglophones.”
• 44 per cent agreed that “English-speakers are the main threat to the French language in Montreal.”
• 38 per cent disagreed that “relations between English and French Quebecers have gotten better over the past five years.”
• 31 per cent disagreed that “Quebec anglophones have made a positive contribution to Quebec history.”
• 61 per cent of Québécois – that is, French-speaking Quebecers – disagreed with the statement that “most anglophones in Quebec speak French satisfactorily.”" Montreal Gazette     Alternate Link

Another poll, this time by Forum Research, seems to confirm these findings;

"Substantial minority says Anglophones make negative contributions"

Three-in-ten Quebeckers think Anglophones have made a positive contribution to Quebec's culture (29%), but almost one fifth think their contribution has been negative (19%), and close to half think their contribution has been neither positive nor negative (46%). 

Download the complete report

Believe it or Not

Here's one that's a bit hard to believe;
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. is working with a company owned by controversial Quebec construction magnate Tony Accurso to bid on the Quebec government's $3-billion project to renovate Montreal's Turcot interchange.
Let's see, a disgraced engineering firm, plus a controversial construction magnate with alleged mafia ties, recently arrested for fraud, teaming up to bid for one of the biggest construction contracts of the decade.
Yup, that should work!!   Link{Fr}

*********************

"Actor, singer and host of Haitian origin, Luck Mervil, met students of the Pierre-Laporte high school as part of Intercultural Week presented at the end of March."

As readers might recall, Mr. Mervil was the performer that celebrated the FLQ legacy by reading its famous manifesto at an outdoor separatist poetry fest in Quebec City, the Moulin à paroles.  YouTube

What's wrong with this picture?
The school is named for Pierre Laporte, an FLQ murder victim!
Thanks for the story to Hugo....

*********************

"Former foreign affairs minister Lawrence Cannon, who lost his Quebec seat in the last election, has a new job as Canada's ambassador to France.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the appointment during question period on Thursday, saying Cannon has the necessary experience for the position.

Harper thanked the outgoing ambassador, Marc Lortie, a longtime diplomat who has been stationed in Paris since 2007." Read the rest of the story

Is this another Harper snub to Francophones?
Although the decidedly anglo Quebecer speaks French very well, wouldn't you think that the job should go to a bone fide francophone?
After all, there aren't that many French speaking countries.
Just asking.......

*********************

Despite the many leftist public figures who have emerged over the last two months, Amir Khadir admits having great difficulty in recruiting star candidates for Quebec solidaire.
Ya think?

*********************

In an effort to do something about the exaggerated number of employees working for the government, the Quebec civil, the most bloated public service in North America, has announced that it is adding another 2,200 employees over the next two years. Link{Fr}

*********************

 About two years ago, Premier Charest ran roughshod over the tendering process and awarded the contract to build Montreal's new metro cars to Bombardier in the town of La Pocatiere, which was, just by chance going to have a by-election in the near future.
Well, that strategy didn't work out, the PQ won the seat, but the contract was already sealed.
It seems that Bombardier is now having a spot of trouble with the union over sub-contracting and is threatening to leave.

"The union president, Mario Levesque, argued yesterday that outsourcing has skyrocketed in recent years. The roofs of the future Montreal subway cars, which were to be made ​​of stainless steel in L'Assomption, will eventually be manufactured by an aluminum company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Bombardier responded that it was not profitable to invest in the machinery needed to manufacture aluminum roofs for a single contract. "You can not invest millions of dollars in equipment like this for a project without knowing whether we will need it for any other," said Marc Laforge, spokesman for Bombardier Transportation, in a telephone interview
This explanation made Mr. Levesque hit the roof. "Don't tell me that Bombardier cannot afford the machines, he said. They invested US$26 million in their plant in Plattsburgh. ... This is because they just don't want to invest here. "  Link{Fr}

Yup, that's what they said!

"Because of the excessive representation of unilingual and bilingual jobs in the public service of Quebec in regions like Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, it  indirectly contributes to the anglicization of the greater Montreal area",   Link

This according to the president of the Mouvement Québec français, Mario Beaulieu.

Readers are reminded that anglophones make up just 2% of Quebec's public service and the vast majority work in French.

Some Good Weekend reading;

Kraft Dinner et soutien-gorge
An article in French describing how good students have it compared to the 'good old days.'

*********************

You know how some television shows use product placement to raise revenue? Well, those that refuse the practice (like the Big Bang Theory) are careful to alter the appearance of name brands on products used as props on the show.
Here's an effort on Quebec television that didn't exactly come off as expected.  As we say in English- "Close, but no cigar!"

Credit FailQc .com

Come to think of it, it might be some smarty pants biling pulling an fast one on unsuspecting viewers....Dunno.


On Monday, I will tell you why the riot in Victoriaville was completely the fault of police.
Until then, please have yourself a very good weekend!