If you don't have a sense of humour or don't like Hitler parodies click away.....
You've been warned!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Weekend Update Volume 35
Quebec aghast at PM's unilingual director of communications
Apparently Mr. Persichilli is no fan of Quebec either. In a column he wrote last year he said, among other things, that;
After the Quebec media went apeshit over the appointment, the Prime Minster reacted, not backing down on the appointment and dumping Persichilli, but rather with the announcement that Andre Bachand, an ex-Conservative MP from Quebec, will become his 'special' Quebec adviser. ...."Many are tired of the annoying lament from a province that keeps yelling at those who pay part of its bills and are concerned by the over-representation of francophones in our bureaucracy, our Parliament and our institutions." Read the story in the Toronto Star
As the Church lady on Saturday Night Live used to say sarcastically, "Isn't that special!"
More Quebec- bashing?
Coming on the heels of a decision to remove two paintings by a Quebec artist hanging in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa in favour of a portrait of the Queen and the news that the armed forces will revert to its 'Royal' appellation, comes the announcement that the Queen's portrait will soon hang in Canadian embassies around the world- Ouch! Ouch!
Who's really happy about McGill's Number 1 ranking?
So who is happy about that fact?
While it's natural that Ontarians are rankled by U of T's second place position, many Quebec nationalists are also quite irked that the best position any French Quebec university could do was 137th place (Universite de Montreal.) They complain that McGill is over-financed by francophone Quebecers. The fact that between 20-25% of students and a good deal of faculty is French is of no consequence to militants who see McGill's success as another humiliation.
A story in the Toronto Sun was interesting for its cheerfully skewed headline; "McGill, U of T top university rankings."
"McGill University and the University of Toronto both made the top 25 in an annual ranking of universities worldwide."Hmmmm....
The story even got the facts wrong when it listed the top ten universities of the world. A reader pointed out the error, which still wasn't corrected as of yesterday! Read the Story
Vigile.net defends middle east tyrant
Leave it to vigile.net to defend the indefensible.
Leave it to vigile.net to defend the indefensible.
Starting off with the optic that anything that is western, NATO, American or Canadian is bad, it's easy to understand why the popular separatist website would run stories defending Bashar al-Assad, the president of Syria who is warring against his own people, having already killed over 2,000 citizens in his war to crush opposition.
In an article posted on the website entitled "Lies and Manipulations," author Pierre PICCININ tells us (I'm not making this up) that life is pretty normal in Syria.
Another article "A different Testimony" claims that the democracy movement is infiltrated by jihidists and armed extremists.
Other stories defending the regime;
Another article "A different Testimony" claims that the democracy movement is infiltrated by jihidists and armed extremists.
Other stories defending the regime;
Le plan de déstabilisation de la Syrie
Une République Laïque et démocratique (A Democratic and Secular Republic)
....and my favourite;
Nathalie Normandeau gets a $150,000 gift
The taxpayer's league is up in arms at the $150,000 Nathalie Normandeau will receive as a result of her resignation from Quebec's National Assembly.
The 'departure' bonus is ostensibly paid to members leaving Parliament to help them transition back into private life, but is paid even if the member resigns of his or her own volition and even if the member has already secured a job or is eligible for a pension.The case of Jean-Marc Fournier is particularly galling. The present Minister of Justice retired in 2008 and received a transition bonus of $145,000, but returned to Parliament in a by-election, two years later.
In discussing the issue, Mario Dumont, the ex-ADQ leader, was forced to admit embarrassingly on his own show, (which often rails against government waste,) that he too accepted just such a payment, even though he had a television job lined up..
As for Nathalie Normandeau's abrupt resignation, I'm not buying her excuse that it was just her time to go.
While I have no specific information, rumours are floating that her resignation has to do with her present boyfriend, ex-Montreal police chief Yvan Delorme who also resigned abruptly in the face of allegations over improperly given contracts.
Is something about to break?
Readers are reminded of Frank Zampino who resigned similarly from his number two job at Montreal city hall. Also citing 'personal reasons,' Zampino actually quit ahead of a scandal that was about to break over water meters and his close ties to Tony Accurso. Link
Will Francois Legault's new party run a candidate in the upcoming by-election for Normandeau's seat?
Don't count on it.
PQ objects to bilingual bonus
The city of Gatineau. (Hull+ suburbs) is coming under fire for encouraging city workers to become bilingual, this time by speaking English in addition to French.
The city is offering a bonus of 45¢ an hour to any employee that can speak English as well as French.
The city, which is the fourth largest in Quebec, sits just across the Ottawa river from Ottawa and counts many anglophones as citizens, especially in the former towns of Aylmer and Buckingham which were merged with Hull in 2002.
The Parti Quebecois is fuming and is saying that such a bonus is discrimination against francophones who don't speak English and sends the wrong message about the working language of Quebec.
Yves-François Blanchet, a PQ Mp, has demanded that the Quebec government step in to end this 'dangerous precedent.' LINK{FR}
Lola going to the supreme Court
I'm sure readers are well aware of the case of Lola (a pseudonym) the ex-girlfriend of a famous Quebec Quebec billionaire (ahem..) who sued for palimony following their breakup. Lower courts have already provided a generous allocation for child support, but Lola wants a settlement based on her contention that she was 'married', by way of a common-law marriage, something not recognized in Quebec.
When the Quebec Court of Appeal agreed with Lola, the government of Quebec appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.
By the way, the Quebec Court of Appeal has a reputation for kooky decisions, many overturned in the Supreme Court.
Without getting complicated, readers are reminded that Quebec runs it's own version of Canada's Common Law called Civil Code of Quebec.
Specifically, Quebec does not recognize common law marriage, unlike the rest of Canada.
Quebec's position is that partners are free to marry or free not to marry and that there is a difference between living together and being formally married.
Those who choose to marry are subject to the benefits and responsibilities that it entails. Conversely a couple that choose not to marry, are not bound by marriage provisions.
Most importantly, it means that in the case of a break-up, there is no requirement for alimony, other than child support and no automatic right of inheritance or claims on pensions upon death.
However, the Quebec government does offer non-married couples the right to contract in a civil union, much the same as a marriage.
The government of Quebec has reviewed aspects of the law periodically and confirmed that this is the way it want things to be.
Clearly this position is at loggerheads with the rest of the country, but it remains interesting to see where the Supreme Court will go.
Put your money on Quebec's position. I can't see the Supremos rejecting one of the cornerstones of confederation, the fact that Quebec runs a similar, yet different common law.
It's going to be interesting.
School supplies irk Parents
And finally, I know this tidbit has nothing to do with the gist of this blog, but I thought I'd include it just the same.
A few Quebec newspapers ran articles this week on the excessive demands put on parents in relation to school supplies. LINK{FR}
A few Quebec newspapers ran articles this week on the excessive demands put on parents in relation to school supplies. LINK{FR}
Here's a list of articles that are required for a certain GRADE 1 class in Montreal;
- School agenda
- slate
- 6 notebooks for ink
- Calligraphy notebook (Calypso)
- Plastified Project workbook
- Project workbook
- 2 workbooks
- Binder
- Headphones
- Scissors
- 4 Glue Sticks
- 15 Duo-tangs
- 20 Pencils HB
- Erasable Crayola Crayons
- Crayola Crayons (16)
- rubber bottoms for chair legs
- 2 pencil cases
- 4 'Staedtler' erasers
- 2 index files
- Tokens used for calculating
- Deck of cards
- 5 erasable 'Pentel' markers
- Washable marking pens
- 20 plastic sheet protectors
- 6 document holders
- Plastic ruler (30 cm)
- Re-usable school bag
- 2 Red 'Papermate' pens
- Pencil sharpener with reservoir - 'Staedtler'
Headphones?
Deck of Cards?
I wonder if Hold'em has become a mandatory course.
Any parents out there know how much all this crap costs?
Deck of Cards?
I wonder if Hold'em has become a mandatory course.
Any parents out there know how much all this crap costs?
I'm
sure this goes on across Canada and reflects a disrespectful attitude
by out of touch educators towards parent's pocketbooks. A complete
overuse of props, instead of good old fashioned teaching.
When
I went to grade school (and you?,) all that was required was about 6
Hilroy or Canada type note books, a couple of pencils, a sharpener and an eraser.
My family's back to school shopping consisted of a trip to the old Miracle-Mart in Laval and an outlay of about $5 .
What more do you need to learn to read, write and do arithmetic?
And by the way, the pencil sharpener I used didn't have a reservoir to catch the shavings and cost about a nickel!
Know something else?
I bet we were all better educated than today's kids! 
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Comical Reaction to OQLF French Sign Initiative
In reaction to the OQLF's announcement that it will renew its fight to get businesses to adopt French names, Quebeckers are divided into two camps. First are the language hardliners who agree with the language cops and then there are those who are against the initiative, the overwhelming majority, who quite frankly don't give a crap.
I make this statement based on the hundreds of reader comments published under media stories in French online news sites, the vast majority, highly negative towards the OQLF initiative.
Some of the reactions are downright funny, others scathingly sarcastic, with most readers offering the opinion that they don't see a need for a name change for Future Shop or Best Buy, as long as service is offered in French and as long as prices are reasonable.
The very first comment under a news story about the OQLF announcement on the Radio-Canada website probably said it all;
Of course it isn't true, not even close. Of Champlain Mall's 138 stores, only 19 store names (about 14%) can be categorized as English. Lucky for Mr. Proulx, that he doesn't have a soul to lose!
Of course there are some stores that sport proper names that are clearly English, like Laura Secord or Bentley, but if Mr. Proulx chooses to include these as offensively English, he displays the same mentality as those enthusiastic attendees at the Wanasee Conference, where the Nazis met, way back when, to establish the definition of who was a Jew, in anticipation of designating those eligible for the Final Solution.
And by the way, even if he included the English proper names, it would only bring the total up to about 25%, a far cry from THE 70% figure he quotes.
As for the comments here's a taste of what is being said.
Note to readers;
All these comments were originally written in French and while I have translated them myself, it occurs to me that the finished product is far from perfect. Translation is not just about speaking the other language, it is an art form, of which I admit to being imperfect. Those of you who are bilingual know the pitfalls.
I humbly apologize for any imperfection. I promise readers that I didn't use Google Translate.
Being a civic-minded sort of person, I decided to help out and so I filed my own complaint!!!
Argggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!..............
I make this statement based on the hundreds of reader comments published under media stories in French online news sites, the vast majority, highly negative towards the OQLF initiative.
Some of the reactions are downright funny, others scathingly sarcastic, with most readers offering the opinion that they don't see a need for a name change for Future Shop or Best Buy, as long as service is offered in French and as long as prices are reasonable.
The very first comment under a news story about the OQLF announcement on the Radio-Canada website probably said it all;
"There is a difference between protection and promotion of a language and the chronic antagonism towards Anglophones. The paranoids see assimilation everywhere and hide their desire for revenge behind the great virtue of the survival of French in North America."- Joseph Arthur LINKGilles Proulx, the insufferable bigot, is representative of these language paranoids, who once again ranted against the English on television, telling the whopper that 70% of stores in the Champlain Mall in south shore Brossard have English names. He was so confident that he promised that he'd cast his soul into a fire, if it wasn't true.
Of course it isn't true, not even close. Of Champlain Mall's 138 stores, only 19 store names (about 14%) can be categorized as English. Lucky for Mr. Proulx, that he doesn't have a soul to lose!
Monaco • Naturalizer • Only • Davids Tea • President Stone • Spring • Stylexchange • Jugo Juice • U.S.A.• Urban Planet • Sirens • Payless Shoesource • Polar Ice • Bell • Virgin Mobile • Trade Secrets • Subway • Forever XXI • The Children's Place.By the way, I did a little research in trying to ascertain if A&W or H&M and other store names that include an ampersand (&) are exclusively English. It seems that the 'esperluette' is proper French, but rarely used because it isn't much of a saving over the word it replaces- 'et', However, perfectly acceptable French!
Of course there are some stores that sport proper names that are clearly English, like Laura Secord or Bentley, but if Mr. Proulx chooses to include these as offensively English, he displays the same mentality as those enthusiastic attendees at the Wanasee Conference, where the Nazis met, way back when, to establish the definition of who was a Jew, in anticipation of designating those eligible for the Final Solution.
And by the way, even if he included the English proper names, it would only bring the total up to about 25%, a far cry from THE 70% figure he quotes.
As for the comments here's a taste of what is being said.
Note to readers;
All these comments were originally written in French and while I have translated them myself, it occurs to me that the finished product is far from perfect. Translation is not just about speaking the other language, it is an art form, of which I admit to being imperfect. Those of you who are bilingual know the pitfalls.
I humbly apologize for any imperfection. I promise readers that I didn't use Google Translate.
"....By the way, what will you do with IKEA? Van Houtte? Volkswagen? CIBC? HSBC? Aviva? With nonsense like this, one day Ontario will require Bombardier to change its name. Not too impressive!" -Jacques Famery from Joliette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------"As someone wrote earlier, what would we think of a country that would require the Cirque du Soleil, a brand known throughout the world, to change its name to The Circus of the Sun?
.... There are far more important topics, such as the French language of immigrants, and the fact that 50% of Quebeckers are functionally illiterate.
Another surreal debate, created over nothing on a completely non-existent problem..."- Michel Sylvestre de Mont-Royal
--------------------------------------------------------------------------"More small potatoes to discuss, offered to make us forget the immense traffic problems and the embarrassment that is the Ministry of Transport. Meant to lead us to believe that the government is doing something when the truth is that it is doing nothing as in the case of collusion/corruption in the construction industry. It's nothing more than a diversion."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------"This is for those Québécois who don't speak a word of English, just in case they go to Best Buy to buy groceries. I do not know one Québécois who doesn't know what Best Buy, Future Shop, or Canadian Tire sells? All this is just smoke and mirrors!" -Mitchell Begin, Montreal
--------------------------------------------------------------------------"Mr. Rioux, you write "It is not about the protection of the French language, but a plot to exterminate of all that is English."
What a relevant comment! Indeed, an Italian name, Portuguese or another is never targeted, only the English names. Paranoia against the English? Absolutely."- Marianne Longfield South Shore
--------------------------------------------------------------------------"This is nonsense. You can go to China, Germany, France or Mogadishu, companies do not change their name. Only in Quebec is there a mass anti-English hysteria. Hysteria based on the unfounded fear of assimilation. This assimilation is not real, French in Quebec is increasing. In Montreal, it's just a shift of French population to the suburbs. Elsewhere in Quebec, English is losing ground. Montreal is not Quebec.
Should Bombardier be called "Bomber" "bombardeo" or "bombefly" depending on where the products are exported?
Only in Quebec does an ex-FLQer bomb a Second-Cup store, just because it has an English name .... -Christian Rioux, --------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Does the restaurant "los tres amigos" need to be changed to "les trois amis", or is this rule exclusively for English names and not for other languages?" - Edgardo Nunez de MontrealAnd finally, for those who read French, these comments can't really be translated;
The OQLF does of course have its fans and Impératif français is one of its biggest boosters. The French language lobby recently complained that:"On pourrait changer le prénom des gens un coup parti... quelqu'un dont le prénom est Dan devrait automatiquement s'appeler Daniel, Micheal -->Michel, Andrew --> André, John James --> Jean.... Ah! Dans ce cas si c'est déja fait."- Louis Lachance de Québec City--------------------------------------------------------------------------"Donc, si on récapitule:Dunkin' Donuts = Beignets de DunkinCanadian Tire = Pneu CanadienLoblaws = Lois de LobHome Depot = Dépôt de maisonHome Hardware = Gugusses de maisonSecond Cup = Deuxième TasseSunlife = Vie de soleilWalmart = Marché de WalBell Canada = Cloche CanadienneNickels = Cinq cennesFuture Shop = Usine du futurBest Buy = Meilleur achatIkea = Débrouilles-toi !Brick = La briqueScores = Et compte!Red Lobster = Homard rougeGeneral Motor = Moteur généralEt finalement,iPad de Apple = iTablette de Pomme (mon favoris) :oD Patricya Lacerte, Laval
The organization went on to beseech Quebecers to deposit more complaints at the OQLF and gave instructions on how to do so, including where to go online to get a complaint form."Despite the decline of French over the last 20 years, which has actually accelerated in recent years, Impératif français observed a decline in the number of complaints filed with the OQLF as well as a decline in the number of complaints transferred to the Attorney General of Quebec for prosecution, to denounce disrespect of the fundamental language rights of Quebecers." LINK{FR}
Being a civic-minded sort of person, I decided to help out and so I filed my own complaint!!!
Argggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!..............
Monday, September 5, 2011
OQLF Sign Initiative Nothing less than Bigotry
On Friday, I wrote about the legal situation vis-a-vis the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) and its announcement that it will pursue Big Box retailers like Best Buy or Future Shop for having the audacity to trade under their own corporate name or trademark, because it is English.
The argument put forward by the OQLF and language militants who support this position is based on the notion that an English name, in and of itself, is somehow offensive and shows contempt for the Francophone majority.
This notion is odious and nothing short of bigotry.
All of these retailers offer impeccable service in French and do an outstanding job in translation and signage which is generally unilingually French. They make sure to offer no products in English versions, without the equivalent product in French (Buzz Lightyear?) All costs related to translation are spread among all stores across Canada, so that prices remain the same as in stores in other provinces. As far as corporate citizens go, they are outstanding examples of companies that respect their Francophone clientele.
But that's not enough for the OQLF, which believes that operating under an English name is somehow disrespectful and offensive to francophones.
I reminded readers about a demonstration that occurred last April in front of a Repentigny, Quebec, "The UPS Store" by French language bigots who demanded that the company Frenchify its name. The whole episode was barely newsworthy, because, well,...err....this isn't big news in Quebec!
Could you imagine a similar demonstration in Calgary, with idiots picketing a Big Top demanding that Cirque de Soleil change its name to something more appropriately English, like Sun Circus or failing that, add a modifier to become Cirque de Soleil 'CIRCUS' while performing in Alberta?
The story would make the National news in English Canada and be the subject of every newspaper and talk show in Quebec, where Westerners would be mocked for their stupidity and called out for Franco-bashing.
Such is the politics of language in Quebec.
There comes a point when defence of the French language crosses over into intolerance and bigotry.
And that's the territory that the OQLF has invaded. It is, without a doubt, a hateful and intolerant bureaucratic monstrosity, run by a coterie of bigots, who pretend self-righteously, that they aren't persecuting Anglophones, just promoting the well-being of Francophones.
Bestowed with the gravitas of officiality by the Quebec government, the OQLF encourages a minority of hateful separatists, who detest Canada and Anglophones, to come out of the woodwork, anointed with an official cachet of legitimacy.
Bah!.....
For those of you who defend the OQLF by saying that it's not a big deal to demand that a French modifier be added to make the English name more palatable, you are one and the same as the bigoted OQLF.
The modifier is just a device to make the point that English, all by itself, in any form, is not acceptable in public.
Can anyone honestly believe that francophone consumers are so thick that they need the word Electronique added to Best Buy in order to realize not to go inside if they are looking for groceries?
Canadian Tire has been operating in Quebec for almost 75 years. Is the OQLF telling us with a straight face that the masthead now needs a French modifier to describe what's going on inside the store?
By the way, a good deal of Francophones still pronounce the store name as "Can-a-dienne Teer," a cherished tradition!
The argument that store names should reflect the French reality of Quebec is so convoluted that if taken to the logical extreme we'd have to remove Uncle Ben and Aunt Jemima from the store shelves and replace them with those more culturally acceptable and representative of Quebec society.
The truth is, that for French language militants, any public display of English, in whatever form, is utterly offensive. The OQLF empowers them and gives legitimacy to these haters. Shame.
What is also telling, is that in the OQLF's pursuit of the defence of the French language, the target of its regulatory zeal is always aimed at anglophones, ethnics and English businesses.
While companies like Best Buy and Future Shop are singled out, the pillars of the Quebec Francophone business community are always given a free pass.
How can the OQLF complain about Best Buy and not complain about French television shows that have English names?
If eyeglass store New Look needs to become "LUNETTERIE" New Look, why didn't the OQLF demand that Loft Story add a modifier as well, to become 'COMPTES DE' Loft Story?
The entire French media, is replete with English, something the OQLF seems to have no concerns over.
And before I get a slew of comments reminding me that the OQLF doesn't have jurisdiction, when has that ever stopped them from sticking their nose in before?
And so the OQLF remains silent in the face of television shows like Shopping TVA, which should, by OQLF logic, be required to add the word "MAGASINAGE"
What does the OQLF have to say about the obsession with English words on French TV show names?
These are not American shows dubbed into French, but original programming from Quebec.
Francophone programmers can't even resist using English when translating movie titles and so we get abominations like 'Le Karaté Dog'....ugh!
By the way, Musiquplus, the French music channel, does more to anglicize francophone teenagers than all the English signage and all the English-speaking clerks combined, a hundred times over!
Last week, fifteen of the twenty top videos shown on the MusiquePlus were English.
The rest of the content is dubbed or semi-dubbed American trash teenager shows and video commentators who use about 50% English terms while on air.
I pulled this screen shot from the Musiqueplus website, it's a 'teaser' (apparently a French word??) for the American show"Jersey Shore," which the French music station broadcasts ENTIRELY IN ENGLISH, complete with English subtitles to make understanding what is being said, a bit easier for francophones. The only accommodation is a bit of French voice over to explain what's going on. See for yourself, HERE
I can't think of a better tool for anglicizing francophone teenagers.
But hey, according to the OQLF, it's Best Buy that is insulting Francophones, while Snookie and 'La' Situation are complete innocents!
V telé, another French network broadcasts a version of High Stakes Poker completely in English, with a bit of French voice-over just to pass muster, probably because they are too cheap to pay for proper dubbing, but shouldn't the OQLF be concerned?
By the way, what do you think the name of the show is on French TV?
Yup, it's High Stakes Poker and just like Wipeout, another American show imported onto Quebecois television, there are no modifiers, before or after the name!
Shouldn't the OQLF step in and regulate this insidious infiltration of English on Quebec television? Isn't this situation infinitely more damaging and Anglicizing than a store name?
While Anglos and Ethnics are being scapegoated for the Anglicization of Quebec, the reality is that the biggest perpetrator of this so-called Anglicization is Francophone society itself.
Francophone television, radio, newspapers and magazines use an over-abundance of English in their stories and more importantly their advertisements. Who is to blame? Not Anglos.
While the names of stores like Canadian Tire or Future Shop have long become embedded in our common consciousness, the fact that they are English names is really of no consequence. It's just a name, like Henry, Angela, Pedro, Pierre, Moishe or Salim.
Talking to a sales clerk with an Arabic, Chinese or English name doesn't really matter to Francophones when the conversation is in French.
When people shop at Best Buy, what is important is that products are desireable and offered at a fair price and when service is provided in French, the name of the store is irrelevant.
It is sad that our Liberal government chooses to allow the OQLF to run riot because it is afraid of appearing too 'federalist' and too 'accommodating' and so stupidity and bigotry reigns in the name of protection of the French language.
The reality is that the vast majority of Quebeckers recognize zealotry when they see it.
Wednesday, I'll share their mocking reactions with you.
Until then, I look forward to your comments, in English or en français, or even with a 'Joisy' accent!
The argument put forward by the OQLF and language militants who support this position is based on the notion that an English name, in and of itself, is somehow offensive and shows contempt for the Francophone majority.
This notion is odious and nothing short of bigotry.
All of these retailers offer impeccable service in French and do an outstanding job in translation and signage which is generally unilingually French. They make sure to offer no products in English versions, without the equivalent product in French (Buzz Lightyear?) All costs related to translation are spread among all stores across Canada, so that prices remain the same as in stores in other provinces. As far as corporate citizens go, they are outstanding examples of companies that respect their Francophone clientele.
But that's not enough for the OQLF, which believes that operating under an English name is somehow disrespectful and offensive to francophones.
I reminded readers about a demonstration that occurred last April in front of a Repentigny, Quebec, "The UPS Store" by French language bigots who demanded that the company Frenchify its name. The whole episode was barely newsworthy, because, well,...err....this isn't big news in Quebec!
Could you imagine a similar demonstration in Calgary, with idiots picketing a Big Top demanding that Cirque de Soleil change its name to something more appropriately English, like Sun Circus or failing that, add a modifier to become Cirque de Soleil 'CIRCUS' while performing in Alberta?
The story would make the National news in English Canada and be the subject of every newspaper and talk show in Quebec, where Westerners would be mocked for their stupidity and called out for Franco-bashing.
Such is the politics of language in Quebec.
There comes a point when defence of the French language crosses over into intolerance and bigotry.
And that's the territory that the OQLF has invaded. It is, without a doubt, a hateful and intolerant bureaucratic monstrosity, run by a coterie of bigots, who pretend self-righteously, that they aren't persecuting Anglophones, just promoting the well-being of Francophones.
Bestowed with the gravitas of officiality by the Quebec government, the OQLF encourages a minority of hateful separatists, who detest Canada and Anglophones, to come out of the woodwork, anointed with an official cachet of legitimacy.
Bah!.....
For those of you who defend the OQLF by saying that it's not a big deal to demand that a French modifier be added to make the English name more palatable, you are one and the same as the bigoted OQLF.
The modifier is just a device to make the point that English, all by itself, in any form, is not acceptable in public.
Can anyone honestly believe that francophone consumers are so thick that they need the word Electronique added to Best Buy in order to realize not to go inside if they are looking for groceries?
Canadian Tire has been operating in Quebec for almost 75 years. Is the OQLF telling us with a straight face that the masthead now needs a French modifier to describe what's going on inside the store?
By the way, a good deal of Francophones still pronounce the store name as "Can-a-dienne Teer," a cherished tradition!
 |
The truth is, that for French language militants, any public display of English, in whatever form, is utterly offensive. The OQLF empowers them and gives legitimacy to these haters. Shame.
What is also telling, is that in the OQLF's pursuit of the defence of the French language, the target of its regulatory zeal is always aimed at anglophones, ethnics and English businesses.
While companies like Best Buy and Future Shop are singled out, the pillars of the Quebec Francophone business community are always given a free pass.
How can the OQLF complain about Best Buy and not complain about French television shows that have English names?
The entire French media, is replete with English, something the OQLF seems to have no concerns over.
And before I get a slew of comments reminding me that the OQLF doesn't have jurisdiction, when has that ever stopped them from sticking their nose in before?
And so the OQLF remains silent in the face of television shows like Shopping TVA, which should, by OQLF logic, be required to add the word "MAGASINAGE"
What does the OQLF have to say about the obsession with English words on French TV show names?
Rock'n'bull - Room Raiders - Clip Dub - Cliptoman - Le Playlist - Drag Queen - Miss Personnalité - Shopping TV - Chatterbox - Spécial bloopers - Les Gags - Call TV.
These are not American shows dubbed into French, but original programming from Quebec.
Francophone programmers can't even resist using English when translating movie titles and so we get abominations like 'Le Karaté Dog'....ugh!
By the way, Musiquplus, the French music channel, does more to anglicize francophone teenagers than all the English signage and all the English-speaking clerks combined, a hundred times over!
Last week, fifteen of the twenty top videos shown on the MusiquePlus were English.
The rest of the content is dubbed or semi-dubbed American trash teenager shows and video commentators who use about 50% English terms while on air.
I pulled this screen shot from the Musiqueplus website, it's a 'teaser' (apparently a French word??) for the American show"Jersey Shore," which the French music station broadcasts ENTIRELY IN ENGLISH, complete with English subtitles to make understanding what is being said, a bit easier for francophones. The only accommodation is a bit of French voice over to explain what's going on. See for yourself, HERE
I can't think of a better tool for anglicizing francophone teenagers.
But hey, according to the OQLF, it's Best Buy that is insulting Francophones, while Snookie and 'La' Situation are complete innocents!
V telé, another French network broadcasts a version of High Stakes Poker completely in English, with a bit of French voice-over just to pass muster, probably because they are too cheap to pay for proper dubbing, but shouldn't the OQLF be concerned?
By the way, what do you think the name of the show is on French TV?
Yup, it's High Stakes Poker and just like Wipeout, another American show imported onto Quebecois television, there are no modifiers, before or after the name!
Shouldn't the OQLF step in and regulate this insidious infiltration of English on Quebec television? Isn't this situation infinitely more damaging and Anglicizing than a store name?
While Anglos and Ethnics are being scapegoated for the Anglicization of Quebec, the reality is that the biggest perpetrator of this so-called Anglicization is Francophone society itself.
Francophone television, radio, newspapers and magazines use an over-abundance of English in their stories and more importantly their advertisements. Who is to blame? Not Anglos.
While the names of stores like Canadian Tire or Future Shop have long become embedded in our common consciousness, the fact that they are English names is really of no consequence. It's just a name, like Henry, Angela, Pedro, Pierre, Moishe or Salim.
Talking to a sales clerk with an Arabic, Chinese or English name doesn't really matter to Francophones when the conversation is in French.
When people shop at Best Buy, what is important is that products are desireable and offered at a fair price and when service is provided in French, the name of the store is irrelevant.
It is sad that our Liberal government chooses to allow the OQLF to run riot because it is afraid of appearing too 'federalist' and too 'accommodating' and so stupidity and bigotry reigns in the name of protection of the French language.
The reality is that the vast majority of Quebeckers recognize zealotry when they see it.
Wednesday, I'll share their mocking reactions with you.
Until then, I look forward to your comments, in English or en français, or even with a 'Joisy' accent!
Friday, September 2, 2011
OQLF Sign Controversy- "It's like déjà vu all over again."
It's an old story, which I believed had been settled many years back, when a United Nations panel ruled that the sign provision of Bill 101 violated Canada's convention obligations."The Quebec government is getting ready to launch a campaign this fall against big-box stores and their stubbornly English names.The president of the Office québécois de la langue française, the agency that oversees the province's language laws, says the sign issue will be very important in the next few months."
Perhaps with a new cast of Young Turks, the OQLF is attempting to re-open this can of worms, although I can't see there position being more valid now, then it was in the past.
Back in the last century, the OLF was pushing companies to change their corporate name or use a different French trademark. Some companies did comply and changed their masthead.
Office Depot (Now Staples) became Bureau en Gros. and Shoppers Drug Mart became Pharmaprix. The Bank of Nova Scotia became the Banque de Nouvelle Ecosse, a literal translation which was changed once again, this time to Banque Scotia. The very worst example of conformity was Marks Work Wearhouse which became the perfectly awful "La Ouerâsse, a meaningless, yet French-sounding word. Mercifully, the stores were re-branded as L'Équipeur.
In all the recent stories published in the French press concerning the latest effort of the OQLF, all refer to the Supreme Court as the culprit in overturning certain aspects of Bill 101 in relation to signage.
These stories conveniently forget to detail the debacle that Quebec suffered at the United Nations, where the sign provisions of Bill 101 were found to contravene Article 19.2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Canada is a signatory. The ruling came as a result of a complaint made by some Quebeckers. For details, see McIntyre v. Canada
Here is part of the ruling made by the United Nations.Article 19.2 "Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice."
"...While the restrictions on outdoor advertising are indeed provided for by law, the issue to be addressed is whether they are necessary for the respect of the rights of others. The rights of others could only be the rights of the francophone minority within Canada under article 27. This is the right to use their own language, which is not jeopardized by the freedom of others to advertise in other than the French language. Nor does the Committee have reason to believe that public order would be jeopardized by commercial advertising outdoors in a language other than French. The Committee notes that the State party does not seek to defend Bill 178 on these grounds. Any constraints under paragraphs 3(a) and 3(b) of article 19 would in any event have to be shown to be necessary. The Committee believes that it is not necessary, in order to protect the vulnerable position in Canada of the francophone group, to prohibit commercial advertising in English. This protection may be achieved in other ways that do not preclude the freedom of expression, in a language of their choice, of those engaged in such fields as trade. For example, the law could have required that advertising be in both French and English. A State may choose one or more official languages, but it may not exclude, outside the spheres of public life, the freedom to express oneself in a language of one's choice. The Committee accordingly concludes that there has been a violation of article 19, paragraph 2." LINKInterestingly, the UN Committee also ruled that not only did the sign law contravene this section, the Quebec government could not invoke the 'Notwithstanding Clause' to opt out, because it would have the effect of breaching Canada's international commitment.
In other words, Quebec could not opt out of an international commitment made by Canada, in the same way that Quebec could not opt out of Canada's commitment to ban the importation of ivory, or Canada's international commitment not to import slaves. As long as Quebec remains a province, it is bound by Canada's international obligations.
Then of course there's the question of trademarks, where the Quebec government also found itself on the wrong end of a legal judgment which ruled that it could not stop companies from displaying an English trademark as a masthead .
And so the issue has largely been ignored for almost two decades. Some companies continue to change their names to adapt, some don't, some make a half-hearted effort like The Brick which dropped the "The" part of their name and is known simply as the Brick. Companies like Home Depot, Mailboxes Etc., Future Shop, Best Buy and a multitude of others continue to trade under an English banner, much to the chagrin of the OQLF and language purists.
Any Anglo living in Quebec, who has a first name that has a similar version in French, has had the unpleasent experience of seeing their name morph to a French version, changed by a data entry clerk at the license bureau, the government or credit card company.
Many of us whose name is Allan, George or Mary, etc. have had documents show up in our mailbox with our name changed to the French version of Alain,' 'Georges' or 'Marie.' It isn't really deliberate, just a data entry error made by a clerk making a bad correction in good faith. But it is annoying and hard to correct.
It seems that we take great exception to having our name trifled with and I imagine that international companies are not keen to have their name or trademark changed as well.
Companies like 'Foot Locker" operate stores around the world (even in France) under the same trademark and corporate name and are loathe to change because the OQLF tells them to do so.
Most of these offending multinationals do a fantastic job at adapting to the local marketplace, providing a complete service in French. All packaging and instructions are provided in French and the additional costs involved for the translation, by the way, is passed on to Canadians across the country, as prices are generally held at the same level in all Canadian stores, in the same way that Anglophone Canadians pay the majority of the costs for dubbing of English movies into French.
Such is the cost of a 'bilingual' country, but I digress.
Here's a translation of an interesting article from Hebdo Rive-Nord last April, by Kassandra Martel, which sort of sums up the whole situation. Read the original story in French
UPS Store or Boutique UPS?
The opening a UPS Store on Brien boulevard has become controversial because of its entirely English name. The Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste (SSJB) opposes the English signage.
"It's not the fact that UPS opened a branch that bothers us, but rather that the entire signage is in English which shocks us," says Claude Richard, active member of the SSJB Section Pierre Le- Gardeur. That's what prompted the association to send a letter to UPS and to hold a small demonstration.
In the past, the SSJB had acted the same way with companies like Second Cup, Shoppers Drug Mart, Staples and others. These companies have changed their name to 'Les cafés Second cup,' 'Pharmaprix' and 'Bureau en gros.' But there are some companes that want nothing to do with name changes while others make partial or complete changes, "says Richard.
Claudine Belasky, a Repentigny native is proud of his store, and says that while the trademark is in English, the remaining display and service, is in French. "For the owner of the franchise in Quebec, David Decker, a French-speaking Quebecker, it is important to serve the people in their own language. The name 'The UPS Store' is just a trademark. "
He is proud to have invested in his hometown and finds the reaction of the SSJB deplorable. "My first customer came in here saying-" God listened to me: Finally a UPS store." He said this because the closest locations are in Laval or Montreal." In addition, the SSJB sent him a threatening letter, accusing him of not respecting its citizens. "This letter is addressed to me personally, even though we are two owners," He complains.
Tuesday, 21 protesters were outside 'The UPS Store' to advocate for more use of French.
The SSJB. Section-Pierre Le-Gardeur, supported by the Mouvement Montréal français, demonstrated in the parking lot in front of the branch in Repentigny. Several slogans were hurled by demonstrators, demanding more use of French.
As before, the SSJB, through Claude Richard, claims it will continue the protests. "If they do not respond, there will be other events," declared Richard.
The isn't going to become "Magasin des colis unifiés" (direct French translation-.ed)
According to the head office in Montreal, there's no need to see a change in the name of the store. The UPS Store said that it was aware of its rights and that the company isn't violating any law. The trademark required a lot of investment and the English name does not affect anything.
Scott McKay, PQ MNA for L'Assomption MRC, was indignant. In his letter to the company, he writes: "By choosing to display the name of 'The UPS Store,' you show a blatant lack of consideration for the French character of our society and you create an unacceptable affront . "The MP added:" You missed a good opportunity to show interest in your customers. "The Parti Quebecois (PQ) laments the imminent decline from French to English names. This creates, according to the PQ, a problem that must be addressed. Scott McKay clarified: "We cannot address this through modifications in Bill 101, as trade names are governed by an international agreement. We must therefore turn to popular pressure. I have decided to boycott The UPS Store and I call on all people of Repentigny, to do the same "said Mr. McKay.
In 1977, Bill 101 made French the official language of the state. This law established that French be the language of commercial signs.
And so, does an English name like this contravene the law?And so today, mindful of the law, the OQLF is mounting a new and different initiative, which for want of a better term I have dubbed the 'SECOND CUP' rule.
According to the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF), there is no violation of the law, if the company name is recorded in English at the Office of Intellectual Property of Canada. "The name becomes a registered trademark and it becomes a business decision by the company to translate it or not," says Martin Bergeron, spokesperson for the OQLF.
Back in the 1981, The Second Cup coffee chain was harassed by the OLF (as the language board was known in those days), language militants and even ex-FLQ terrorists demanding that the name be changed to something more French. Three shops were actually bombed by militants over the issue and one activist was sentenced to jail for nine years.
In the end the company agreed to call its Quebec stores by the more acceptable "Les cafés Second Cup" and so the 'modifier rule, or the 'Second Cup rule' was born.
This means that English sounding store names required a French modifier either before or after the English, in order to make it more respectful of the French majority.
As the old Mary Poppins song says: "A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down"
And Presto, a hybrid is born- 'Lunetterie' New Look, 'Rôtisseries' Scores and 'Farine' Five Roses, for example.
For the OQLF, gone is the old plan to get companies to convert their names to French as in changing the APPLE STORE into the MAGASIN POMME.
Today the OQLF is trying to get stores with English appellations to add French modifiers. Sometimes the results are barely perceptible as in the examples above, sometimes not.
Adding the word MAGASIN to the 'The UPS Store' is a bit silly and redundant.
What can be added to HOME DEPOT and FUTURE SHOP to make it more acceptable?
Reaction to the OQLF initiative by consumers has been decidedly negative and in many cases surprisingly sarcastic, judging by the comments under stories featured in French online media.
Next week I'm going to share with readers some samples of the more interesting comments. It's actually worth a whole post!
Note to readers;
For those of you who consider the title of this piece a bit redundant, it is a tribute to the great Yankee catcher and manager Yogi Berra who coined the phrase "It's like déjà vu all over again." For a chuckle and a good read, go over to this page to see some of the great quotes he came up with like "It ain't over, til it's over," most of them blurted out inadvertently.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND- SEE YOU MONDAY!
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