Watchmaker has No Time for Language Police

A reader, "Mitch" suggested I write about the Hudson watch dealer who has run afoul of the language police, the OQLF, because of an English only web site that he uses to sell refurbished watches around the world. He received a letter from the language watchdog agency demanding that he provide a French language web site to compliment the one that he runs in  English.

Thank you Mitch for the suggestion.

I had already viewed the story on the local CTV news channel and at the time, nearly fell out of my chair when I recognized a face from the past.

I haven't seen Darryl Lesser in over fifteen years when we played hockey together in a weekly pickup game of hockey at the Bonaventure ice rink in Montreal.
I couldn't help remarking to my wife that Darryl had aged somewhat from the strapping young man that I remembered, a comment to which she rolled her eyes in a not so silent rebuke.

Back then Darryl was just getting into the watch business. He would regale the locker room with stories of his adventures scouring  flea markets across the Townships in pursuit of discarded watches going for cheap. He proudly showed me his first genuine ROLEX watch that he picked up for a couple of bucks. I guess he has pursued things quite successfully, from the looks of things.

To small independent entrepreneurs and Anglos in particular, setting up a complementary web site in French is an expensive affair, especially when the business conducted targets an English or international clientèle. Aside from the initial cost, there's the pesky problem of translation, French being a particularly hard language to write, considering the male and female case. Translators are very expensive and the cost can run into thousands of dollars annually, a bitter pill, when there is no return.

Treating small entrepreneurs like large corporations is something the government is guilty of doing  and while it makes eminent sense for large companies to have a bilingual web site, it is isn't always reasonable to demand the same from tiny enterprises, specialized and home-based businesses.

If you think that this issue affects only small Anglo companies and entrepreneurs you'd be wrong. I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a highly placed member of a non-profit group that offers roadside assistance to travellers. (Figure it out yourself.)

I suggested that with so many members consulting their web site to plan trips (especially to southern Florida), it would be a natural to offer hotel accommodations. I went on to tell him that they could save money by just creating a link to another web site that specializes in hotel bookings (and earn a royalty.)

Alas it was not to be, he explained. The hotel web site in the United States doesn't offer a French interface and as such they could not link up legally, since they'd be making money. They had already rejected the idea based on legal advice. Argghhh!!

Darryl the watchmaker has threatened to move if the harassment continues. He needn't bother.

He can just change his company's head office to another jurisdiction. It's a simple matter to incorporate a company federally and to use a post office box or a Mailbox store in Ontario as an official address. Mail can be forwarded right to your home in Quebec. You can file an Ontario tax return and you can do all your work in front of your keyboard in Quebec quite easily, completely legally. (After all, don't you sometimes talk to a service tech in India on behalf of a Canadian or American company?)
The same can be done in Plattsburgh and a US address is also a viable choice.

The OQLB is powerless in the face of modern technology and in the virtual world of the Internet, rules like mandatory French web sites are laughable and impossible to enforce when people use little creativity.

Montreal Gazette's Separtist Hypocrite

The Montreal Gazette, in it's ultra-liberal zeal to honour all points of view, employs the talents of separatist Josée Legault, who writes a thoroughly uninspiring and vapid weekly column. Perhaps on orders, or because writing about sovereignty with decidedly pro attitude would likely bring on the wrath of the paper's exclusively Anglo readership, she avoids the subject assiduously and prattles on about the most boring of subjects- Quebec politics, without mention of sovereignty. And so reading her stuff is about as interesting and stimulating as getting your teeth cleaned, once a week.

By the way I wonder if the Journal de Montreal or Le Devoir would ever consider giving Howard Galganov or Will "Pit Bull" Johnson a column in their own paper?

I gave up reading her column faithfully after laughing at the thoroughly ridiculous and infantile piece she wrote last year, concerning the controversy over the Order of Canada award  to the good doctor abortionist Henry Morgentaler.

With two out of three Canadians agreeing with Dr. Henry Morgentaler's appointment to the Order of Canada, it's getting awfully difficult to condemn his nomination on the basis that he's one of Canada's most divisive public figures. Link

 According to Ms. Legault awarding a controversial and divisive figure the prestigious Order of Canada is fine, as long as the majority of Canadians agree with the selection. On the surface, it's an eminently defensible position, but if the nomination offends up to one third of Canadians, should it really go forward?

I'd like to ask Ms Legault to substitute Dr. Morgentaler's name in her piece, with that of Don Cherry and see if she'd reach the same conclusion.

Mr. Cherry is a champion of Canadian hockey and tireless promoter of the Canadian brand. He's more popular in English Canada than anyone I can imagine. I once sat beside him (by happenstance) on a airplane trip to Moncton and was amazed at the recognition factor, with the stewardess forced to control passengers who approached him seeking a handshake or  an autograph (ostensibly for their children.) The mob scene was repeated in the baggage claim area, and even the airport personnel swarmed him. His record of charitable work is extensive, so why has he been blackballed from receiving an Order of Canada?

Ms. Legault can tell you.
It's because of a few injudicious remarks made about Francophones and Quebeckers in particular. As much as he is loved in Canada, he's generally reviled in Quebec.

But no matter, according to Ms. Legault, he should receive his medal, because, well, a verge large majority of Canadians are in favour of it, notwithstanding Quebec's universally negative view of him. I'd bet the farm that overall, his nomination would be supported by a higher number of Canadians than those who supported Dr. Morgantaler.

Of course I'd like to put the question to her and no doubt, she'd find some sort of twisted argument to reject Mr. Cherry's nomination. Clever debaters, these nationalists.

It's a Quebec tradition to make twisted and semi-logical arguments to argue the impossible, reminding me of the old story where a young man, after killing his parents, pleads before a judge for mercy on the basis that he has been orphaned.

At any rate let's go on;
While her Gazette article is thoroughly devoid of separatist, nationalistic and anti-English politics, not so her articles in the French media, where she doesn't need to hold back.

In an article she recently wrote, reprinted on the militant French language site Mouvement Montréal français, Ms. Legault parrots French language militants' current mantra that holds that Montreal is going English.
She invites readers to submit pictures of signage that contravenes the language law so she can create an exposé.

I wonder if the Gazette is interested in publishing the results?

The Myth of the Anglicization of Montreal - PART II

"While we obsess over the legality of the language of  signage, Montreal English speakers  are taking the city, district by district, based on institutional  bilingualism imposed on us by our cowardly politicians.  They are laying the foundations of a future Anglophone metropolis in the heart of Quebec, dispossessed of it's native  language."

Louis Prefontaine, Quebec language zealot

If ever there's a place where Anglos would flaunt the Quebec signage law, the one that forbids English from taking a predominant form on commercial signage, it would be in that bastion of Anglo arrogance, Westmount Square, the shopping mall that sits under the office and apartment complex on St. Catherine in the city of Westmount.

In my second instalment, I confidently confront  the popular myth and urban legend that Montreal is going English in terms of commercial signage.

With my trusty IPhone camera I snapped a couple of photos before a grouchy security guard demanded to know what I was doing and ordered me to cease and desist when I told him the truth.

Notwithstanding, here's a photo montage of what I found. I swear to all the gods of journalistic integrity that I am reporting fairly. In fact, I made it a point to search out any illegal signs.

There's two types of signs in the mall, those placed by the management of the mall and thoses placed by the merchants. Let's start with the first category.

Hmmm. Not a lot of English here. What are all those old English biddy's to do. The English  on the parking signs is so  small, they probably need to learn French to understand what's going on....It's a plot!
By the way, the tiny "STOP" as opposed to the large "ARRET" is a perfect touch, demonstrating that language also trumps safety!

Now for the stores;

Nope , no big English scofflaws here, but I did try to find a sign that brazenly humiliated the the sign laws and after almost giving up the search, I found this pearl in the garage;

Call in the POLICE!!!!!!

Quebec Radical Admits to Crime, Then Pleads Innocent

It all started over a municipal campaign poster that raised the ire of nationalist and French language militants.

Barbara Charlebois was running for office in Gatineau's Alymer District (a decidedly English neighbourhood) and erected campaign posters that were almost completely English. The one word in French that was included was misspelt. ('voter' should have read 'votez')

Notwithstanding that Quebec's language laws do not apply to political material and her signs were completely legal, a storm of controversy erupted over the apparent 'insult.'

For Jean-Paul Perreault, president of Impératif Français

"It's revolting...", "It's shows a lack of sensibility and respect for the city in which she seeks public office...." It's a return to linguistic arrogance"    Ahemm....

For Quebec radical Jean-Roch Villemaire it was the last straw. He issued an ultimatum to Ms. Charlebois to remove the signs or else he would remove them himself. True to his word, he uprooted the signs and immediately took credit for the act.

For Mr. Villemaire, it was not his first encounter with Ms. Charlebois who is a board member of the Regional Association of West Quebecers, an organization that he had been harassing over their advocacy in favour of increased English usage in government.

A group called "Ligue de défence nationale" had previously sent Ms. Charlebois a threatening email.

“If French has taken a certain place in Quebec it is because of the radical and sometimes violent FLQ during the ’60s, provoking an exodus of Anglo-Montrealer businesses storefront by storefront,” the message said. “We are its reincarnation. We will win.”

Turns out the email was sent by none other than Mr. Villemaire, who at first denied his involvement, but was outed as the author of the threats by journalists who traced the messages to Mr. Villemaire's  computer.

He later admitted all, in a defiant statement.

"As of late, I've sent several emails to West Quebecers and Barbara Charlebois demanding that they stop anglicizing Quebec. I also wrote "Français", "Québec libre" et "FLQ" on two windows and the West Quebecers sign. I removed  about a dozen of Ms. Charlebois' election signs. I didn't commit any act of violence, nor did I make any calls to violence either. 

 Mr. Villemaire was probably feeling the heat of a police investigation which was closing in on him.  His antics caught the attention of not only local police but those charged with protecting Canada against terrorism. It's obvious that he has reconsidered his position and toned down the rhetoric.
His statement made a point to emphasis that he was not a terrorist and had not preached violence, likely in an effort to avoid more serious charges. It's also likely that his lawyer explained to him that militancy aside, he could find himself on the 'NO-FLY' list.
Apparently Mr. Villemaire is not made of the same stuff as Che Guevera.

Villemaire is a hateful windbag who ran for the Parti Indépendentiste during the 2008 Quebec provincial election and collected about 150 votes, about the same amount as the Marxist-Leninist candidate, so his level of support is rather limited. It's no surprise, according to the Ottawa Citizen, he's an admirer of Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini and European neo-fascists as well. There's not much support for a fascist-separatist radical in a riding that counts a lot of Federal government workers as it's mainstay.  

At any rate, police charged him with simple mischief, to which he has  pleaded not guilty. He's extremely lucky to get off with the relatively light charge.
Had he  spray painted a hate message on a Mosque instead of an Anglo organization, he'd be looking at a hate crime.

His trial is to take place later this year and it will be interesting to see if he turns it into some sort of show event, but it's doubtful.
He seems to be getting good legal advice and the "Innocent " plea is likely a device to buy time for his lawyer to negotiate a plea. Meanwhile I bet Mr. Villemaire will be on his best behaviour. Watch.
I hope I'm wrong. He has already admitted doing the deeds he is charged for. If he claims that his actions were justified in court, he'll be crucified.

Perhaps the very best commentary of the whole affair was written by an excellent blogger TYM MACHINE over on the conservative web site, Republique de bananes.

If you read French please go over to the site and read the original article here

For those without French I am providing a small translation;

"Imagine for a moment that the opposite situation occurred on to the other side of (Ottawa) river. Suppose there was a municipal election in Ottawa and a candidate in a largely French district, 'Vanier' for example, decided to post election signs in French only, since no law prohibits this in the city of Ottawa and in the province of Ontario (as in the case in  Quebec.)
Following this "affront" to English voters, certain unscrupulous individuals complain in the English media that they feel abused and insulted by this behaviour. They call for the delinquent candidate to remove the unilingual placards within 24 hours or face the consequences ... 24 hours go by and still no action from the individual offender. He or she says it is his right and he or she will not give in to blackmail by extremists. The complainers get angry and take action. They remove the signs and paint hateful graffiti  like "Frogs, go home" on a building belonging to an association of Francophones of Ottawa.
I wonder how the Jean-Paul Perreaults  and the Jean-Roch Villemaires of the world would react to this fictional aggression, this heinous crime of Francophobia taking place just 20 km from home?"

Well said!

Once again McGill University Attacked. This Time For NOT Taking Government Money

If there is any institution more hated by Quebec nationalists than McGill University, I'd be hard put to name it.

Ever since the famous "McGill francais" demonstrations back in 1969, the university has been a symbol of Anglo entitlement and privilege.

Recently a great deal of ink has been spent decrying the fact that McGill is over-funded as compared with Francophone institutions and unfairly benefits from corporate and private donations as well federal government largess.

The refrain goes on and on, but took a decidedly different and strange twist last week, with many articles complaining about the fact that McGill has given up financing it's MBA program through government subsidies, by going the private route.

Early this year, McGill announced that the MBA program in the Desautels Faculty of Management would switch to a "self-funded model" beginning in Fall 2010. The move will see the faculty forgo funding from the Quebec government and cover costs by raising tuition rates to $29,500 per year for the two-year program. The increase in tuition will affect all students. Currently, Quebec students pay an average of $1,672.80 per year, while other Canadian students pay $4,675.68, and international students pay $19,890.....THE McGILL TRIBUNE

McGill, frustrated that it's MBA program rated poorly against other top notch universities decided that it could only compete by spending more on the program. Since they were already spending $10,000 more than they were taking in between the government subsidy and tuition, they decided to abandon the public model completely and build an elite program by charging students the full cost of $29,000 per year.

 "But if Quebec is unwilling to pay for the $10,000 shortfall, it's time that they stopped opposing McGill's real-world solution..."  THE McGILL TRIBUNE

But of course that's not how nationalists saw it. Why what happens at McGill is of such importance to them is puzzling, after all the school turned down the public money. Strangely, commentators raged against the decision, claiming it to be a harbinger of things to come over on the Francophone side.

"In an article in Le Devoir, Marie-Andrée Chouinard writes;

"How far does the particular status of McGill allow it to preserve it's reputation by imposing fees of nearly $ 30 000 for an MBA? In deciding to self-finance its entire program and forgo a public subsidy, the Montreal  university flouts the rules and opens the door to a practice that could well spread to other faculties. This is a worrying precedent...

In an article on vigile.net entitles "A Diploma for Sale ..to the Rich!" Jean Desautels writes;

"In fact, the price tag attached to this certificate guarantees that the owner comes from a wealthy background, he probably has powerful connections and that his network could potentially be beneficial for a company. As such, he deserves a big salary...."
Show romanization

"....McGill is demonstrating that what interests it, is to recruit rich people, not bright students. Long term, it does not make for very capable managers, but it can provide a lot of generous donors. Isn't that what counts?"

 in the THE McGILL TRIBUNE;

"It's unfair to expect other students - like us - to make up that $10,000 when the average MBA student is 28 years old, works in private industry, and commands an average annual salary of $80,000 upon graduation."

A furious Louis Lapointe writes in vigile.net;

"The best way to penalize McGill would be to hit it where it distinguishes itself from all other Quebec universities. The department could order that in the future, McGill include, a proportion of revenue from its foundation in its annual financial statements, in order to reduce the grant paid annually to the Department Education.

Hmmmm....