Monteregie man refused service in English

Posted By: CJAD · 10/22/2012 5:57:00 PM

Marc Bergeron is incensed.

Saturday night, while visiting relatives in Hudson, his two year old daughter had a seizure. He called 9-1-1 and says the first responders from Hudson stabilized his daughter, adding they were amazing.

Five or ten minutes later paramedics from CETAM arrived. CETAM ambulances service the Monteregie region.

Even though Bergeron is bilingual he preferred to speak with them in English. The answer?

"Non", said Bergeron. "And to my sheer amazement that this gentleman in this position wasn't able to speak any English, I was taken aback.  So in French I said, 'Parle pas anglais?'  And that's when he replied to me, his tone of voice just absolutely changed, took a complete 180, and he said 'non, moi je parle français."'

CJAD talked to Patrick Jasmin, spokesperson for CETAM and he said that "every paramedic in CETAM is supposed to be able to speak English in a functional manner."

He also said that he's doing all he can to investigate the situation and will have more information for us tomorrow morning.

Photo: CETAM

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  1. stella Kisiel posted on 10/22/2012 06:20 PM
    This is where the language law can be a factor between life or death. Every employee in the public service must be able to communicate in both languages. Not everyone is fluent is medical terms, scientific, etc. I am perfectly bilingual, however, when it comes to consulting a medical expert, I need to have it explained to me in English.

    The example of 'mal au coeur' or mal de couer is a perfect one. The first meaning the patient is nautious, and the latter has a heart problem. So if the parent gives permission to the so called paramedic/ambulance worker.....the wrong medicine can kill.

    I personally would charge this man with attempted manslaughter. If you don't want to help the child, then you want it to die. Fire the louse. I digress....lice have apurpose on earth. This man has no heart.
    1. Johanne posted on 10/24/2012 10:25 AM
      @stella Kisiel I watched all the news stations last night, from Global Montreal, CTV, TeleQuebec, 4saison, - Mr. Jasmin came on all stations, do you think he apologized for his colleague? No, he CONDONED and EXCUSED his actions - a total disregard for the 2 year old little girl. He said that English in not required in their field - that the family members, friends, ANYBODY should be able to explain, translate and INTERPRET to the family. Good going Mr. Jasmin, I hope one day you and your family go visit a foreign country and YOUR child gets ill and let's see how you would like it if the paramedic disregarded YOU - Sad, DISGRACEFUL, and utterly DISHONERABLE - I suggest the "French" so called "paramedic" and Mr. Jasmin go pick up garbage for a living because they have no business with dealing with HUMAN BEINGS - English or otherwise. FOR SHAME!!!! Vive le Quebec Libre right down the toilet.
    2. Yohan posted on 10/27/2012 11:44 AM
      @stella Kisiel Manslaughter! Are you serious! The paramedics did a perfect job. The child is healthy and well. I don't know if you heard the father Marc Bergeron on the french news station but that man talks PERFECT french. He dose not even have an accent.

      I am a paramedic (I don't work for CETAM) and I often have to work with patients that don't speak french or english. Even if it is not always easy we eventually understand each other. We use mostly sign language. So your example "mal de coeur" does not work. The person who says 'mal de coeur' and has chest pain will always put his hand on his chest. If he is nautious, he will pretend to vomit.

      I think that Marc Bergeron and his wife are complaining for nothing and want to get there minute of fame on the backs of the paramedic who saved the daughters life. One thing if for sure. We can know everything that happens on a call. Our Zoll machine records every word that is said on a call.
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  2. Lynda posted on 10/22/2012 06:47 PM
    Absolutely unacceptable. A life is more important than anyone's political loyalties.
  3. Sarah posted on 10/22/2012 07:04 PM
    Language versus LIFE!!!

    Tell me what is the value of a language compared to the life of a child? A language we can learn, but unfortunately THE LIFE OF THE CHILD we cannot have back when we lose it. So I think that the paramedics should be suspended for his act because the priority of his job in not defending the LANGUAGE of the province when he is on duty but SAVING LIVES. He is supposed to do his job and try to save life.

    Where is his conscious going to go if he has lost the child life because he refused to communicate in English to understand the situation better?

    So I think that he has to be suspended and he has to pay a fine to the father because a neglected his job for a language.
  4. Jon posted on 10/22/2012 07:31 PM
    I have nothing short of disgust for this person who would put a child's well being before his politics. I am ashamed to think he is a Canadian let alone a Quebecor. I sincerely hope that some one does not have to die before this stupidity ends.

    If this person does not speak functional English then he should be relieved of his position until he is able to function as required. Fortunately this is not he case with the majority of healthcare workers in Quebec who show care and compassion for their charges. Maybe it's time he considered another career move. This is not about language rights this is about human life and if he does not understand this then he is indeed in the wrong profession.

    Anyone who has a child will understand the anxiety this person and their child were put through for no reason other than total ignorance and lack of regard for human life.

    When the ice storm struck Montreal the rest of Canada opened their hearts and wallets and sent aid and money without questioning the politics of where it was going. I don't recall any of that aid being returned from Quebec because it was sent by English speaking people.
    1. Ghislain Laframboise posted on 10/25/2012 02:22 PM
      @Jon Once again, the child life was never in danger !

      The paramedics competence has NOTHING TO DO WITH SPEAKING ENGLISH !

      In Quebec, nobody can be fired because they don't speak English after all the OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF QUEBEC IS FRENCH , IT'S NOT ENGLISH !

      English is Quebec's second language of choice because the province is surrounded by English speaking province like (Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador and states (New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine). New Brunswick is bilingual : English (66%) and French (33%) and also their biggest minority speak English.
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  5. paulnali posted on 10/22/2012 08:04 PM
    Language stories like this are like sharks to blood in the water. It saddens me that this actually happens. I consider myself perfectly bilingual: Francophone father and anglophone mother. I was the English tête carré to the French and Frenchie to the English. I used to think I had it best to walk the path in both milieus except when at work recently, one of the owners of the company I work at made a joke of my speaking English saying that if the OLF heard me speaking English, it would be problematic for the company. Joke or not, I found that the language issues brought up by the PQ during the election has created all of this. I know longer feel comfortable in what I used to consider my province. sad.
  6. Neil posted on 10/22/2012 08:41 PM
    Paramedics have partners. Were the First Responders still there? No one could translate?

    What happens when a Francophone gets sick visiting Toronto ? Do you think ANY of the Paramedics or First Respionders would speak french?

    And I;m an anglophone in my 50;s who voted for the Equality Party. I recently complained to the STM about Ticket Takers in Metro stations in Tourist areas refusing to speak english. I've made formal complaints to the ffederal Cossoner of Offical languages. So usually I would agree. And I would agree if both Paramedics & the First Responders refused to speak English. But in this case it;s over reacting.

    BTW I texted my Toronto comment while the discussion was going on but Mr. Morgan did not mention it. A little biased maybe?
    1. Patrick posted on 10/23/2012 08:51 AM
      @Neil There would probably be some difficulty finding someone to speak functional French in Toronto to be sure, but your comparison pretty unfair. What's the English population in Montreal? And the French population in Toronto? If you were to compare the numbers, you'd see a pretty big stretch between them both.

      It's not the same; we live in Montreal and there is a large population here that speak English, whether some people like it or not. The workers in question should be able to put aside political stances, because as several users have already put it, their job involves some pretty tense situations. His flat out refusal to speak English (even though everyone here has some ability to speak in English) is a wet slap in the face.
    2. Jenny posted on 10/23/2012 10:56 AM
      @Neil @Neil ... I have visited Toronto, spoken in French and YES I have been served in that language. Granted the person had a heavy accent, but he made the effort to help me. It was a transit employee. Something the Quebec STM priviledged employees to not do. Seriously, you believe that a Quebecer suffering a heart attack would not be able to receive service in "HIS" language. Get real Neil.
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  7. manoli posted on 10/22/2012 08:41 PM
    The father showed great restraint. My child is maybe dying and the driver pulled this on me I would have fixed things from zero to the driver needing the ambulance himself in 2 seconds.
    How stoooooopid have people become ?
    Fire him.
  8. sam posted on 10/22/2012 08:53 PM
    first and most important I hope the little girl is ok

    Next.. this is a disgrace.. Honestly when it comes to my health or the health of a loved one I am appalled that its not a requirement of being bilingual. I know in a state of emergency i am absolutely not about to focus on my translations I just want answers and help ASAP. To even think of bringing in a language issue at a time like that is appalling. I hope the investigation leads to the man on suspension for cruelty.
    1. Jenny posted on 10/23/2012 10:52 AM
      @sam @sam.. I doubt he will get a talk let alone suspension. The French will dig this province to the ground and they will be happy doing it. As long asa they (the French) get their fix of french on top. It's sad that Mr. Bergeron had to experience such disregard for his little daughter's life. Had I been in his shoes, the French biggot would be eating his rotten-Pepsi-drinking-teeth. Mr. Jasmin should make a public announcement today that the French biggot was FIRED. Then I would have respect for him and his organization.
  9. Sam Beckett posted on 10/22/2012 09:00 PM
    I'm hoping that this paramedic truly does only speak French. Inside, however, I'm not that naive. This is yet another example of truly poor judgement by a selfish person who thinks his right to speak French should come before anything else. He should be suspended without pay and made to apologize in ENGLISH!
    1. Andrew posted on 10/24/2012 02:20 PM
      @Sam Beckett This is another eample of poor judgement giving more importance to language barriers than the actual fact that the paramedic saved the little girl. the father should simply have filed a complaint to the CETAM if he felt he was not addressed correctly and with attitude from the paramedic. This has nothing to do with the language. If the paramedic had an inappropriate attitude, he should be reprimended, but M. Bergeron clearly shows he cannot control his temper and he stated himself he was not in front of the paramedic more than a few seconds because he "was about to kick him in the face". Good job paramedic for saving the little girl!
  10. Brian McCarthy posted on 10/23/2012 07:32 AM
    I think it is time for all Anglos to WAKE UP! Since the introduction of Bill101 English has been pushed to the rear of the line. It is illegal to force a Quececer to speak English. For an Anglo to work in any professional position they must prove their ability to speak French. They don't give a damn about your ability to speak English (that other language). And please stop calling them Canadians. They are not Canadians they are Quececois. Learn and accept this fact. Their loyality is to the province and their language, not your country or your language. Accept this or go. Your life will be better.
    1. David posted on 10/23/2012 01:44 PM
      @Brian McCarthy Sad. But true. Bienvenue a Quebec.
    2. Afternoon posted on 10/23/2012 09:10 PM
      @Brian McCarthy So what should we do? We are a large community of intelligent creative people who have stopped working together to overcome this prejudice. We need a strong collective effort with true leadership. Any ideas
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  11. Rashell posted on 10/23/2012 01:15 PM
    Well this is a prime example of the entitled Francophones, picking the wrong place and tim to demonstrate their anti-Anglo sentiments.. it's shameful. Legally speaking, this ma is required to speak to an English patient in English. Pick your battles buddy, when a child could be dying right in front of you you do your damn job and worry about your pride when you are off the clock.. on facebook we have a page called 'anti PQ and agaisnt separation' take a look around and you will see this issue is huge.
    1. Andrew posted on 10/24/2012 02:21 PM
      @Rashell I feel it is the total opposite!
      Mr. Bergeron should thak the paramedic. All this french-englis battle is inappropriate!
    2. Ghislain posted on 10/25/2012 01:51 PM
      @Rashell @Rachell, you did not understand what really happened ! The paramedics did their jobs. They saved Ella Bergeron's life. In no way what so ever the kid's life was in danger of dying because the paramedic can not work properly in English !

      They were professional all the way ! The father (Marc Bergeron) is pissed because one of those paramedic can not speak to him and mostly his wive in English ! They used French between them self in order to work properly so they can save the child life.

      The father, Mark Bergeron speaks French and English ask to be answered only in English because his wife Stephanie Jensen can not speak French.

      If you want to blame the paramedic because he doesn't speak english you had to blame also the girl mother to not been able to speak french !

      They are both unilingual canadian !

      No one is better than the other !

      I have been in vacation in other province in the past and some time the tourist agent in other province can not speak French properly. Guess what ! I offer my help as a translator between a French Quebecer tourist and the Nova Scotia tourist English agent.

      I don't understand what is the fuss is about here clearly England and France are two neighboring country only 30 km over the English channel. It's not like Finland and China were those two country have nothing in common.

      French and English share a lot of common word like table, rose (flower), ambulance, port, some English have French origin like computer. Other french word came from English like shampooing and parking.

      Would you be surprise if i told you i never went to an English speaking school my whole life !
  12. don posted on 10/23/2012 04:03 PM
    Is it any wonder why the rest of the country thinks and treats the french from Quebec the way that they do... Unfortunately, they're generally thought of as arrogant, ignorant people... It's the attitude of people like this attendant that represent that general consensus.
    1. Sylvain posted on 10/25/2012 09:51 AM
      @don Dear Mister Don

      I'm a French speaking person in Quebec ,And i speak Both language. I am too a Paramedic. What hurts me the most are the statement that we are Ignorant people. I would ask you too retract on what you describer about us. Most off my colleague speak not perfect English but what is important in that story is that the little Girl is Ok.
  13. Denis posted on 10/23/2012 05:10 PM
    Its a shame
  14. Rdolph S posted on 10/23/2012 06:23 PM
    its people like this Paramedic that make the English/French thing a problem. When he went through his trainig and acepted the Job as Paramedic, it was made quite clair to him, that he has to a functional command of the english language. His refusal to help a child who's father did not speak french as well as he did, shows a despicable mindset, I hope not even Pauline Marois or Marie Malavoy would condone this kind of behaviour...
  15. RonaldG_5916 posted on 10/23/2012 07:41 PM
    Find ther is no reason for this..Quebec and especally Montral would be much better off without Politicians ! I find the fedeal government should have done something a long time ago when Laoprte was murdered and the killers came back and got govrnment jobs ! Having a seperatist party at the Federal level also...wouldnt see that in any other country. I am French Canadian and speak both languages,born here. We built up Toronto for th last 25 yrs. and guess it' not finshed. This is not acceptable when it comes to someone's lfe !
  16. Martin posted on 10/24/2012 12:31 PM
    Where talking about a french speaking man how want that another french speaking men talk to him in english while her daughter was on convulsion on the floor.
    Are we talking aboiut that now... In french we said "Pousse mais pousse égal"
    It's the same thing at the office. Sevarale time I talk with my boss in french, knowing isunderstand me and avery time he answer to me in English and you know what.... I understand what he told me...
    We do like that because one and just one thing..... because my English and is French is approximative... Were not interested to take 3 hrs to know if he changed his tire last night.....
  17. Frank posted on 10/24/2012 12:49 PM
    Bravo again to CJAD for a good dose of Franco-bashing.

    Listen, when you are fully bilingual and your daughter is on the floor and in convulsions from a high fever, it's NOT time to "state your language preference" and react like a total jerk when the paramedic fermly says "For the next minutes, I'll ask my detailed questions in French and you can give your detailed responses in English".

    This guy is a moron for acting like he did. The paramedics, once the kid was stabilized and en route to the hospital, DID give all the details and answers to the UNILINGUAL English mother in the ambulance in a calm and unhurried way. The gal should take act of her hubby's level of intelligence and jerk behavior in what should have been an unconfrontational event. And CJAD has not handled the situation with more intelligence or respect for common sense, but then again, we know where CJAD stands with respect to the French-speaking community, i.e. with no respect towards it...
  18. Will posted on 10/24/2012 01:59 PM
    Way a minute... Are you crazy... When I read the comments, I can't stop to laught. Nobody said anything when a french person cannot be serve in french in Royal Victoria Hospital. Stop to be brain wash by the english media and chill out.

    Before you start a revolution and get rid of all "pepsi " biggot drinker, we should wait for more information and dont jump to easy conclusion. We only had the father point of view.
  19. MVictorP posted on 10/24/2012 02:00 PM
    I think the racists here are not those who are hysterically denouced here.

    First, the child is safe. The mean, french-speaking fiends saved her.

    Second, the "anglophone", Marc Bergeron, speaks a perfect french.

    It is Bergeron that made a political affair over the health of his child. The paramedics in Montreal also go into houses where only Mandarin is spoken, and yet even there the people's biology is the same.

    Oh, and people on this board are racist - but then again, what to expect from the CJAD/Suburban/Gazette triumvirat? You people should visit Québec one of these days.
  20. j-p posted on 10/24/2012 02:11 PM
    I can't believe what i'm reading in the comments. '' The guy should be suspended or change his carrer because he doesn't speak english''. Is job is to save life, that's what he did, yes the little girl is fine now.

    I just heard the father on the french radio, he speak an impeccable french. Why does the paramedic have to speak english when the father can speak french.

    You guys know how to make a big story with nothing, very sad to see. And if you need to be serve only in english, we are surround by the Ontario, N-B, just go there.

    thanks
  21. Louis posted on 10/24/2012 02:26 PM
    The "Guy" just had a 13 minutes conversation with radio anchor Benoit Dutrizac in real fluent French.

    When your child is sick and need immediate help, language is not a factor

    Human body doesn't have a language and medecine doesn't have a color.
  22. Carole posted on 10/24/2012 03:12 PM
    Why don't we start an "OFFICE DE LA LANGUE ANGLAIS". ?????
  23. Ghislain Laframboise posted on 10/24/2012 06:10 PM
    Would you rather that they tell you in proper english how they were unable to save your daughter's life or will you prefer they save your daughter life in french ! I would choose the second any day of the week ! I don't care which language they spoke all i care if they are competent in their job and that seems to be the case since the daughter is safe and sound ! The father of the girl is named Bergeron which is a French Canadian name. The father is bilingual why he's insists to be served only in english ! I am bazzle by this ! IMHO, this another case of french bashing here ! look here in quebec they is no law that says that you need to speak english ! The only official language in Quebec is french ! New Brunswick is the only official bilingual province in Canada. All the other 8 provinces all official english speaking province. Would you be piss ! if a french canadian was not able to be serve in french in Alberta by a paramedic ! Hell no ! Stop the french bashing ! They is no hurt, no fault here !
    1. Betty posted on 10/27/2012 08:19 PM
      @Ghislain Laframboise Not sure you are really getting it. We all know the child is fine. The problem is Quebec seems to think that they are not part of the Same country the rest of us are. This is an English speaking country. ENGLISH! You are ignorant. I refuse to visit broke ass Quebec. My reason, I speak English and only English, quackers refuse to even try to speak this countries language. The rest of the worlds second language...English not French!
    2. Lucy posted on 10/29/2012 01:22 AM
      @Ghislain Laframboise Mr. Laframboise, You are correct that the bottom line was saving the child's life. Having said that, you may want to refer to Jean Francois Lisee's comment that "Every Anglophone has the absolute right to receive medical services in English." Clearly that ambulance driver had no business being hired in the first place.....unless.....he actually does speak enough English to communicate but was being a jerk as we are seeing examples recently by some Francophones in this province. It is common decency to be able to communicate even if it is in a stilted manner. We have to all get along and saying that English is not the language of the province when in fact it is the language of the country is insane and rubs people up the wrong way. Everyone who lives here should have some level of speech and understanding of the other language and should attempt communication one way or the other. The problem is a small number on both sides hate the other. There it is. Francophones want to turn Quebec into a country. Anglophones want Quebec to remain their home within Canada. Nothing will ever change. Maybe the next generation will figure something out - we....are all hotheads and set in our opinions.
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  24. jean francois posted on 10/24/2012 07:43 PM
    im sorry but a father who is perfectly bilingue, put the language issue before the health of his daughter is an imbecile and the dpj should remove his kid from him. Instead of saying thx to the medic for helping his daughter he plays the role of a victim. I am ashame of his reaction and all who say the same thing. The language issue could of be brought up later. God bless the kid is fine and let Mark Bergeron play the victim all over the news. BTW, at the french radio station 98,5, he even said that he rather have an incompetent medic who is bilingual then a good one that doesnt speak english. Again i have no pity for an imbecile like that
    1. @jean francois posted on 10/25/2012 01:01 PM
      @jean francois I am bilingual and if I were in a state of panic and the paramedic were to ask me in French what happened or if and what my son was allergicng I would not be able to correspond in French. At that point the language debate could easily result in the death of my child. Absolutely I would want the more compent technician but don't negate the importance of proper and precise communication!!!!
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  25. Allen Smith posted on 10/25/2012 12:08 AM
    If the paramedic who refused to speak english and perhaps was bilingual would he say that the death of a child is not as important as the death of a language. That the french language is of paramount importance superseding the life of an anglophone child. I wonder how many supporters of Pauline Marois would clap enthusiastically for this pronouncement?
    1. Ghislain Laframboise posted on 10/25/2012 02:45 PM
      @Allen Smith You sir, are an imbecile like most stupid comment I have seen so far in this blog who condemned the paramedics based on the father testimony.

      The paramedic did their job well ! The child is safe. If they need to work in french to do their job properly let them so ! The translation could wait a little longer it's not imperative to reassure the mother first ! The priority was to save the little girl. They did they job !

      Should they have to wait from someone from Ottawa who speak english to save the little girl, she would be dead by now !

      Stop blaming, Pauline Marois for everything ! She is a way better premier, than all the corrupted liberal cronies who work with the mafia to steal billions from the Quebecer including you sir !
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