French vs. English Volume 7

Lack of Bilingualism Irks French Language radical
The president of Impératif français, Jean-Paul Perreault complained that the city of Ottawa's English only ceremony welcoming the Olympic flame was contemptible. He somehow inferred that it was a federal government affair rather than one organized by the city.
For Mr.Perreault, arguing for exclusion of English in Quebec goes hand in hand with demanding French inclusion outside of Quebec. Two for me, one for you.

Even Catholic Church opposes English
When it comes to opposing English, even the Catholic Church is demanding that curbs be put on the use of English.

Four priests and a pastoral agent sent a letter to Cardinal Turcotte last October complaining that there was too much English in church.

"As a public institution, isn't it natural that the Church follow the path of French majority? Systematic bilingualism is discriminatory towards the Francophone population."

The letter writers, claim that they speak for dozens of other members of the diocese.

By the way since when is the Catholic church a "public institution."

The Brick - Calls for Boycott over English Flyer
A French language militant André Taillon is calling for a boycott of The Brick furniture store over an all-English flyer purportedly sent to his house. I doubt that the company would send an English flyer anywhere in Quebec and if it did go out, I'm sure it was an error.

Before calling for a boycott, wouldn't it be reasonable to get the company's view on the incident and get the facts straight.

It's hard to  take a facts-challenged idiot like M.Taillon too seriously when he can't even get the company's name right, calling it the "BRICKS" and referring to the Canadian company as American. In the comments section, a reader complains that he also wants a boycott because there were French mistakes in the Flyer. What is it then, an English-only flyer or a French flyer with mistakes? Arghh....

A check of the company web-site shows that it has a French side and that all the flyers are available in French. In fact, in an effort to be more palatable to the French market, the company has dropped the "THE" from "THE BRICK" and is known as the "BRICK" in Quebec.

Bilingual ATM under Fire
A letter writer in Le Devoir complains bitterly that the welcome screen on the Caisse Populaire's ATM machine in Montreal offers users the choice of either English or French. He goes on to say, through some faulty logic, that by offering a choice of English or French, it somehow makes French subservient to English (asservissement.) He' so steamed that he's ready to start a boycott (boycott seems to have become a recurring theme.)

School board to close another English School
As French language militants wring their hands over the fantasy that English is taking over the Island of Montreal, the Lester B. Pearson School Board has decided to shutter another English school.

"Since the board’s last such consultation in 2005, it has lost 2,300 students – a number that board chairperson Marcus Tabachnick said is the equivalent of six elementary schools."- Montreal Gazette Article

Price-Fixing at the Pump- Government style

A Quebec City judge has allowed a class action lawsuit to go forward against 11 oil retailers who are accused of price-fixing. It is alleged that prices were set through a series of phone calls made between the retailers. -CSP Link to read the entire article 

The mistake the gas retailers made was to undertake the scheme themselves instead of getting the government to help them fix prices.
They should have formed an association and lobbied the government to set prices at a level at which they could make more money.

Sound ridiculous?
That's exactly what the gas retailers in St. Jerome did when COSTCO moved in and started undercutting their price.

Here's a notice attached to the gas pumps at a Costco in St. Jerome;

Dear, Costco members,

The Regie d'energie of Quebec has recently imposed a 3¢ per litre increase on gasoline sold in St.Jerome.

We disagree with this artificial increase imposed on the citizens of St. Jerome for the benefit of gasoline retailers.

For this reason, we will be donating 3¢ per litre sold, to the Fondation de l'hopital regional de St. Jerome.

Costco Wholesale will continue to supply members the very best quality/price value for all their purchases.

Pierre Riel

First Vice President and general director Eastern Region Canada

Islamaphobia Rears it's Ugly Head in Longueuil

A current topic in the French Quebec media is the push towards official secularization and the separation of religion and government. While the goal of eliminating overt connections with any particular religion seems reasonable enough, it is in realty, nothing more than a back door attack on Muslims and other immigrants that look different from old-stock Quebeckers.
One of the proposals being promoted is that government employees be barred from wearing religious symbols or clothing while serving the public. The idea has roots in the French law that bars religious regalia in schools and by public employees.

A big push is underway to enact similar legislation in Quebec, as many Quebeckers are frightened that Muslims are changing the traditional face of Quebec, particularly in Montreal. Those militating for such measures are clearly in store for a disappointment, any such law would be overturned by the Supreme Court. Canada is not France and such laws are clearly unconstitutional.

Many are also furious about concessions known as 'reasonable accommodations' made by public employees, mostly benefiting Muslims and Hasidic Jews whereby for example, a Muslim woman may ask to be served by a women instead of a man.

Last week, an idiot from Longueuil (a Montreal suburb) decided to push back. In a story published last Friday in LE Devoir (French)  a certain Michel Robichaud demanded his very own reasonable accommodation. He demanded that he not be served by a Hijab wearing, government employee when applying to renew his Medicare card in a government office.

A brouhaha ensued between the troublemaker and the director of the office and I can only imagine the utter humiliation suffered by the employee involved.
Imagine the hurt that this fool inflicted on an innocent government clerk, who was just trying to make a living through honest work.

The manger of the office was rightly furious at the grandstanding antics undertaken  at the expense of one of his employees and told the complainer that if he didn't want to be served by the Hijab wearing woman he should get back into the waiting line, THE BACK OF THE LINE!

For Mr. Robichaud this reaction was manna from Heaven, he had gotten his wish fulfilled, a media event.
The story was carried by the Le Devoir which actually reported favorably on the complainer's position.

Of course  Mr. Robichaud who was spoiling for a fight and lodged an official complaint with the Régie d'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) about his treatment, who told him in no uncertain terms what they thought of him.
Mr. Robichaud told reporters that the agency representative told him that the response he got was consistent with the agency policy.  
"She said that they had not refused to serve me, but rather it was I who refused to receive the service. Under the principle of reasonable accommodation, the RAMQ allows it's employees to wear the Islamic veil, regardless of the opinion of the person being served."

"She also told me that my complaint was inadmissible because no law has ever been passed declaring Quebec a secular state.  continued Robichaud. "By invoking the neutrality of the state,  I had no legal basis, she said. Which law are you referring to she asked? 

I hope that this racist attitude doesn't spread but I fear the seeds of discord have already been planted.

Last year I was in a Canadian Tire store in St. Laurent standing in the check out line when a grandmotherly type Francophone standing in front of me, started up with the teen aged cashier wearing a Hijab.
"My dear, don't you realize it's a symbol of oppression?"
The girl was mortified and stood in stunned silence during the lecture.

I was furious at the bullying and figuring that what's good for the goose is good for the gander,  I decided to make it my business to ruin her day as well.

I moved in close and inches from her face let loose a loud barrage of insults that scared the crap out of her. 
"VA CHIER, ESPECES DE P'TIT RACISTE!!!!

Maybe I shouldn't have done it, but it felt right at the time. 
Come to think of it, it still feels right today.

Hope Springs Eternal after Markov's Triumphant Return to Habs

Montreal Local TV News Photobomb

I record the Montreal evening news on both the CBC and CTV local affiliates each evening which I skim at dinner time. Like all local news productions there are plenty of gaffes both technical, editorial with a good number of mis-speaking anchors and reporters.
In the spirit of laughing with you, not at you, I've decided to share the best.  (Sure.....)

Here's a clip of Brian Wilde, from the sports department, getting photobombed,  further confirming that live on-air reports are always deliciously dangerous.