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Alberta appeals court decision over French traffic ticket

LISA ARROWSMITH

The Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 8:54 PM EST 24/07/08

Judge threw out traffic ticket against a francophone trucker because it was written only in English ...Read the full article

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  1. A. K. from ex-pat, United States writes: This is so unbelieveably retarded. This issue at hand is not language. It is about public safety. How the court thought it was right to overturn the ticket based on language is beyond me.
  2. Doug Dewan from Canada writes: ridiculous....what a waste of time for our courts. Seems like another petty issue for Francophones to try to make a point.
  3. Nassar Ben Houdja from Canada writes: French is about fifth most used language in the province, not necessary to cater to persons who are interested in expensive political correctness. The legal industry, as usual, is making work for itself at tax payers expence.
  4. Have An Opinion from Canada writes: How utterly stupid. Your fundamental requirement to understand that that the number on that big dial in front of your face exceeds the number on the speed sign entitles you to drive - er go if you can't figure this out - then don't leave la belle province behind the wheel! 20 lashes to the next lawyer or bone headed judge that wastes one more dollar of my taxes . . grrrrrrrr.
  5. Ruth Walker from Edmonton, Canada writes:
    Since our traffic signs are English-only, you have to wonder how a supposedly unilingual truck driver obtained a Class 1 driving license.

    Many, many languages are spoken by Albertans. I do hope that Francophones feel welcome here, but the rationale for making French an official language simply does not exist in this province.

    The best way to put this issue to rest is to run it up to SCC. I predict they will back the Alberta govt.
  6. neil b from edmonton, Canada writes: If Alberta is ruled against we will use the not withstand clause. If cuebek can use it 13 times to uphold their language law, we can use it too.
  7. Job Patstone from Quebec City, Canada writes: Traffic violation tickets in Quebec are only in french, maybe I should contest the next one I get, whew, that would be hysterical.
  8. Free The West from Free the West, Canada writes: French is not the seond spoken language in the West. It is not the third most spoken language. Not the fourth either. French will never be a viable part of the West yet we have it shoved down our throats on a regular basis.

    Unbelievably you have to speak French to qualify for some Federal positions here. Products that are made and sold only here are required to have French on the packaging. All the Federal parks and buildings and airports are lousy with French signs. The schools have rafts of Quebecois hired when most people would rather learn Spanish or Chinese.

    It isn't just the expense, it's the insult. It's a symbol of the price we pay to the East for remaining in Canada. It's a reminder of the twisted version of Canada that Trudeau created with Quebec and Ontario as accomplices. The Canada that dictates to us without any input from us, and uses our money to do it.
  9. Joseph Bloggins from Canada writes: Good. The last thing we need is an expensive and useless requirement for provincial laws to be translated into French for the sake of a few Francophile lunatics.
  10. Yvonne Wackernagel from Woodville, Canada writes: Canada is supposed to be a bilingual country, so why does Alberta think they can change that by a silly provincial law? If all children were taught in both languages from Kindergarten, we would not be having these discussions today. Shame on the Supreme Court for not doing something about this before and shame on Alberta for not upholding such a great cultural society.
  11. Jeremy K from Canada writes: since the driver apparently cannot comprehend english he should not be allowed to drive into provinces where there the signage is in english only

    this selective comprehension is BS
  12. neil b from edmonton, Canada writes: Yvonne....nobody gives a damn about second language rights here in Alberta. Same goes for cuebek as well. Best you peddle your utopian vision for truedough in the east. The WEST is not at all like you or yours Yvonne. We don't want to be neither.
  13. Jeremy K from Canada writes: this jerkoff driver has just cost canadians millions in additional costs. th west, which has no french at all, is going to be obliged to print pretty much damn near everything in 2 languages
  14. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: Shame on Alberta?????? Surely the language police iN Quebec where the Official Language is French, where immigrants must enrol their children in French schools, etc etc is the real backwater here. I suppose the trucker will also complain the that 'digits' on the speedometer were English digits and should have been written underneath in French.
  15. Ryan Ginger from Canada writes: I do some work in the Province of Quebec and the tax forms they send me every year are French ONLY. Does that mean I need not bother filling out the French forms ever year? Roadsigns in Quebec are French ONLY. Does that mean I can drive with no regard to the posted regulations?

    If I am going to work or drive in Quebec, I need to accommodate their language requirements. If this bird-brain in Alberta wins, I will do the similar in Quebec.
  16. Trent S from Canada writes: So was he speeding or not?
  17. CM Chen from Toronto, Canada writes: Did the judge hand wrote his decision in French also?

    If in the case he is a Bilingual Albertan, may be he should have recuse himself from the case.
  18. Grant McGill from Canada writes: Wow Neil, could you be just a little bit more condescending and bigoted? Your subtelty might be lost on some.

    The trucker is trying to use language as an excuse to get out of a ticket, that's obvious. The language of the ticket has no bearing on being an impediment to safety. He knows that, and is trying to use the system for his advantage. The judge was stupid to toss this out and hopefully it will be overturned on appeal.

    And of course, every time the subject of French in the West, or the lack there of, is brought up, everyone conveniently forgets the active campaigns to minimise the use of French everywhere outside of Quebec at the turn of the century. You can disagree with multiculturalism all you want, but the pendulum wouldn't have swung that far without an initial push in the other direction.

    Or was Lac La Biche founded by Norwegian settlers with a flair for panache?

    Now kids, continue with your bile spewing.
  19. V. Prud'homme from Montreal, Canada writes: I am a French-Canadian and I travelled in each and every province and even in many American States.My first comment would be : when you're in West do like the Westeners...But no where else than in New-Brunswick,Quebec and Ontario the French and English languages are eavenly respected. The West will have to join the ' party' or leave it! Quel desastre pour les minorites francophones...
    Canada is not a country (and even less a nation) and will never be!
  20. n l from Canada writes: Obviously most bloggers concerning dual official languages for Alberta lean towards English only.

    As a Canadian of long standing I support the French language as an official one for Alberta because I consider this position as a great long term investment.

    The French language in the Americas is lot stronger than some may think and it complements other latin american linguistic logics. It should produce good dividends in the twenty-second century.

    Fifty years ago the history of Louis Riel was considered questionable but today out West it has much more respectability.

    Yes, I know, Canada is one heck of a big country.
  21. Al B from Toronto, Canada writes: Highly original. I could never have thought of that. I hope he wins. That will drive the bigots nuts too.
  22. neil b from edmonton, Canada writes: Grant ....your stuck in the past like your ideology was last centuries load of crap. One more time....nobody cares about your myopic utopian views. cuebek used the not withstanding clause 13 times to ram french only down the throats of its' citizens....Did you forget that part?

    We don't bend over out here like you still do out there.
  23. Robert P from Canada writes: Yvonne Wackernagel from Woodville, Canada writes: 'Shame on the Supreme Court for not doing something about this before and shame on Alberta for not upholding such a great cultural society. '

    The Supreme Court of Canada can only 'do something' if it comes as a case into its court.
  24. brian bishop from Brantford, Canada writes: I guess Quebec truckers never pay tickets they receive in the U.S.A or maybe they don't drive in the U.S!
  25. albert rose from Canada writes: Hey Yvonne, there are a myriad of immigrant groups in the West who are not French and who are indifferent to French. In Alberta descendents of Germans ( me included) FAR outnumber francophones, for example. I am not particularly interested in French languange or culture. Nothing personal; I'm not interested in golf or yoga either for that matter. Eastern Canadian French history, language, and culture are remote and abstract, for me. My parents got here 60 years ago, I know nobody in Quebec, and have only passed through there briefly. It was nice enough, but I feel no affinity for it. It is not part of my identity. I only have so much time and energy, and would rather spend time learning about my own cultural roots. I know many others, with other backgrounds, feel the same. Trudeau notwithstanding. The perception out West is that French language has been imposed on a population which is largely indifferent and ignorant of it- whether on cereal boxes or signs at the airport- with great expense and to little effect- to mollify Quebec separatists. This is to some amusing, to others mildly irritating, if for no other reason than having to turn your cereal box around a few times to find the list of ingredients in English. You say that Canada is supposed to be a bilingual country. With respect to French and English, most citizens are not bilingual and never will be. For that matter, I doubt that it was ever intended by Trudeau and his buddies that every citizen be fluent in both languages. If it was, then phew, how misguided was that? I guess you have to offer Federal services in both languages, fair enough. But provincial matters, different story. Re the trucker, I wonder how he buys gas, buys food, or conducts business when he is our west, if English is such a strange concept to him. Or is he ignorant of English only when he is in trouble. What a load of crap. A pox on the scumbag lawyer who is facilitating this nonsense.
  26. reint farmer from Canada writes: when in Rome do like the Romans. when in Canada expect to be served in either offical language. The constitution applies to all, except when the not withstanding clause, no matter what province you live in. when the not withstanding clause is used by any one province it shows that province's lack of consideration to the group left out. it is 2008 and the world tesches us that the more skills and language we have as a person, the better the understanding we have for one and other.
  27. jim aikens from Toronto, Canada writes: All the comments on this story so far have been about language, and even about Quebec, but the story itself is actually about Alberta law as interpreted by an Alberta provincial court judge. Why no comments about the Alberta laws that seem to have let this sort of situation arise?
  28. albert rose from Canada writes: V. Prud'homme from Montreal, I'm not sure whether French in the provinces not on your 'at the party' list is not so much 'not evenly respected' as completely off the radar screen.

    I think 'indifference' is a better concept.

  29. Dan L from Canada writes: V. Prud'homme from Montreal wrote:

    'I am a French-Canadian and I travelled in each and every province and even in many American States.My first comment would be : when you're in West do like the Westeners...But no where else than in New-Brunswick,Quebec and Ontario the French and English languages are eavenly respected. The West will have to join the ' party' or leave it! Quel desastre pour les minorites francophones...
    Canada is not a country (and even less a nation) and will never be!'

    Well well Mr Prud'homme, I'm a Franco Albertan and the real disaster for francophone minorities is the policies of the province of Quebec. Be honest, are traffic ticket's in Quebec bilingual? no they are NOT so please explain to me why it's ok for a province like Quebec which has a much larger English minority than Alberta's French minority to have unilingual French documentation but not the reverse? In Alberta I can put up a French only sign in front of my store if I want, but in Quebec it would be illegal to do the reverse. If there's anything to be ashamed of it's the use of different standards for Quebec and everyone else. If anyone should be 'joining the party or leaving it' it's Quebec. Arrete de pleurer, tu nous fait passer pour une gang de bebe gater pourrit
  30. n l from Canada writes: Brian B.
    Brantford is a very nice Canadian city.
    Keep in mind, the state of Louisiana has recognized quite a while back French is an official state language.
    Do you honestly believe the fathers of the American Revolution could have been successful without the military support of France.
  31. Nancy Wilson from N.Ontario, Canada writes: Bilingualism is a not only a strain on tax payers,with all the duplication,but an unnecessary burden.
    A very small portion of the population can'not communicate in English.
    Why is it costing us untold multi-millions of dollars to appease those few?
    Let Quebec,or any Province choose bilingualism,or not.
    It's pretty much irrelevent ,in most of the West,unless your employed by the Govt.
    It's just another one of Trudeau's social engineering experiments.
    It's not necessary,and is costing all taxpayers big time.
    It's great to speak another language,but even some Quebecer's couldn't be bothered to ever learn English.
    And if many choose to live in Quebec,they'll never have to.
    It's time we end this experiment.
  32. Jasper the Black Lab from Vancouver and Elsewhere, Canada writes: Those nasty Liberal hack Alberta Provincial Court judges!
  33. Babbleon ! from Sarnia, Canada writes: Oh for God's sake is this country effed or what.
  34. brian bishop from Brantford, Canada writes: n l -

    So are traffic tickets in Louisiana issued in both French & English?

    I'm actually just curious since you brought it up.

    Also, I just pulled out a mailing I got with my local utility bill last month, the mailing is from the Ontario Energy Board regarding electricity prices, 100 percent English not a French word printed on the double sided mailing.

    So it would appear our bilingual language laws are not what they appear, perhaps they just mean different things under different circumstances!

    Did the truck driver think the cop was giving him his autograph when he was handed the ticket? Obviously the trucker & police officer conversed very well at the time of the ticket.

    Ignorantia juris non excusat
  35. Chris Halford from Ottawa, Canada writes: It is daft that the judge would have considered the ticket invalid because it was not in French. I bet an Inuit trucker wouldn't get away with it because there was no iniktitut (sp?) on the ticket.

    I like Dan L's post, particularly the freedom that he has to put up a French-only sign in front of his store. He is quite correct that some of Quebec's language laws are ridiculous. Much as I like Quebec, some of that stuff is crazy.

    V. Prud'homme from Montreal: I am an immigrant to this country although I have been here for 34 years. I disagree with you. I believe that Canada is both a country and a nation. I still find it hard to fathom some of the silly stuff people seize upon in Quebec and in the West to show how badly they are discriminated against. I was in New Orleans recently - if you want to know what being discriminated against looks like, I suggest a trip there to see how little the Federal government has done to fix the effects of Katrina.
  36. n l from Canada writes: When you stop and think about the history of Upper Canada you can contemplate which present official language has more democratic respectability. Nancy W. bilingualism in Ontario is not an experiment its a fact.

    Even the royal family of the U.K. is fluent in the French language.
  37. Iain's Opinion from Canada writes: I hope the Francophonie wins! By striking down Alberta's nothwistanding clause re 2 official alnguages, this would also kill Quebec's language laws. father would have said 'sauce for the goose ...'
  38. Pierre Santa Ana from Costa Rica writes: jim aikens from Toronto, Canada writes: All the comments on this story so far have been about language, and even about Quebec, but the story itself is actually about Alberta law as interpreted by an Alberta provincial court judge. Why no comments about the Alberta laws that seem to have let this sort of situation arise?

    Response: look who is writing on this. Bigots, intolerant people, racists... someone in Alberta plays a legal card that has the word French in it and they are ready to sacrifice the people of a province that has nothing to do with the debate. ROC has its fair share of people who wouldn't mind if a genocide happened in Quebec. Shame on these people.
  39. V. Prud'homme from Montreal, Canada writes: My reply to DAN L.

    In QUEBEC the official version is in French indeed BUT there's always an english version avaliable (except for the road signs, I agree). Anyone can be served in English everywhere (even in places like Quebec City).Our English minority is so well treated (especially in Montreal) that it even acts like a majority... We even have some Mohawk territories who have unilingual (English) police officers who deliver traffic tickets thoroughly written in English to our French people.

    Talking about signs: In Quebec the law is not respected anymore.At the beginning, a store had to have at least a bilingual sign with a proeminent French version. Actually it' s full of English signs BECAUSE it's their international 'trade mark' and there's nothing we can do against that.We are getting more and more 'Americanized' like you Albertans.Is that what we want? Can we stand for a better society?

    I don' t want to stand up for the truck driver who should respect the Alberta legislation like anyone else.But my point is : if you want all Canadians to be treated equally (from coast to coast) you should be ready to ' put a little bit of water in your wine' once in a while... And this applies to some Quebecers too!
  40. MK Masters from Canada writes: Dan L from Canada writes: Arrete de pleurer, tu nous fait passer pour une gang de bebe gater pourrit. TRANSLATED: Stopped crying, you make us pass for a gang baby to spoil rots

    What? I don't speak french what the hell are you trying to say here?
  41. n l from Canada writes: Brian B.
    Of course people will adapt to whatever language happens to control their life style and lively hood.
    Don't get me wrong I have the greatest respect for law and order.
    Whether someone in an English speaking community has difficulty with their democratic historical rights or a French speaking minority has the same type of problems concerns me.
    As to your question about tickets in Louisiana I am not familiar with the traffic specifics.
    By the way, English is not the official national language of the United States. Obviously at present it dominates the political stage.
    Possibly should we have a North American union similiar to Europe than North America will have three recognized languages Spanish, French and English.
    Hey, this is one big continent-right-. P.S. I do not condone speeding.
  42. Pierre Santa Ana from Costa Rica writes: Dan L from Canada writes: Arrete de pleurer, tu nous fait passer pour une gang de bebe gater pourrit

    Dan... there is three errors in the sentence you wrote plus one word in English. Who are you? where from?... oh yeah... assimilated franco from Alberta. You are the proof that we need to fight to keep French.
  43. Gardiner Westbound from Canada writes:
    Another loony tunes judge.
  44. Bruce Lee from Canada writes: I know why we pay so much taxes, because there are people wasting money.
  45. Brendan Caron from vancouver, Canada writes: Yo! Just got rich westerners holding their compatriots by the throat with their oil riches. You live in Canada. Canada is founded by two peoples that still live here. If your Ukranian ' Now that we are rich and in control of our destiny' genes think that you are going to kiss off the rest of the country because you are rich, then, you had better guess again. This is Canada.
  46. MK Masters from Canada writes: Between Dan L and Brendan Caron I'm going insane.
  47. SY GIL from TO, Canada writes: Downright silly to be bilingual in a province that is predominantly English speaking. What next, have all the statues in French as well, as they are in Ont. with the French speaking population in the 10% range? They money could sure be better used for all the crumbling infrastructure in the country.
  48. Mike L. from Canada writes: Ryan Ginger from Canada writes: 'I do some work in the Province of Quebec and the tax forms they send me every year are French ONLY. '

    Did it ever occur to you to ask for them in English? They are available you know. My anglophone wife gets hers in English.

    San Tomas from Kelowna, Canada writes: 'This is just pure unaduterated BULLSHIT!!! I am sick and tired of having French shoved in my face every time I turn around.'

    I'm not sure I understand you. Do you mean someone is forcing you to speak French???
  49. Pamphleteer . from Canada writes: Not the anglo rednecks will care, but if anyone is interested about learning more about the roots of how the French language got illegitimately and unconstitutionally (in the case of Manitoba) booted out of Western Canada, read The Canadian Crucible by Frances Russell.
  50. sally stink from edmonton, Canada writes: --this was an absoutelly bizzare judgement. how could a
    trucker drive from quebec to alberta and not be able to
    read the elementary english on the traffic ticket? or was
    this ticket a rouse by french language fanatics to take alberta
    to court for the publicity.
    alberta has moved far ahead of most of canada by translating
    and educating albertans in many languages...english being the
    sum of the denominators. this english-french battle has no
    place on alberta's streets......ancient history.
  51. P Jones from NB, Canada writes: God bless official bilingualism.
  52. Bart Farquart from Canada writes:
    I'm sure that many of us would get a laugh out of watching the SCOC make Canada's most disliked and envied province jump through a bunch of expensive and complicated hoops.

    But attempting to make Alberta an officially biliningual province does not make common sense. At the end of the day there would be two provinces using the notwithstanding clause. Is this what the 'pro-Canada' people want?
  53. Chris Green from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Just wait until the Supreme Court overrules the '88 decision and Alberta must spend millions to be officially bi-lingua. Happened in Manitoba.
  54. Hendrick Larose from Canada writes: Bart Farquart from Canada writes:
    I'm sure that many of us would get a laugh out of watching the SCOC make Canada's most disliked and envied province jump through a bunch of expensive and complicated hoops.
    ===========================================
    Glad you clarified. I thought you were talking about Ontario.
  55. Fake Name from Canada writes: 'n l from Canada writes: Fifty years ago the history of Louis Riel was considered questionable but today out West it has much more respectability.'

    Questionable in what sense? Treason is treason. The only shame is that treason is no longer a capital crime, so the government couldn't do the same to Parizeau and Bouchard.
  56. Dan L from Canada writes: Pierre Santa Ana wrote:

    'Dan L from Canada writes: Arrete de pleurer, tu nous fait passer pour une gang de bebe gater pourrit

    Dan... there is three errors in the sentence you wrote plus one word in English. Who are you? where from?... oh yeah... assimilated franco from Alberta. You are the proof that we need to fight to keep French.'

    Pierre ... have you ever tried to input French accents into web based forms? Usually they don't have the proper code page to handle them and garble words hopelessly. Obviously you don't know much about Quebec, otherwise you'd have been aware 'jean boite a lunch' speaks JOUAL which incorporates English words (in fact it's quite common in France to use terms such as 'le weekend') so go shove your 'assimilation' up your hindquarters!

    MK Masters wrotes: 'Between Dan L and Brendan Caron I'm going insane'

    Don't blame your mental fragility on me butter cup!
  57. Dan L from Canada writes: V. Prud'homme from Montreal, Canada wrote:

    'My reply to DAN L.

    In QUEBEC the official version is in French indeed BUT there's always an english version avaliable (except for the road signs, I agree).'

    V. Prud'homme, sure, you can request a document in English and receive a copy eventually, however, the issue here was that because the traffic ticket handed out to the truck was in English only the judge ruled it invalid. You know as well as I do that the majority of police depts in Quebec use UNILINGUAL FRENCH traffic tickets therefore as many have noted, this should make these tickets just as invalid but somehow they're not are they!?!! So how come it's a disgrace that tickets handed out in Alberta aren't bilingual but the reverse in Quebec is okay?
  58. Dan L from Canada writes: MK Masters wrote:

    'Dan L from Canada writes: Arrete de pleurer, tu nous fait passer pour une gang de bebe gater pourrit. TRANSLATED: Stopped crying, you make us pass for a gang baby to spoil rots

    What? I don't speak french what the hell are you trying to say here?'

    Actually smart @ss, if you didn't use machine translation it works out to:

    'Stop crying, you're making us look like a bunch spoiled brats'

    You do realise I hope that not all expressions translate literally right?
  59. Kevin Carriere from D'Edmonton, Canada writes: Bonjour tout,

    Je vais simplement dir que les signes de vitess son bilingue. Le mot francais 'Maximum' et écrivé en englais: 'Maximum'. Bravo Alberta!

    A bientôt,

    Kevin
  60. Prairie Boy from Canada writes: Does it have to be good French. Mine is so bad if I were the cop the guy would speak English to stop the pain. Course that would be abuse or something.
  61. Kevin Carriere from D'Edmonton, Canada writes: Dan L ecrive: Pierre ... have you ever tried to input French accents into web based forms? Usually they don't have the proper code page to handle them and garble words hopelessly.

    eg. Regardez vous ce que j'ai ecrive premierment.

  62. Joe Black from Canada writes: Free The West from Free the West, Canada writes: 'French is not the seond spoken language in the West. It is not the third most spoken language. Not the fourth either. French will never be a viable part of the West yet we have it shoved down our throats on a regular basis.

    Unbelievably you have to speak French to qualify for some Federal positions here.'

    Depends where you go. In parts of Manitoba theres alot of French people. Some towns/villages in Saskatchewan and Alberta too. The idea that you need to know French to work for the feds is largely a myth unless you're at a National Park or something (Batoche comes to mind), which kind of makes sense (it being National and all). Believe it or not the Northwest Territories which is what Alberta and Saskatchewan were were functionally bilingual at one time.

    I think this whole traffic thing is kind of ridiculous and that this driver just either wants attention or to beat his ticket on a technicality. I couldn't care less whether he wins or not, but I don't think he should. Nothing to get the bigots fuming though like official language rights.
  63. Peter Cromerovich from Erehwon, Canada writes: Alberta driving laws are designed so as to to exact fines on Albertans, or anyone driving through, whenever possible. Police are largely bagmen for the province or cities.
  64. Peter Cromerovich from Erehwon, Canada writes: J'aimerais la vitesse maximum dans la langue russe aussi.
  65. Jack Sprat from Canada writes: To all you Billingual utopians out there. When I left school some 35 years ago my French wasn't to bad. But the reality is that if you don't use it, you lose it and when you live somewhere that doesn't require you to use it, then it's quite difficult to retain. The same thing can apply to Algebra and the periodic table as well ....... I just don't remember them anymore even though I once was quite good at both.

    So stop with the Billingual utopean dreams, it's not going to happen.
  66. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: V Prudhoome I wish my experiences in Quebec City and in Sorel would have been equal to your description. I was called to my face in French (god damn English), spit on when I was on duty in the mess by Quebec cadets, and generally treated with disdain. The only exception was in Montreal on St. Catherines Street.
  67. Gordon Murray from Canada writes: They'll see that not catering to Francophone drivers in traffic courts will decrease the number of applicants, hence increase the cost of moving the OIL.
    Perhaps there's a premium for learning French enough to present as reasonably due a French, absent which 'NOT GUILTY' is default treatment:
    'Oui, je suis nee a Quebec. Regards-la.
    Regard pas la liCense de condUire, SVP.'
  68. Joe Black from Canada writes: R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: 'V Prudhoome I wish my experiences in Quebec City and in Sorel would have been equal to your description. I was called to my face in French (god damn English), spit on when I was on duty in the mess by Quebec cadets, and generally treated with disdain. The only exception was in Montreal on St. Catherines Street.'

    Sheesh. I was there a couple summers ago for six weeks and never encountered anything that bad. I had a friend who got called some rude names by a drunk woman at the bar, but generally I found that if you make an effort to try and speak the language and are polite the people are nice, same as anywhere. Of course theres plenty of bigots anywhere you go... and Quebec has its fair share.
  69. steve allan from Welland, Ontario, Canada writes: Good luck to Gilles Caron, a true Canadian hero.

    The government of Canada guaranteed French language rights to the French-speaking Metis of the Western provinces when these provinces joined Confederation. The problem is these rights have been abused, neglected and illegally trampled upon by the provinces for decades. It's about time someone reminded the western provinces of their legal obligations.
  70. steve allan from Welland, Ontario, Canada writes: -----Joe Black from Canada writes - Of course theres plenty of bigots anywhere you go... and Quebec has its fair share.------

    Speaking of bigots, you unknowingly replied to one when you replied to R.M. I wouldn't take anything that poster says seriously......I've read his posts over the last few months and he is a real sad little person. Nothing but a purveyor of bigotry and stupidity.
  71. MK Masters from Canada writes: Geez Dan L I didn't call you names I was just trying to understand you - but it would seem you don't want to be understood. As I said I don't speak french so I utilized a resource on the internet how was I to know the resource was flawed? Simmer down Dan L.
  72. Rhadamanthus behind the Rockies from Canada writes: Pamphleteer,

    You could also read Manitoba's French Language Crisis: a Cautionary Tale by Raymond M. Hebert.

    This book shows how a well-intentioned gov't got blindsided by an ever more ignorant opposition being fed by anti-French bigotry.

    The fact is boys and girls, bilingualism was not a creation of the Trudeau monster. It is not a conspiracy against English. It is a fundamental part of Canada.

    Manitoba's bilingualism was not a case of special treatment, it was a restoration of what was promised to the province as a condition of its becoming part of Canada in EIGHTEEN 70, not 1970 when Trudeau brought in official bilingualism at the federal level.

    At the risk of emboldening all the anti-bilingualism people out there, Peter Hogg writes in the Constitutional Law of Canada that the Northwest Territories Act was not constitutional but merely simply legislation which could be and was revoked. This trucker may very well not succeed.

    But that's hardly the point. Official bilingualism doesn't need to be fully implemented across the country, and it is doubtful any court, including the SCC would require it of a province like Alberta. But perhaps its not such a farfetched idea to have the ability to provide some services in Canada's second (actually history would say FIRST) official language.

    Nothing will be taken away from the English-speaking majority of Alberta, it will just be supplemented. So quit being so afraid.

    Finally, if the SCC does find that there is a constitutional basis for French in Alberta then deal with it. A constitution is a document of values and promises, not just institutions and mechanisms.

    You might think a constitution is just words on a page, but then again don't you believe it's a good thing when we keep our word?

    And people get upset when our politicians are two-faced.
  73. Charles Smith from United Kingdom writes: It is articles like this that remind me why I no longer choose to live in Canada.
  74. Charles Smith from United Kingdom writes: Warning when driving in Canada: 'Official Bilingualism can be dangerous to your well being.'
  75. Ricky for a Centrist Canada from Canada writes:
    I see the usual con hack losers are totally missing the point of the story and the court case.

    Blink hatred and bigotry, as usual, clouds their judgement.
  76. James P from Spruce Grove, Canada writes: Not me ricky..If this guy beat it, I am glad. I live in a country that that allowes french and english speakers to get a ticket. I also live in a country that allows me to understand my charge against me. If I was in Quebec I'd expect the same lee-way.
  77. Rhadamanthus behind the Rockies from Victoria BC, Canada writes: Ricky,

    Please re-read me previous posting from 1:29 am EDT.

    I am a Harper Conservative.

    If you have any further questions, let me know.
  78. B . from Canada writes: What a waste of taxpayer money. If you broke the law, pay the fine and don't break the law again.
    Were I to get a traffic ticket in Quebec and if it were in French only, I suppose I would have to get someone to translate it for me and then pay it or deal with it in some way.

    We don't need to have huge expenses like translating every law into both 'official' languages and such.

    This whole language debate is absurd. I don't speak French, but when I go to Quebec, I get by. People are helpful. I expect that is true for a Francophone travelling in English Canada too. However, if you are a trucker, you'd best ensure you are fluent in both languages.

    Stop wasting taxpayer money.
  79. Alex Dunnigan from Canada writes: Ahhhh .. you reap what you sow. Francophones in Quebec has been constantly seeking more independence with legislation and language laws, as with most other provinces. But now francophones want the feds to step in ... hmmm ... maybe think about issues like this when the next referendum comes around mes amis.
  80. Paul Jones from Kitchener, Canada writes: What level of police (Local, Provincial, or Federal) wrote the ticket? This should make all the difference in the world. If it was a Federal officer (RCMP) then it should have been written in French as well, as Canada has two offical languages. If Provinicial or local (I assume its one of these) then theres no reason this isn't a valid ticket. You can present Canada as a multi-language Nation, you can't force Anglo communities to speak French on a local level. Thats discrimination. Especially considering it is NOT LAW for Que. to print everything in English. They do anyways, for the most part, but its not law.
  81. Rollo T from 8>), Belgium writes: If the Supreme Court says that Alberta can issue tickets in one language only, it sounds like the judge wanted to annoy and test some members from the legislative body and community. The numbers are the same in French and in English, $ XX in red ink and an address would be all the trucker needed. If not, I'd question the trucker's capacity to operate a rig safely, timely, and routinely, inter provinically.
  82. Lucas McCain from San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic writes: Maybe someone can correct me if I am wrong as I am by no means an expert on Canadian Law. My understanding is that, there are two official languages in Canada; French & English. That having been said, the logic of the decision by the judge would appear to be grounds for and appeal by the Crown. This has now set a precedent in the court system, not only concerning traffic laws, which could give only French speaking people carte blanche to ignore any law should the jurisdiction be unable to serve summons on any offender in both languages. It would be in the best interests of all Canadians to appeal this all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary, to settle this once and for all. This would certainly appear be initially less costly than wasting millions of tax dollars having everything printed in two languages, especially in parts of the country where French is virtually unspoken. For example, B.C., which has the largest Chinese population in Canada, and according to Stats Canada, Chinese is the third most common mother tongue spoken in Canada. Canada is becoming more and more a multilingual society in the wake of growing numbers of immigrants whose mother tongue is neither English nor French.
  83. Rollo T from 8>), Belgium writes: Lucas McCain from San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic writes:
    -------------------------

    It does sound like a bad precedent. Provinces could voluntarily adapt national standards, put everthing in to the two official languages, especially on forms for fines. How difficult could that be? French tends to be 15% longer, surely there are graphic artists up to the task.
  84. I don't think... therefore I vote conservative! (common sense is back) from Canada writes: .

    We're talking about Alberta here.... anyone who dares to venture outside the white-anglo-saxon-protestant norm is asking for trouble.

    Remember folks, calendars in Alberta still read as 1950 for the year.
  85. D Le5 from Canada writes: Paul Jones from Kitchener: been wondering the same thing myself (level of police). Aren't most provinces policed by the RCMP who are supposed to be bilingual (Ont. and Que I thought were the only 2 with Provinical police still - but I could be wrong never heard of the APP before).
    Its an interesting debate though. I don't agree with Quebec doing what it does but I don't think it is an excuse for others to do the same - kindof childish logic - well so and so does it ..
  86. Jimmy K from Toronto, Canada writes: HILARIOUS! Maybe I'll have some selective comprehension of laws when I take my next trip to to Quebec. Road signs, speed limits, traffic tickets, all exclusively en francais. HONK HONK, OUTTA MY WAY SUCKERS, JE NE COMPRENDS PAS!!
  87. max from edmonton from Canada writes: The Alberta Govt, must appeal this case to a higher court to determine if they must pay to have the traffic act translated to French, and have bilingual ticket books printed to replace the current english only versions.

    This is not unlike what Manitoba was forced to do. Personally I am fine with issuing the ticket in both languages.

    Tossing this ticket out is an insult though. If the trucker wanted to he could have gone to the provincial courthouse, or to the local RCMP office and politely requested assistance in translating the offense notice into French.

    He has a right to a day in court, and he would have been more than capable of getting defense council that was bilingual.

    If he was found not guilty at trial for reasonable doubt, then good for him. Tossing out his ticket because HE COULD NOT BE BOTHERED to help himself is not ok by my books.
  88. max from edmonton from Canada writes: Ricky for a Centrist Canada

    You are a bigot and a disgrace. Why don't you go play in traffic?
  89. max from edmonton from Canada writes: I don't think... therefore I vote conservative! (common sense is back) from Canada writes: .

    We're talking about Alberta here.... anyone who dares to venture outside the white-anglo-saxon-protestant norm is asking for trouble.

    Remember folks, calendars in Alberta still read as 1950 for the year.
    *********************************************************
    Thank you for clearly identifying the extent of your intellect. I now know that I can skip each and every one of your posts as I search for intelligent discussion.
  90. E Stuhl from NYC, United States writes: C'mon everybody... stopping beating on Quebec. After all, without those loose french girls, there wouldn't nearly be enough exotic dancers for all the rest of Canada's nudey bars.
  91. Mark P from Canada writes: Please remember the focus of the appeal. It is not based upon french vs english, it is a clarification on the grounds of why this moronic judge ignored the SCOC ruling in 1988 that allowed provinces to determine their own language rights legislation. Please note that 1988 was after the creation of the Charter of Rights was enacted. The lower level judicial system in this country is a joke - they are there to ensure the laws are followed with the SCOC having the ultimate ruling on the legitimacy of the law as written. Judges are not to be the ones introducing their own moral stance, personal whims, or holier than thou flavour. Judges are the worst to 'know what is right and wrong' - 20 months for a Belgian man who lured a 13 year old / Quebec judge who decided that a parent canoot ground their kid / etc / etc / etc. It is time to 'clean house' in the judical ranks and perhaps have a more open manner that these judges get appointed.
  92. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: A single truck driver does not meet the 'where numbers warrant' test.
  93. Ethan Anthony from Canada writes: I don't think... therefore I vote conservative! (common sense is back) from Canada writes: .

    We're talking about Alberta here.... anyone who dares to venture outside the white-anglo-saxon-protestant norm is asking for trouble.

    Remember folks, calendars in Alberta still read as 1950 for the year.
    *******************************************************

    Hm.
    I am a young gay, not white, not conservative not protestant Edmontonian. I do speak english though...I also have managed to become nearly fluent in Spanish. I am also happy where I am. The blaming evil alberta is getting old. This is exaclty the kind of attitude i get from a lot of people whenever I leave the province. I am the one with prejudices though naturally...

    I think having both french and english is a really great part of canada but I honestly don't think the french presence is strong enough here to warrant making such a change. Call me a bigot, but it doesn't make sense to me.
  94. Grant McGill from Canada writes: I stand corrected Neil, you're a bigot AND a homophobe.

    First off, the story is about a trucker in Alberta, not about Quebec and the nothwithstanding clause ro some swarm of francohpone stormtroopers invading Alberta, or did you forget about that?

    The anti-French, anti-Catholic hysteria at the turn of the centruy was real. McCarthites, the Protestant Protective Association, all that was real, and we live with that legacy today.

    But this story doesn't even touch on that, it's about a trucker trying to abuse the system under the pretense of language laws, and so far he's gotten away with it.

    And, in case you forget about this, when you tell someone to take their ideas on how to speak and think and leave to go somewhere else, you're a bigot, no matter what the justification. The Quebec language police are bigots, and so are you.

    Maybe you should take out a job application with them, you're a perfect fit.
  95. boom boom from Canada writes: Most of these so-called judges belong in jail themselves for such ridiculous decisions. Thanks again PET for the wonderful charter of rights which allows this to happen.
  96. Erik D. from Ottawa, Canada writes: Gee, this Liberal appointed judge is proof postive that the courts are against the conservatives forcing bi-lingualism upon the western masses ...huh? .... what's that you say, it is an Alberta court judge, and thus was appointed by a Conservative, no way man ... must be a Liberal plot somehow ...
  97. Grant McGill from Canada writes: Thank goodness someone has some sense. This is a classic example of a 'where numbers warrant' argument. The trucker obviously navigated all these years on Alberta roads with English signage, and suddenly has comprehension difficulties when he gets a ticket.

    Hope he gets stuck with court costs too.