Latest news with #!Canadiens
National Observer
6 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Quebec language office pressed transit agency for months before the Habs playoff run
Quebec's language watchdog contacted the Montreal transit agency at least six times in the wake of a complaint about using the word "go" on city buses to cheer on a local soccer team. The watchdog — the Office québécois de la langue française — asked for multiple updates on the agency's efforts to remove the word, and kept the complaint open for nine months until 'go' had been scrubbed from more than 1,000 city buses in Montreal, according to emails obtained by The Canadian Press. The correspondence contrasts with the office's public comments responding to an April report in the Montreal Gazette that revealed how the transit agency had replaced the expression 'Go! Canadiens Go!' on its buses with 'Allez! Canadiens Allez!' to appease the watchdog. The news report, coinciding with the Montreal Canadiens' first home game of the Stanley Cup playoffs, prompted a public outcry and elicited a declaration from French-language Minister Jean-François Roberge in support of the expression 'Go Habs Go!' At that time, the watchdog said it had 'contacted the (transit agency) to inform it of the complaint and remind it of its obligations under the (French-language) charter.' But the office didn't share details about the length of its review and the number of times it pressed transit officials for updates. The internal correspondence reveals how an adviser for the language office sent at least six emails to the transit agency between May 2024 and January 2025, informing the agency of a complaint and asking about its plans to fix the problem. The documents were obtained under access-to-information law. The complaint, received on April 29, 2024, related to city buses displaying the expression 'Go! CF Mtl Go!' – a reference to Montreal's professional soccer club. The transit agency initially responded to the language office in June 2024, explaining that such slogans give bus drivers 'a way to salute national sports teams.' Using the word 'go' kept the message shorter and prevented it from scrolling across the buses' electronic displays, the email explained. Still, the agency agreed to remove the word, but warned the process could take several months. In response, the adviser asked why the change couldn't be made 'over a few days when the vehicles are in the garage.' The transit agency replied that each bus had to have its display changed manually, using a USB key. In July, the language watchdog informed the agency that the complaint would remain open until all the buses had been changed. The adviser then followed up two more times over the fall and winter to request updates. Eventually, the transit agency reported in January that 1,002 of its 1,104 buses had been updated, and the remaining 102 buses were out of service. The language office then agreed to close the complaint, on condition that each of the remaining buses would be updated before returning to service. In an email statement to The Canadian Press, a spokesperson for the language watchdog said the correspondence is 'part of a normal process for handling a complaint.' The language office never received a complaint about 'Go Habs Go' and was never informed that the transit agency was planning not to use the word 'go' in relation to the hockey team, said Gilles Payer. He said the office would not have pursued a complaint about 'Go Habs Go,' since the expression is a trademark, which does not need to be translated. A spokesperson for Roberge told The Canadian Press the minister was not aware of the issue until the change was first reported in April. But the documents show his own department was informed of the complaint shortly after it was received and intended to participate in the review. According to Quebec's French-language charter, complaints involving public bodies must be flagged to the French-language department. The department did not respond to questions about its role in response to this complaint. Roberge's spokesperson Thomas Verville said the language office received more than 10,000 complaints last year. 'The minister does not intervene in the complaints received' by the office, he said. 'That would be political interference.' Still, Roberge announced in April that he had held 'several discussions' with the language office, and that any future complaints about the expression 'Go Habs Go' would 'be deemed inadmissible.' He said the slogan has been used for decades to support the Montreal Canadiens. He also said employees of the language office were receiving threats. Verville said there is a 'huge difference' between using the word 'go' in reference to the Montreal soccer team as compared to the Montreal Canadiens. He said fans of CF Montréal typically chant 'Allez Montréal' during matches, while 'Go Habs Go' has long been part of Quebec culture. He added Roberge spoke out specifically to defend the expression 'Go Habs Go,' which was not the subject of the original complaint. He did not say whether the minister opposes the use of the word 'go' in reference to other sports teams. A spokesperson for the transit agency said it is still in discussions with the language office to 'obtain official confirmation that we are allowed to use the word 'go' in a sporting context and that we will not be penalized if we do so.' The agency says no change will be made before the buses undergo regular maintenance in the fall. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
Fox Sports
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Montreal buses change 'Go! Canadiens Go!' signage to French after complaints to language watchdog
Associated Press MONTREAL (AP) — City buses in Montreal have dropped the expression 'Go! Canadiens Go!' following a complaint to Quebec's language watchdog. Montreal's transit agency is now using the French expression 'Allez! Canadiens Allez!' on the electronic displays on the front of its buses to show support for the Montreal Canadiens' NHL playoff run. The decision was made because the word 'go' is an anglicism, said spokesperson Isabelle Tremblay. The expression 'Go Habs Go!' is used extensively in Quebec to support the Montreal hockey team. It is also used widely by the team itself, including on social media. The hashtag #GoHabsGo appears in oversized letters outside the Bell Centre in Montreal, the home arena of the Canadiens. Tremblay said Quebec's French-language office received a complaint last year about buses displaying the words 'Go! CF Mtl Go!' — a reference to Montreal's professional soccer club. In response, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) decided to change the word 'go' with 'allez' — the French equivalent — on all of its messaging. Tremblay said it 'maintains team spirit' while complying with Quebec's recent overhaul of its French language charter. The agency has been gradually changing the language on its fleet of buses since the end of last summer. Tremblay said the modification must be made manually on each bus, so the work was only completed earlier this year. The change was first reported Thursday by the Montreal Gazette. A spokesperson for the Montreal Canadiens declined to comment on the matter. The team clinched a playoff spot last week, and trails 2-0 in the best-of-seven matchup against the Washington Capitals. The Canadiens host Game 3 of their first-round series on Friday. In Quebec City on Thursday, the move was widely panned by opposition parties, including the Parti Québécois, which positions itself as a champion of the French language. 'We have other priorities for the French language in Quebec,' said PQ legislature member Catherine Gentilcore, adding that leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will continue to use #GoHabsGo on the X platform. The Quebec Community Groups Network, which represents English-speaking Quebecers, dismissed the decision as 'silliness' in a social media post. 'EVERYONE yells #GoHabsGo! at the Bell Centre,' the group said. 'Our buses should be allowed to do the same.' recommended in this topic
Washington Post
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Montreal buses change 'Go! Canadiens Go!' signage to French after complaints to language watchdog
MONTREAL — City buses in Montreal have dropped the expression 'Go! Canadiens Go!' following a complaint to Quebec's language watchdog. Montreal's transit agency is now using the French expression 'Allez! Canadiens Allez!' on the electronic displays on the front of its buses to show support for the Montreal Canadiens' NHL playoff run. The decision was made because the word 'go' is an anglicism, said spokesperson Isabelle Tremblay.
Winnipeg Free Press
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Montreal buses change ‘Go! Canadiens Go!' signage to French after complaints to language watchdog
MONTREAL (AP) — City buses in Montreal have dropped the expression 'Go! Canadiens Go!' following a complaint to Quebec's language watchdog. Montreal's transit agency is now using the French expression 'Allez! Canadiens Allez!' on the electronic displays on the front of its buses to show support for the Montreal Canadiens' NHL playoff run. The decision was made because the word 'go' is an anglicism, said spokesperson Isabelle Tremblay. The expression 'Go Habs Go!' is used extensively in Quebec to support the Montreal hockey team. It is also used widely by the team itself, including on social media. The hashtag #GoHabsGo appears in oversized letters outside the Bell Centre in Montreal, the home arena of the Canadiens. Tremblay said Quebec's French-language office received a complaint last year about buses displaying the words 'Go! CF Mtl Go!' — a reference to Montreal's professional soccer club. In response, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) decided to change the word 'go' with 'allez' — the French equivalent — on all of its messaging. Tremblay said it 'maintains team spirit' while complying with Quebec's recent overhaul of its French language charter. The agency has been gradually changing the language on its fleet of buses since the end of last summer. Tremblay said the modification must be made manually on each bus, so the work was only completed earlier this year. The change was first reported Thursday by the Montreal Gazette. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. A spokesperson for the Montreal Canadiens declined to comment on the matter. The team clinched a playoff spot last week, and trails 2-0 in the best-of-seven matchup against the Washington Capitals. The Canadiens host Game 3 of their first-round series on Friday. In Quebec City on Thursday, the move was widely panned by opposition parties, including the Parti Québécois, which positions itself as a champion of the French language. 'We have other priorities for the French language in Quebec,' said PQ legislature member Catherine Gentilcore, adding that leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will continue to use #GoHabsGo on the X platform. The Quebec Community Groups Network, which represents English-speaking Quebecers, dismissed the decision as 'silliness' in a social media post. 'EVERYONE yells #GoHabsGo! at the Bell Centre,' the group said. 'Our buses should be allowed to do the same.'
Associated Press
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Montreal buses change 'Go! Canadiens Go!' signage to French after complaints to language watchdog
MONTREAL (AP) — City buses in Montreal have dropped the expression 'Go! Canadiens Go!' following a complaint to Quebec's language watchdog. Montreal's transit agency is now using the French expression 'Allez! Canadiens Allez!' on the electronic displays on the front of its buses to show support for the Montreal Canadiens' NHL playoff run. The decision was made because the word 'go' is an anglicism, said spokesperson Isabelle Tremblay. The expression 'Go Habs Go!' is used extensively in Quebec to support the Montreal hockey team. It is also used widely by the team itself, including on social media. The hashtag #GoHabsGo appears in oversized letters outside the Bell Centre in Montreal, the home arena of the Canadiens. Tremblay said Quebec's French-language office received a complaint last year about buses displaying the words 'Go! CF Mtl Go!' — a reference to Montreal's professional soccer club. In response, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) decided to change the word 'go' with 'allez' — the French equivalent — on all of its messaging. Tremblay said it 'maintains team spirit' while complying with Quebec's recent overhaul of its French language charter. The agency has been gradually changing the language on its fleet of buses since the end of last summer. Tremblay said the modification must be made manually on each bus, so the work was only completed earlier this year. The change was first reported Thursday by the Montreal Gazette. A spokesperson for the Montreal Canadiens declined to comment on the matter. The team clinched a playoff spot last week, and trails 2-0 in the best-of-seven matchup against the Washington Capitals. The Canadiens host Game 3 of their first-round series on Friday. In Quebec City on Thursday, the move was widely panned by opposition parties, including the Parti Québécois, which positions itself as a champion of the French language. 'We have other priorities for the French language in Quebec,' said PQ legislature member Catherine Gentilcore, adding that leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will continue to use #GoHabsGo on the X platform. The Quebec Community Groups Network, which represents English-speaking Quebecers, dismissed the decision as 'silliness' in a social media post. 'EVERYONE yells #GoHabsGo! at the Bell Centre,' the group said. 'Our buses should be allowed to do the same.'
