Letters: Give the OQLF a reason to investigate

Montreal Gazette

07-07-2025

Maybe it's time to overwhelm the Office québécois de la langue française with a flood of complaints about English signage — call it peaceful bureaucratic resistance. If the agency is going to micromanage every sign, let them chase shadows. And once the absurdity reaches a peak, people should alert international media. Let the world see how language policy can tip into parody.
Lois Baron, Montreal
Not the time for language complaints
Re: ' Spike in service complaints to OQLF ' (The Gazette, July 4)
Quebec's medical system cries out from a lack of funds, and now the education system will see much-needed services affected after the government ordered at least $570 million in cuts.
Plus, seeing as we eagerly encourage tourists to come boost our economy, we need to be at minimum bilingual.
In these circumstances, how can the OQLF be justified? It is time to give Montreal a break and allow it and its population to survive.
Sandra Sterling, Snowdon
Bilingual signs boost water safety
Re: ' There have been five drownings near Verdun beach in last four years ' (The Gazette, June 25)
It is alarming that in Quebec, protecting French from a sea of English apparently includes endangering the well-being of English-speaking Montrealers and tourists.
After two tragic drowning deaths recently at Verdun beach, the local TV news showed several apparently French-only signs at beaches along with Raynald Hawkins, the Lifesaving Society's executive director for Quebec, declaring that all beach visitors should follow water safety instructions.
Along with French-only provincial road signs, one wonders if unilingual safety signs may have had a part in some deaths and injuries over the years.
George McArthur, Montreal
Other options for Alzheimer's patients
Re: ' Canada is falling behind on treatments for Alzheimer's disease ' (Opinion, June 26)
Hope is a dangerous thing, and although we should welcome treatments for insidious and devastating diseases such as Alzheimer's, we shouldn't let enthusiasm cloud our judgment. The scores we should be looking at for these new drugs — clinical improvements in cognitive scores — have barely shown more significance than placebo, and we still don't know how long the benefits persist. Not to mention high dropout rates in trials due in part to side effects such as brain swelling. Factor in the price of over $20,000 per year, and there are other interventions that are more cost efficient for patients in our publicly funded health-care system.
Aylon Wisbaum, pharmacist, Côte-St-Luc
Respect from U.S. in the cards
Re: ' Canadian mistrust of the U.S. remains high, new poll finds ' (NP Montreal, July 3)
I play online bridge against players from all over the world. You get to play two deals against new opponents, who then move on to other opponents. When they arrive, I always chat: 'Hello from Montreal, bonne chance.' I've been amazed at how many Americans reply: 'We love you, I didn't vote for him, ' or words to that effect.
Gary Bernstein, N.D.G.
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