Man claims service refused because he's English

Posted By: Margoe Edwards · 7/11/2012 6:01:00 PM

Another Montreal commuter is claiming he wasn't served because he speaks English.

55 year old Michael Dunning from Vaudreuil, says Monday afternoon around 3, he asked two ticket takers at the Atwater metro station if he could buy a day pass.  He says the answer he got back infuriated him.

"The two people there, refused to serve me in English,  they refused to serve me period and said get the $%$@# out of here."

Dunning who is visually impaired but was not using his white cane at the time, was forced to walk to another ticket window to buy his pass.

He's filed a complaint with the MTC, demanding an apology and compensation.  Montreal transit officials have now opened an investigation.

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  1. Nick posted on 07/11/2012 06:22 PM
    Good! I'm glad some english people aren't putting up with this form of racism. Montreal is bilingual, so if someone treats you like that, that's awful. Glad to see some people fighting back
    1. dan posted on 07/23/2012 08:25 AM
      @Nick Well Nick !If Montreal is a bilingual city like you say, how come this man did not ask his request in french? I am a proud montrealer and also proud of the fact that i can speak two languages.In my opinion, i think it is an insult that an anglophone born and raise in Montreal cannot ( or would not ) speak french.
      A bon entendeur, salut
      Dan
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  2. GayleC posted on 07/11/2012 06:51 PM
  3. Tom posted on 07/11/2012 10:06 PM
    These people need to be fired and made an example of. WHEN WILL THIS START TO HAPPEN!!!!!
    1. Frank posted on 07/12/2012 11:47 PM
      @Tom When we elect a politician who has the testicular fortitude of a Ronald Reagan (vs the flight controllers)
    2. Brian Newt posted on 07/19/2012 11:05 PM
      @Tom When fools like me stop catering to the french as I have done all my life and demand service in my own language which is what I will do from now on
  4. Donna posted on 07/11/2012 11:18 PM
    I am also glad that someone Is doing something about the way the treat the english people. I was passing by Atwater metro one day when i hear someone yelling in english. They said to the ticket taker you people are rude! The women saying we don't speak english we are not from here and this is the way you treat your tourists. One of the woman said i should of taken my money to New York were they treat us right.
    Why is it that as a minority they think they can treat people that way in a public services, don't they want the tourists to come here?
    I think that more people should complain about they way they are treated by the people who deal with the public because they speak english..
  5. none posted on 07/12/2012 12:41 AM
    Imagine the tourists !! LOL
  6. Grace posted on 07/12/2012 04:02 AM
    Just came back from Quebec for the first time and the last time! We went to a tourist section of Tadoussac for whale watching and no one spoke english or wanted to. I asked where the washrooms were where we caught the shuttle bus and she did not understand what I was saying....another lady understood and then all she said was "at departures." So I could not use the washroom at the office where we caught the shuttle bus and had to wait until we picked up all the other people and then wait in line to use the dirty, disgusting washroom (only one toilet) where we caught the boats. Even the restaurants we went to did not understand english and did not have english menus. I find most people (there were a few very friendly people) in Quebec very rude and racists to english speaking people. This is Canada...english is the main language, LEARN it!! I know in Ontario it is mandatory to learn french in school, but it is not mandatory for Quebec students to learn english!! All across Canada we have signs in english and french, but in Quebec all signs are in french!
    1. wkh posted on 07/13/2012 02:02 AM
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  7. Thomas posted on 07/12/2012 07:15 AM
    This has to stop, they have to realize that many passengers on the Metro from time to time will be from out of town and therefore, do not speak French. This whole refusal to learn another language is really hurting them in the long run. These people need to wake up and realize that they do need to learn some English. It is ridiculous.
  8. Jeff Brock posted on 07/12/2012 08:12 AM
    Imagine anywhere in North America or Western Europe if a public transit employee said to a Black or a Hijab'ed Female - we don't serve Blacks or Hijab'ed women here.

    There is no doubt that racism against Anglo's is accepted in Quebec and totally politically correct.

    It is indeed that simple

    Jeff
  9. Fedup posted on 07/12/2012 08:13 AM
    We need to stand up to these boneheads. Discrimination against anglophones is on the rise again. What these prejudiced idiots need to realize is that us maudite anglais are just as much a part of Québec as they are. The harder they push the harder we should push back. This is unacceptable.
  10. Goat posted on 07/12/2012 08:50 AM
    You can say all the comments you like, unless we stand up together and actually do something about it, nothing will change. We allowed this to happen to us. Eventually the English language will disappear from Montreal starting with our English school boards, within the next 10yrs they will be non existent. Its time to speak up on shut up!! But like we always do we will complain today and do nothing tomorrow.
  11. Vinny posted on 07/12/2012 09:13 AM
    Where is the shame?? and respect?
  12. Ari posted on 07/12/2012 09:14 AM
    We should ALL speak Mohawk.
    1. Ellie posted on 07/23/2012 04:13 PM
      @Ari Mohawk! I love that!!!
  13. Grace posted on 07/12/2012 10:00 AM
    This starts at the top at STM - and has to do with education and training - the top to bottom line is broken soomewhere - don't forget, there is the union to contend with - ahhh wonderful unions -- they're just as ignorant and are advising their members that they don't HAVE to speak any other language than French (it is definitely in their collective agreement) - whatever happened to common courtesy - what, will the attendants be damned to h*ll if they utter an english word or two? It takes only one attendant to start this and the others will follow (discrimination) they are sheep with only a little bit of grey matter.
  14. Sam posted on 07/12/2012 10:11 AM
    Covert cameras - covert microphones - and total exposure.

    Transit authority and employees - you are on notice.
  15. Montrealer posted on 07/12/2012 11:18 AM
    I have had to help so many distraught tourists it's unbelieveable. And the governement wonders why no one comes to Quebec, they get treated like this! This city is going down the drain and it's mostly in part of the french. No one wants to come here and spend their money then get treated like that. Hell I'm an anglo and get treated like that and it's disgusting. Everyone that has mentioned it before is right; if anyway said "We don't serve (insert minority here)" there would be hell to pay - why do we let it go?

    I take slight comfort in the fact that outside of this province they are lost and confused (which probably explains why most don't travel outside of Quebec)
  16. peterc_3677 posted on 07/12/2012 12:38 PM
    I too was refused service in English at the same metro station. It happened to me on Tuesday, July 10, 2012. The agent was extremely arrogant telling me that he would not serve me if I didn't speak in French. He asked me if I respected his language. I said: "Yes, do you respect mine?". He proceeded to tell me that he was under no obligation to speak to me in English. I moved my hand in an extremely innocuous manner and he pointed to it saying: "Oh, you're getting aggressive". He turned off his microphone and turned away from me clearly staing that he was through talking to me. When I asked for his name so that I could lodge a complaint against him he told me that he didn't have to give me his name but gave me an STCUM card telling me that I could lodge a complaint against him by telling the STCUM the date and time of the incident and describing him physically. The arrogance of his response suggested to me that he felt he did not have to worry about being held accountable in any meaningful way regarding the way he treated me.

    His arrogant and disrespectful attitude angered and hurt me. I couldn't help thinking about all of the tourists as well as elderly anglophone transit users who are in store for the same kind of bigoted treatment.

    Thank you.
    1. Montrealer posted on 07/12/2012 02:20 PM
      @peterc_3677 and did you lodge a complaint? I suggest you do if you haven't already
    2. murrayl posted on 07/15/2012 05:07 PM
      @peterc_3677 Marvin Rotrand is Vice Chair of the STM and he himself having been the victim of an attack for how he speaks French, would of course be very interested in hearing from you, exactly what happened. His email is MRotrand@ville.montreal.qc.ca
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  17. Actiontime posted on 07/12/2012 04:26 PM
    What we need is a federal law that trumps this prejudiced provincial anti-anglophone language law that states something to the effect of: If you are a government agency or company serving the public you must be able to serve the client in either official CANADIAN language.
    This is blatant discrimination towards anglophones, and since we let them turn this into a law there pretty much isn't a whole lot we can do unless 1) the provincial liberals grow a backbone and repeal this absurd law (and every other discriminatory language law here), or 2) the feds make a law that makes the current provincial rules invalid.
    Or do you all want to wait until they make a law that forces us to think in french too?
  18. Cdn posted on 07/12/2012 07:20 PM
  19. carly posted on 07/13/2012 09:42 AM
    In reply to grace, French is the official language of the province of Quebec,and students do learn English in French schools. Not really sure why you need a menu in English,you just said you learnt French in school? Whenever I go on a vacation I try and learn some words in whatever the official language of that place is,whether it is French,Spanish,German etc.

    I'm an English person from quebec and luckily I've never encountered this type of behaviour. I think the way the stm treated this man is disgusting,many of them claim to have no understanding of English,the problem is they just don't want to use it,unfortunately the law in Quebec is clear that French is the official language and employees only need to use French if that's what they want to do.
    1. Lyne Berthold posted on 07/17/2012 11:20 AM
      @carly It's been awhile since the kids were in school but if I remember correctly French taught to English students start at kindergarten or Grade 1. English taught to French students start at grade 4. I have had many French people tell me how lucky I was that I was able to send my kids to an English school. I know my nieces and nephews have a hard time grasping the English language. The only children that benefit from this law are the ones who's mother was schooled in English and have their proof of eligibility. As for areas that have tourists go through, shame to those who do this. I certainly hope when they go to the US they don't expect French to be spoken to them. But I highly doubt it. Arrogant people will always be arrogant, can't change their spots until their job is on the line and that won't happen when you have a Government who condones this. Quebec is a beautiful Province run by people who are insecure in who they are. It has nothing to do with 'protecting' their identity.
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  20. CJ posted on 07/13/2012 10:56 AM
    Personally if this happen to me i would have stood there until he served me and or call the Metro cops...Which would there for result in them calling the MUC police. I would have blocked that booth for hours in protest. No tax payer or tourist should have to go through this...When they are done getting rid of the English speaking people what will be next...Blacks, Arabs Jews etc etc etc will be denied basic service. It is unacceptable 2012 that this is happening. If their is any protesting with regards to this i will be there. @Cdn you are an idiot... regardless of whether the CUSTOMER!!! speaks English or French, He or she... Black, white, green, yellow or Brown is entitled to basic service and respect...Instead him selling the ticket he decided to voice his political views at WORK! No wonder they need to increase ticket fees... Thanks for nothing STM you suck!!!!
  21. Michael B posted on 07/13/2012 12:24 PM
    There is NO WAY to stop this type of thing from happening. Québec declared itself a unilingual French province and as indicated in Bill 101, French is the only language that needs to be used when conducting business. Like it or not, this is a French only province that tolerates English only when it serves the Gov'ts interests.

    English is NOT a recognized language here in Québec. Like it or not. You want to stop this discrimination based on the use of the English language then get out there and demonstrate and stop whining on the internet.

    Demonstrate to get English recognized as an official language or this will NEVER end !!! We have NO POLITICAL representation. We are a dying breed unless we do something about it.
  22. IssueAtHand posted on 07/13/2012 04:08 PM
    The issue at hand isn't that the attendant or passenger couldn't or wouldn't speak in either language. It's in fact that the attendant didn't want to serve the passenger. This seems to be a case of prejudice. If your in public service, isn't your position to serve the public, irregardless of gender, social class, age, disability, religion, sexuality, race/ethnicity, nationality, or other personal characteristics? It seems to me society is losing courtesy and respect...
  23. murrayl posted on 07/13/2012 11:59 PM
    The other day some tourists from NY parked their boat in Lachine. They found the city employees so rude to them that they decided to cut their trip short.

    Several years ago as we planned a vacation in the Gaspe I received a reply from the Gouvernement du Quebec advising me that they did not have to respond to me in English.

    I told them (with a copy to Tourism QC) to take their response and shove it. I also told them that we would go to Maine for our vacation. We did and have returned twice. I am pleased to shop in NH where there is no sales tax, and the prices are lower than in QC.
    1. Stan the Man posted on 07/15/2012 02:54 PM
      @murrayl Ideally the best situation would be for an American tourist to experience this and somehow get it on video or audio then hand it over to the whack jobs at Fox News. This would turn it into something ugly. These guys know how to give a story like this traction.
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  24. Christine posted on 07/15/2012 03:53 PM
    Is nobody else annoyed at the number of people claiming racism here? Is anglophone a new race that I didn't get the memo about?!
    1. Tony posted on 07/16/2012 11:48 AM
      @Christine Let's call them xenophobic then, does that make you feel better?
  25. Jon posted on 07/17/2012 11:01 AM
    I fail to see why people are shocked and surprised this goes on. To see the reality of this type of conduct though you have to look at the powerhouse economies of the world, Japan, China and Europe all speak and are happy to deal with customers in the language they need to to make their economies work. This is a lesson that should be understood here in Quebec and is the main reason that we are not even close to being a powerhouse here in North America let alone the world stage.
    I feel that most of those who do treat people in this manner are doing so mainly from their inability to speak English to a reasonable standard, it is a sad reflection on the Quebec French education system if this is the case.
    I cannot believe that these people would go to work everyday just looking for an opportunity to be rude to any English speaking person who wanders up to their counter as they would have no idea where they originated from.
    Of course it is every citizens right around the world to expect to be addressed in their own native language but the reality is those who close their minds also close their borders and any incidences involving US citizens will cause a backlash for sure and those people will just visit the other Provinces instead..
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