Air canada loses lawsuit over stewardess failing to speak in "mother tongue"

[Guido]

The Canadian national anthem ''O Canada'' originates from Quebec, was composed by 2 french-canadians and later translated in english.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Canada

Those were by gone days before the FLQ terrorist started to bomb Montreal and eventually killed Pierre Laporte.
Today the term French Canadian has been replaced by Quebecer and they consider themselves as citizens of Quebec First and Canada second.

Frank you are misinformed refering to Quebec as being bilingul ,the reality is different, the only official province in Canada with that status is New Brunswick. The Acadians address you with "Allo" which can be French or English so no one has cause to be offended.

 

[hormone]

Then the punishment for being bilingual is to lose the right to be served in your native tongue, and the "reward" for being unilingual is that you can?

Well put Sapman! I could not agree with you more.

I am happy to see the follow up debate after techman's injurious comments stayed civil...

 

[bumfie]

Next thing you know, American Southerners will demand that they be addressed in THEIR native language...whatever the hell that is...

(Before a Southerner flames me, I am one)

 

[evillethings]

Civil rights... guess it does fall into that category.

The Thibodeaus must've had some backing from a lobby group. Seems like an expensive legal bill for couple to take on.

 

[Mod 11]

Oops! I smell a suspension festival! Je sens un festival de suspension!

Thread closed until I clean it and issue the proper rewards.


EDIT: "Rewards" issued and insults removed. People must learn a simple thing: you can't insult other here on MERB. / "Récompenses" distribuées et insultes effacées. Les gens doivent comprendre quelque chose de simple: vous ne pouvez pas insulter les autres sur MERB.

Thanks / merci

 

[CLOUD 500]

That is totally false: I do not know how many times I was shocked to find out how we here in Quebec go out of our way to be bilingual in these public, nationwide occasions, while French is given the short shrift in all other provinces.An off-duty STM employee the other night went out of his way, in broken English, to talk transit matters with me and two anglo friends while riding the Metro.

I am not too sure about this. They say Quebec is a bilingual province but it is only because Montreal has a very larger English population. Many times I am only serviced in French or get very poor service in English. I prefer English maybe I should sue the airport of some other company for being greeted in French?

As for STM employees that depends on which one. There are still many xenophobic people and I remember this one case about a Pakistani master's student studying at McGill university who boarded the #66 bus and asked the driver for the time. The did not speak French and the driver spoke to him in French. The driver eventually said "I do not speak English". She clearly spoke and understood English but refused to speak it. The driver called police and the student was kicked off the bus. I guess he should have sued the STM like the French guy who sued the Airport. Here is the link to the story -> http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread499471/pg1

I have to agree with what Techman said. There are still too many xenophobic people in Quebec that just hate English and it will never end. I still come across some people that give me attitude just because I speak to them in English. Too bad I will continue to speak English whether they like it or not. It is a free country.

On yes one last thing. In my opinion there is no sense in the rest of Canada to repeat everything in both languages the reason being as the amount of francophones outside Quebec is very few and most speak both languages. However in Quebec the amount of anglophones is far greater so the need for that here is important but that is usually not the case in this province.

 

[sapman99]

How convenient

Like I said before, I do not go out of my way to frequent west-end MTL restaurants precisely because a number of them employ unilingual anglophones as part of their serving staff. I spent enough years in Toronto as an "exile", no need for me to be one in my own town.

I have to agree with this STM thing you mention, the staff should speak both French and English, the numbers in Montreal justify this. Like I said before, the French have a hard time getting service on OC Transpo in Ottawa, where the numbers also amply justify it.

Your last two paragraphs are totally laughable:

• First of all, there seems to be a fair number of English who hate French as well :smile:
• When you mention "Too bad I will continue to speak English whether they like it or not" you show your colours my "friend"
• A previous post sent us to a government source numbering francophones outside Quebec @ 2.5 mil, hardly "amount of francophones outside Quebec is very few"
• "and most speak both languages". Yes, I guess they have to, because where they are they are not extended the same courtesy as they are here...
• " in Quebec the amount of anglophones is far greater" (575,000), and I guess they are NOT bilingual, as opposed to the francophones outside Quebec?

How convenient... Basically what I am reading is: Francophones outside Quebec must speak English, Anglophones in Quebec have no need for French.

Please stop using bilingualism as a reason to deny people their rights, or your own unilingualism to arrogate yourself some. It is shameful.

Many times I am only serviced in French or get very poor service in English. I prefer English maybe...Too bad I will continue to speak English whether they like it or not. It is a free country.

Hang on for a second here!!! You bilingual :eyebrows:?

 

[CLOUD 500]

How convenient... Basically what I am reading is: Francophones outside Quebec must speak English, Anglophones in Quebec have no need for French.

Please stop using bilingualism as a reason to deny people their rights, or your own unilingualism to arrogate yourself some. It is shameful.

Hang on for a second here!!! You bilingual :eyebrows:?

Of course I am but am not like a native French speaker. I got an accent and sound very English when I speak French. But I would like to add that it is because I have to speak French just as you said Francophones living outside Quebec have to speak English as well. You simply cannot find a good job unless you speak French and many companies do not even provide any servicing in English and some employees refuse to speak English. And this is what pisses me off. Then listening to this story of suing an Airlines outrages me. My point is does that mean I should go and sue these companies also?

What about the Pakistani student who got kicked off the bus? A bunch of his rights were violated yet he gets no justice? Why is that may I ask? The answer of the STM was basically "Oh well. Too bad. Our employees are not required to speak English". Why should an airline outside of Quebec then have bilingual employees or any other business?

I never intended to use bilingualism to deny people's rights. But to sue a company is extreme in my opinion. Anyways nowadays in the province of Quebec you cannot make a decent living unless you speak French. Not very possible. The anglophones that do not speak French are probably working in factories or restaurants. I just cannot imagine them ever holding a professional job. Their choice is so limited. So no you cannot really get by in Quebec unless you speak French.

 

[James Joyce]

Oops, seems I am wrong. TWO places, not one. Out of six. I sit corrected.

Just because 4 other team organizations are f...ing ass....s and don't understand that O Canada should be sung in it's bilingual form, what does that have to do with a person ordering a drink on an airline ?

If M. Thibodeau to give that full amount that he won to some French language protectorate society or org., then perhaps he did it for a cause, that I may not agree with but he's not personally benefiting, otherwise it is a cash grab pure and simple.

P.S. If I am not wrong, the Quebec Nordiques fell into the category of 4 as O Canada was sung in French only at the Colisee

Then the punishment for being bilingual is to lose the right to be served in your native tongue, and the "reward" for being unilingual is that you can?

I am bilingual & I feel that I should always be served in my language but when it is not possible because the person hasn't learned English, I get what I want in hand gestures if need be.

 

[James Joyce]

The Canadian national anthem ''O Canada'' originates from Quebec, was composed by 2 french-canadians and later translated in english.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Canada

What does the birthplace of who wrote O Canada have to do with anything of what's being discussed here ?

The American Star-Spangled Banner, lyrics by Francis Scott Key (American) & the tune of a popular British song written by John Stafford Smith. Do Americans feel any less of it because it was not totally American born.

 

[metoo4]

Anyways nowadays in the province of Quebec you cannot make a decent living unless you speak French. Not very possible. The anglophones that do not speak French are probably working in factories or restaurants. I just cannot imagine them ever holding a professional job. Their choice is so limited. So no you cannot really get by in Quebec unless you speak French.

I have to call you out on this one. I work in an environment where most my customers have salaries in the 6 digits range and, even in Montréal, a lot of them are unilingual anglophones or don't bother speaking any French. This is easy to confirm, all you have to do is go to high end restaurants around Place Ville-Marie and the downtown core. You will see a huge amount of expensive suits who don't speak French. Go in the underground parking of most hi rise buildings in Montréal and you will see Mercedez, Lexus, Audi, BMW. Sit around between 4 and 5PM and listen to the people picking up these cars while speaking on the phone. You will ear English most of the time.

Go in stores around the same area and you can find unilingual English clerks without much difficulties. Eaton center is excellent for that. Ask for a manager and you have a good chance to face another unilingual anglophone.

I have other extremely good examples I won't mention since it would reveal my line of work but, suffice to say, lots of well-paying jobs in Montréal requires bilingualism (read "French must speak English") and most companies will have no operational issues hiring an English-only employee, even if they have published policies stating bilingualism is a must. The English-only will be summoned to take French lesson if anybody complain but, most time, there will be no time limit in the hope the plaintiff will forget and sanctions will not get applied.

Now go in factories along hwy 40 in St-Laurent. Stay in the parking lot. You will ear French.

This is not a scientific study but, it is as valid as your claim.

 

[jeff jones]

I think i may have a potential lawsuit on my hands. I seen an sp and she couldn't speak english to me so i could not get served in the language that i wanted. I was traumatized. I was strongly considering suing the agency but thought if i did they may cut me off, my lawsuit would make about as much sense as his

 

[Guido]

Montreal is an international city with a lot of foreign people visiting and doing business in english. Two examples are ICAO and IATA which are based in Montreal ,and since the international language of aviation is english , you will hear a lot of deligates conversing in english as well as many deligates of the conventions, festivals and other events held in Montreal. Also don't forget the tourists.

Try to become a professional in Quebec ,without being able to speak french , and just see how far you go. French is the working language of Quebec but other languages are tolerated as long as the speakers bring cash. lol

 

[James Joyce]

Like I said before, I do not go out of my way to frequent west-end MTL restaurants precisely because a number of them employ unilingual anglophones as part of their serving staff.\

Why would you care what language they speak as long as you get and enjoy the product or service that you are purchasing? Recently I went to a Chinese restaurant and the waitress couldn't speak a lick of English or French, so I painfully put aside my inferiority complex and with a series of hand gestures and flapping arms to mime various animals I ordered what I wanted. I felt so violated that this Chinese woman didn't speak the language of my birth.

Has it ever occurred to you that some people are language challenged? What should be done with such people, ship them off to Flin Flon ?

To me the most offensive issue is not those who can't but those who won't.

 

[James Joyce]

Montreal is an international city with a lot of foreign people visiting and doing business in english. Two examples are ICAO and IATA which are based in Montreal ,and since the international language of aviation is english , you will hear a lot of deligates conversing in english as well as many deligates of the conventions, festivals and other events held in Montreal. Also don't forget the tourists.

Try to become a professional in Quebec ,without being able to speak french , and just see how far you go. French is the working language of Quebec but other languages are tolerated as long as the speakers bring cash. lol

Your statement above is in part correct. The full and correct statement is that English is THE language of business and expecting it to be different in the Province of Quebec from say Germany or Japan is just pure economic ignorance.

 

[jeff jones]

Has it ever occurred to you that some people are language challenged? What should be done with such people, ship them off to Flin Flon ?

To me the most offensive issue is not those who can't but those who won't.

Heaven forbid not Flin Flon as Elvis would say don't be cruel. I do agree the most offensive thing is when people can but won't.

 

[James Joyce]

Heaven forbid not Flin Flon as Elvis would say don`t be cruel. I do agree the most offensive thing is when people can but won`t.

Another case of (Bursted Bubble by Jeff)

Then again you ain`t nothin but a hound dog

 

[Merlot]

Like I said before, I do not go out of my way to frequent west-end MTL restaurants precisely because a number of them employ unilingual anglophones as part of their serving staff. I spent enough years in Toronto as an "exile", no need for me to be one in my own town.

I have to agree with this STM thing you mention, the staff should speak both French and English, the numbers in Montreal justify this. Like I said before, the French have a hard time getting service on OC Transpo in Ottawa, where the numbers also amply justify it.

Your last two paragraphs are totally laughable:

• First of all, there seems to be a fair number of English who hate French as well :smile:
• When you mention "Too bad I will continue to speak English whether they like it or not" you show your colours my "friend"
• A previous post sent us to a government source numbering francophones outside Quebec @ 2.5 mil, hardly "amount of francophones outside Quebec is very few"
• "and most speak both languages". Yes, I guess they have to, because where they are they are not extended the same courtesy as they are here...
• " in Quebec the amount of anglophones is far greater" (575,000), and I guess they are NOT bilingual, as opposed to the francophones outside Quebec?

How convenient... Basically what I am reading is: Francophones outside Quebec must speak English, Anglophones in Quebec have no need for French.

Please stop using bilingualism as a reason to deny people their rights, or your own unilingualism to arrogate yourself some. It is shameful.

Hang on for a second here!!! You bilingual :eyebrows:?

Hello Sapman,

It's funny that as an American outsider I am more willing to speak another language as part of what is necessary and for good will than many on either side who are native to Canada are willing to do. The worthless stubbornness around here is astonishing.

It's also very ironic that many of you are spinning your wheels again rehashing this divisive cultural cooperation and preservation issue because some self-serving jerk exploited and profited from a law despite the fact his bi-lingual language skill kept him from being deprived of anything.

I think i may have a potential lawsuit on my hands. I seen an sp and she couldn't speak english to me so i could not get served in the language that i wanted. I was traumatized. I was strongly considering suing the agency but thought if i did they may cut me off, my lawsuit would make about as much sense as his

So when I've requested deep FRENCH kissing and didn't get it I could have sued??? Watch out agencies and ladies...lawyer on standby.



Merlot

 

[James Joyce]

It's funny that as an American outsider I am more willing to speak another language as part of what is necessary and for good will than many on either side who are native to Canada are willing to do. The worthless stubbornness around here is astonishing.
Merlot

First of all M. Blackbird, You don't live here and I assume that you just vacation here so the issues that all of us experience on both sides are not just a novelty.

Secondly, I would venture a guess that what people write as their hard line stance is not who they truly are in their real everyday lives.

Augustine Aloysius

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Like I said before, I do not go out of my way to frequent west-end MTL restaurants precisely because a number of them employ unilingual anglophones as part of their serving staff.

How dare they hire these people! Next thing you know they'll be hiring Jews. Then the Irish. That will lead straight into hiring Italians. And, you know what comes next: black people. What is the world coming to?

Are you suggesting that unilingual anglophones don't deserve to have jobs? What am I missing here?