Latest news with #Jean-FrancoisRoberge
Vancouver Sun
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Quebec language watchdog says it's OK to use 'Go' to support sports teams
MONTREAL — Quebec's language watchdog has changed its tune on whether it's acceptable to use the word 'go' to cheer on sports teams. In a new guideline posted in its online dictionary, the Office quebecois de la langue francaise says that while 'allez' is the preferred term, it's now 'partially legitimized' to use the English word to show encouragement. The flip-flop comes after the office took a hard line with Montreal's transit agency, pressing it for months in 2024 to scrub the word 'go' from the electronic signs on more than 1,000 city buses. The watchdog confirmed it had changed its position after The Canadian Press obtained a series of emails through access to information legislation, revealing it gave the transit agency a green light to use 'go' in June. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The reversal followed a public outcry on the eve of the Montreal Canadiens' first playoff home game in April, when the Montreal Gazette reported how the transit agency had replaced 'Go! Canadiens Go!' with 'Allez! Canadiens Allez!' to stay on the watchdog's good side. The revelations prompted French-language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge to intervene, declaring that the expression 'Go Habs Go' is part of Quebec culture, and that any future complaints about the slogan would be dismissed. That statement verged on political interference and placed the watchdog in a difficult position, according to one expert. 'The office had to respond to a political order,' said Benoit Melancon, emeritus professor of French literature at Universite de Montreal. 'The minister said, 'You will accept this,' so the office had to find a way to accept it.' The transit agency says it hasn't decided whether it will put the word 'go' back on its bus displays. On Wednesday, a spokesperson said the agency is now 'beginning its reflection on the subject.' In an April statement, Dominique Malack, the president of the language office, agreed that the slogan 'Go Habs Go' is anchored in Quebec's history. Still, she went on to say that the word 'go' is an anglicism, and that public bodies have an obligation to use 'exemplary' French, which includes using only French words in their signage. Emails released to The Canadian Press show the transit agency asked the watchdog in May, following the uproar, for authorization to start using 'go' again. A month later, on June 6, the language office directed transit officials to its new entry for the word 'allez' in its online dictionary of terminology, a reference guide for the proper use of French in Quebec. The page notes how the anglicism 'go' has been used in Quebec since at least the 1980s and is 'well-established' in common parlance. 'It is considered to be partially legitimized,' the entry says. When asked by The Canadian Press to comment on the newly released email correspondence, the watchdog confirmed it had updated its position. 'The office now considers that a public body can use the interjection go in a context of encouragement … without this compromising the duty of exemplarity incumbent upon it under the Charter of the French Language,' spokesperson Gilles Payer told The Canadian Press in an email. Payer confirmed the entry was newly published on May 30. 'The media coverage of the case concerning the use of the borrowed word 'go' in a sports context led the office to officially assess the acceptability' of the word, he said. Melancon, the French literature professor, said the new rationale — especially the term 'partially legitimized' — suggests the office was uneasy with the change. 'This must have given rise to some pretty intense internal debates,' he said. ''Do we take into account what the minister is telling us or do we not take it into account? If we don't take it into account, what are the consequences? If we do, how do we justify changing our minds?'' At least one transit agency official felt dubious about the original complaint, which related to a bus displaying the words 'Go! CF Mtl Go!' in support of Montreal's professional soccer club. She called the issue a 'grey zone' in a June 2024 email to colleagues. 'We've been using the word 'go' for years without a problem,' she wrote. 'Are we going to change everything because of one complaint?' But by later that month, the agency had decided to scrap the word, which involved manually updating the display on each of more than 1,000 buses over a period of months. The agency has said no further change will be made before the buses undergo regular maintenance in the fall. The language office has received at least two other complaints about the word 'go' in the last five years, according to a response to a separate access-to-information request. In 2023, someone complained about the slogan 'Go Habs Go' appearing on an outdoor billboard. That complaint was dismissed because the expression is a trademark. A similar complaint in 2021 targeted the hashtag #GoHabsGo that appears in oversized letters outside the Bell Centre in Montreal, the home arena of the Canadiens. The person who filed the complaint suggested that to comply with Quebec's language rules, the expression 'Allez les Habitants allez' should appear alongside the English slogan, in larger letters. 'And yes, I'm serious, if the law applies, then apply it! :)' the person wrote. According to the language watchdog, that complaint was resolved following an intervention, though it provided no details. A spokesperson for the hockey team declined to comment. The #GoHabsGo sign remains in place. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Vancouver Sun
01-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Quebec's tougher language laws begin for signage, packaging and workplaces
New rules took effect in Quebec on Sunday requiring French to be the dominant language on store signs and imposing stricter guidelines for product packaging. The changes are part of Quebec's 2022 overhaul of its French-language law, known as Bill 96, which the government said was essential to protect French in the province. The new rules came into force on June 1 despite a request from business groups to extend the deadline for companies to comply. They say businesses haven't been given enough time to make changes that can be onerous and costly. Here are five things to know about the latest language regulations. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. French must be 'markedly predominant' on store signs Under the new rules, French must take up twice as much space as other languages on store signs and commercial advertising. That means stores with English names, like Canadian Tire, Best Buy and Second Cup will have to include generic terms or descriptions in French on their storefronts that take up two-thirds of the space devoted to text. Michel Rochette, Quebec president of the Retail Council of Canada, said businesses must ensure they're complying with municipal bylaws and landlords' requirements when changing their storefronts, which can be time-consuming. 'They want to comply with the rules. It's not a question of willingness,' he said. 'It's a question of capacity and authorization.' But last week, French-language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge said many companies have already updated their signs, and pointed specifically to food retailer Bulk Barn as being largely in compliance. 'It's possible to do it,' he said. Product packaging rules have been tightened Labels on product packaging must already be translated into French. But there's an exception for trademarks in other languages, which don't have to be translated. The latest regulations take aim at generic terms sometimes included in trademarks, like 'lavender and shea butter' hand soap, for example. Those descriptive terms will now have to be translated as well. This particular rule caused the U.S. government to list Bill 96 as a trade irritant earlier this year. Rochette said if global suppliers choose not to modify their labelling to comply with the rule, Quebec businesses won't be able to stock those products and could lose customers to online retailers. 'So this is really frustrating for many of them,' he said. Smaller businesses must register with language watchdog Quebec already requires businesses with 50 or more employees to undergo a 'francization' process to ensure French is the dominant language in the workplace. That requirement is now being extended to companies with 25 to 49 employees. The businesses must register with Quebec's language watchdog, the Office quebecois de la langue francaise. Francois Vincent, Quebec vice president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the majority of small businesses in the province already operate in French. 'We're going to ask small entrepreneurs … to fill out paperwork, only to be told that everything is fine,' he said. Fines can reach $30,000 a day Businesses in violation of the new rules can be fined $3,000 to $30,000 per day for a first infraction, and up to $90,000 per day for a third offence. 'This can lead to huge fines,' Vincent said. However, Roberge has said the language office won't be looking to slap immediate fines on non-compliant businesses, as long as they're taking steps to fix the problem. Business groups asked for more time Rochette and Vincent issued an open letter last week asking for an extension from the Quebec government. They say the province had promised companies would have three years to adapt to the new rules. Bill 96 became law in 2022, but the final version of these regulations was only published in June 2024. The government confirmed Friday that the regulations would take effect on June 1, as planned. 'In one year, there's time to do a lot of things,' Roberge said earlier in the week. 'We are disappointed because we thought it was important to give more time for business owners to comply,' said Vincent. 'These are complex rules that will create more red tape and more costs for small businesses.' Jean-Philippe Mikus, an intellectual property lawyer, said there will likely be legal challenges around the interpretation of the new rules. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Quebec government defends use of 'Go Habs Go!' after language watchdog's objection
Article content MONTREAL — The Quebec government has stepped in to defend the phrase 'Go Habs Go!' as the provincial language watchdog takes heat for objecting to the English word 'go.' In a statement Friday, Quebec's French-language minister said the slogan is part of 'our DNA, our identity,' and has been used for decades to support the Montreal Canadiens NHL hockey team. 'It's a unifying expression, rooted in our history, and part of our cultural and historical specificity,' Jean-Francois Roberge said on the X platform. 'It's a Quebecisme and we're proud of it!' Roberge's statement was meant to quell the uproar in Quebec over the Montreal transit agency's decision to remove the expression 'Go! Canadiens Go!' from electronic signs on city buses and replace it with 'Allez! Canadiens Allez!' to show support for the hockey team's NHL playoff run. The change was made because Quebec's French-language watchdog 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 Societe de transport de Montreal (STM) decided to remove the word 'go' from all of its messaging.
National Post
25-04-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Quebec government defends use of 'Go Habs Go!' after language watchdog's objection
MONTREAL — The Quebec government has stepped in to defend the phrase 'Go Habs Go!' as the provincial language watchdog takes heat for objecting to the English word 'go.' Article content In a statement Friday, Quebec's French-language minister said the slogan is part of 'our DNA, our identity,' and has been used for decades to support the Montreal Canadiens NHL hockey team. Article content 'It's a unifying expression, rooted in our history, and part of our cultural and historical specificity,' Jean-Francois Roberge said on the X platform. 'It's a Quebecisme and we're proud of it!' Article content Roberge's statement was meant to quell the uproar in Quebec over the Montreal transit agency's decision to remove the expression 'Go! Canadiens Go!' from electronic signs on city buses and replace it with 'Allez! Canadiens Allez!' to show support for the hockey team's NHL playoff run. Article content The change was made because Quebec's French-language watchdog 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 Societe de transport de Montreal (STM) decided to remove the word 'go' from all of its messaging. Article content Go Habs Go! : une expression qui fait partie de notre ADN, notre identité! Il est important pour moi de prendre la parole pour remettre les pendules à l'heure concernant l'utilisation de cette expression bien chère à tous les partisans du Canadien de Montréal, ainsi qu'à tous… — Jean-F. Roberge (@jfrobergeQc) April 25, 2025 Article content The decision made headlines on Thursday after it was first reported by the Montreal Gazette. On Friday, the transit agency said it might switch back to using 'go' once it receives 'official confirmation' that it won't be penalized. Article content Article content He said he's had 'several exchanges' with the language office about the matter, and any future complaints about the phrase 'Go Habs Go!' will be dismissed. 'It's clear to us that this time-honoured expression must never be called into question,' Roberge said. Dominique Malack, president of the language office, published a lengthy statement Friday that defended the slogan while upholding the transit agency's decision not to use it. 'Under no circumstances has the office objected to the use of the expression 'Go Habs Go,' which is rooted in our history and is part of our Quebec identity,' she wrote. Article content Article content Malack stressed that the language office didn't launch the intervention with the transit agency on its own, but was responding to a complaint from a citizen. She went on to say that while the word 'go' is found in French dictionaries and is commonly used in everyday language, it is an anglicism. Quebec's French language charter requires public bodies to use proper French, she said. Article content Article content 'A government agency, such as the STM, may only use French in its signage, with some exceptions, such as for health and safety reasons,' Malack said. 'The charter is clear about the government's obligations regarding the exemplary use of French, and the office is mandated to ensure its implementation.' Article content Still, the transit agency now seems likely to reverse course. Eric Alan Caldwell, chair of its board of directors, said in a statement that he's pleased with Roberge's position and the STM will seek official authorization to use the word 'go.'
Vancouver Sun
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Quebec government defends use of 'Go Habs Go!' after language watchdog's objection
MONTREAL — The Quebec government has stepped in to defend the phrase 'Go Habs Go!' as the provincial language watchdog takes heat for objecting to the English word 'go.' Article content Article content In a statement Friday, Quebec's French-language minister said the slogan is part of 'our DNA, our identity,' and has been used for decades to support the Montreal Canadiens NHL hockey team. Article content 'It's a unifying expression, rooted in our history, and part of our cultural and historical specificity,' Jean-Francois Roberge said on the X platform. 'It's a Quebecisme and we're proud of it!' Article content Roberge's statement was meant to quell the uproar in Quebec over the Montreal transit agency's decision to remove the expression 'Go! Canadiens Go!' from electronic signs on city buses and replace it with 'Allez! Canadiens Allez!' to show support for the hockey team's NHL playoff run. Article content The change was made because Quebec's French-language watchdog 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 Societe de transport de Montreal (STM) decided to remove the word 'go' from all of its messaging. Article content Go Habs Go! : une expression qui fait partie de notre ADN, notre identité! Il est important pour moi de prendre la parole pour remettre les pendules à l'heure concernant l'utilisation de cette expression bien chère à tous les partisans du Canadien de Montréal, ainsi qu'à tous… — Jean-F. Roberge (@jfrobergeQc) April 25, 2025 Article content The decision made headlines on Thursday after it was first reported by the Montreal Gazette. On Friday, the transit agency said it might switch back to using 'go' once it receives 'official confirmation' that it won't be penalized. Article content Article content He said he's had 'several exchanges' with the language office about the matter, and any future complaints about the phrase 'Go Habs Go!' will be dismissed. 'It's clear to us that this time-honoured expression must never be called into question,' Roberge said. Article content Dominique Malack, president of the language office, published a lengthy statement Friday that defended the slogan while upholding the transit agency's decision not to use it. 'Under no circumstances has the office objected to the use of the expression 'Go Habs Go,' which is rooted in our history and is part of our Quebec identity,' she wrote. Article content Article content Malack stressed that the language office didn't launch the intervention with the transit agency on its own, but was responding to a complaint from a citizen. She went on to say that while the word 'go' is found in French dictionaries and is commonly used in everyday language, it is an anglicism. Quebec's French language charter requires public bodies to use proper French, she said. Article content Article content 'A government agency, such as the STM, may only use French in its signage, with some exceptions, such as for health and safety reasons,' Malack said. 'The charter is clear about the government's obligations regarding the exemplary use of French, and the office is mandated to ensure its implementation.' Article content Still, the transit agency now seems likely to reverse course. Eric Alan Caldwell, chair of its board of directors, said in a statement that he's pleased with Roberge's position and the STM will seek official authorization to use the word 'go.'
