Caffe has OQLF seeing red

Posted By: Andrew Peplowski · 2/26/2013 5:36:00 AM

An upscale Italian restaurant in Quebec City is selling its supply of wine glasses because they violate the language law.

The owners of the Conti Caffe says they have already spent $20,000 to replace menus and outdoor signs and are now being forced to get rid of their entire wine glass supply because the word caffe has two F's.

It is the Italian spelling for cafe, which has one F in French.

And that is one F too many for the language police.

The owner of the restaurant says he will take the proceeds from the sale of wine glasses and donate them to a local charity.

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  1. LMAO posted on 02/26/2013 06:23 AM
    What the "F". This is plainly targeting ethnic groups.
    1. Le Québécois posted on 02/26/2013 03:26 PM
      @LMAO At least you won't say it is solely against you english.
    show more replies
  2. Mike Wiener posted on 02/26/2013 06:33 AM
    Why not give the extra F to the tongue troopers?
  3. Willem B posted on 02/26/2013 07:19 AM
    Nothing like telling "ethnics with money" to get the "F" out.
    1. Umaga posted on 02/26/2013 08:29 AM
      @Willem B The " ethnics " are obviously making good money in Quebec's social and linguistic structure so they will grudgingly comply . It's only the Angry Anglo media that go beserk over this stuff . That 's why the anti 101 demonstration only drew 125 assorted kooks and not the thousands they planned for .
    show more replies
  4. crj posted on 02/26/2013 07:23 AM
    This is blatant harassment and bullying. Continued exposure of the abuse is needed to be able to make a change. Bending to the language police is not the answer.
  5. cliff posted on 02/26/2013 07:31 AM
    The OLF must have someone from the Just for Rirend working there!! You can't be making this F up by themselves :) OLF or LOL, same thing sadly :(
  6. Vic posted on 02/26/2013 07:42 AM
    I would like to buy 2 glasses.
    1. Peter posted on 02/26/2013 08:41 AM
      @Vic I like to buy 6 to 8. Is CJAD going to do us a favour and organize a "shipment" from Quebec?
    2. Etienne posted on 02/26/2013 09:23 AM
      @Vic Before the Caffe sells anything, it should have the OQLF change it's name. Quebec is not a french word or name. It is Algonquin. Have Quebec change it's road signs maps etc. Ironic. Karma.
    show more replies
  7. Somebudy posted on 02/26/2013 08:38 AM
    I have decided to start performing reverse discrimination with my wallet. I will stop buying anything from a native francophone store clerk. The worse their french the more I will tip/buy. If we want young immigrants and anglophones to be able to stay in this province all anglos/immigrants should do the same.
  8. Jerry posted on 02/26/2013 08:43 AM
    The language police is a waste of time and money. totally useless. Put the money into healthcare and education, something that means something in life. Once again the world laughs at Quebec and their language laws. Where in the world do you go and they try to tell what language to speak and how you will be educated. The show never ends.
    1. andrei posted on 02/26/2013 09:53 AM
      @Jerry THEY are taking money OUT of health care, schools, etc. TO PUT INTO the QOLF!!!!!
  9. Sean posted on 02/26/2013 08:44 AM
    This is why so many people like me LEAVE Quebec.Beautiful Place but just not worth it!!
    1. Carl Thomas posted on 02/26/2013 01:31 PM
      @Sean Well I'm one of the departed. Lived there for 55 years, grew up with many french friends, was talked down to many times, even kicked some ass, anyway now living in the USA, less taxes and no language BS. Good luck to the rest of ya. I'm getting on with my live with a lot less stress.
  10. valery posted on 02/26/2013 08:47 AM
    Interesting how the OLF tagets the ethinics but lacks how UNFRENCH they are... they don't speak french, Proper french but a asterization of "The French" language, a slang dialect.
    So why not focus on teaching all french how to speak fench and harass them.... We are all Immigrants and there is no pure heritage (since the whores and prisoners were the official ones who were rejected from France and shipped over here).
    Freedom of speach should be for all of us not just a minority in a Majority country... and I mean CANADA... my passport does not nor ever will state I live in the country of Quebec...
    1. Andy posted on 02/26/2013 02:19 PM
      @valery Valery, 90% of Quebecers don't know about how this so called province was created. They called it Nouvelle France for a reason! I would not be proud of my heritage if I knew that my ancesters were thiefs and whores. Thank God I'm not from here.
  11. Ben posted on 02/26/2013 08:56 AM
    give the F to marois you know the finger
  12. Jonathan posted on 02/26/2013 08:57 AM
    The OQLF wonders why the media is going nuts over their actions?!?! It because of ridiculous fine and penalties like this. Seriously......a decision that was made YEARS ago is now costing this restaurant THOUSANDS of dollars just because the OQLF says it can.

    This is getting really sad, why is my money being wasted on trivial problems like how many F's are on a wine glass! Why not you know....put that money towards education, infrastructure, social programs....oh yea, that would hurt the french community by....improving everyone's quality of life.....not just the french.
  13. Tim Q posted on 02/26/2013 09:14 AM
    Wake up Quebec, the whole world is laughing at us...get your priorities straight, healthcare, infrustructure and schools...not to mention taking care of the less fortunate.
  14. Mark posted on 02/26/2013 09:14 AM
    So let me get this straight.... Italian, German, Japanese and Chinese restaurants can't have Italian, German Japanese or Chinese writing anywhere on or in their buildings? Why? Do quebecers just dislike culture from anywhere that isn't Quebec? How do they figure that some foreign words in a foreign restaurant threatens their soveirgnty or french culture?
    1. MariefranceM posted on 02/26/2013 11:30 AM
      @Mark Can't wait to see what they come up as French translations for: chow mein, fo yong, wonton etc...
    2. Andre posted on 02/26/2013 11:45 AM
      @Mark It's not all quebecers that are like that, just the government who can't think further than their nose
  15. Jenny posted on 02/26/2013 09:16 AM
    What I don't understand is why the OQLF is going after these business names when the province of Quebec already OKAYED the name! I mean, you don't just wake up one morning and say "I'm going to call my cafe this", you actually have to do paper work.... so if the Quebec Government okayed the name why is the OQLF getting its panties in a wad over an extra F?

    I'm seriously about ready to pack up and leave again Texas is looking mighty nice again!
    1. Deniz posted on 02/26/2013 10:13 AM
      @Jenny Sadly Jenny, that is the exact reaction they hope for from Anglo's....to pack up and leave....
  16. paul posted on 02/26/2013 09:24 AM
    This has got to come to an end the Federal gouverment has to step in and stop this nut before she does damage that can't be repaired Quebec need both english and french to work not one or the other also i hear people in montreal saying english go home just so these people know we are all immigrants here even if you were born here your parents or grand parents come from europe or the uk so
    BITE ME and grow up
  17. Ruggiero Campopiano posted on 02/26/2013 09:41 AM
    Well, that's just it, in Bill 14, they want to replace the word "ethnic" with "cultural". What the "F"?! Stop the bullying. And, "Quebec" is NOT a french name.

    "2 bicchieri per favore!"
    1. Le Québécois posted on 02/26/2013 03:31 PM
      @Ruggiero Campopiano And Canada is not an english name.
  18. Mariefance Manibal posted on 02/26/2013 09:42 AM
    Funny how French is still wonderfully alive and vibrant in Hawkesbury, Alexandria, Cornwall Ontario etc...and there are no government bodies enforcing it here. What a concept, the parents are teaching their kids and the families are responsible for keeping it alive. You can speak whatever language you want and nobody gets upset...what a concept. By the way, my native tongue is French but I moved to Ontario for the freedom of expression. I LIKE having the choice to express myself in whatever language I chose and by the way, I still know how to speak French.
    1. Ken Ayotte posted on 02/26/2013 11:26 AM
      @Mariefance Manibal There are lots of French speaking people in Alberta and also more than a few French communities. Also lots of Chinese, Vietnamese, German, Ukrainian, and many, many others who, for some reason, have no problem keeping their own languages, as well as learning English. Without any pressure from Government.
    2. Le Québécois posted on 02/26/2013 03:34 PM
      @Mariefance Manibal ".and there are no government bodies enforcing it here"

      Sure, it'ss bilingual services zones in Ontario.

      " You can speak whatever language you want and nobody gets upset"

      Sure you can speak it but they won't understand you. :)
      "I don't speak french"
  19. Tony posted on 02/26/2013 09:47 AM
    the key letter here is "F" as in go "F" yourselves OQLF!
  20. john morel posted on 02/26/2013 09:52 AM
    why don't these buisness band together,get a Constutional lawyer & tie the OLF up in court,,,make a big fuss,,media etc ,,shut the olf up
  21. allan posted on 02/26/2013 09:56 AM
    Why don't the OLF take a walk i China town they would have a field day there is no predominant french there or any french translation at ALL!!!!!!!!!!
  22. Mika posted on 02/26/2013 10:19 AM
    Totally ridiculous... imagine the thousands of coffee shops, including Tim Horton's (apostrophe intentional) that must remove the word "Cappuccino' from their menus/boards as it's not french or even timbits (what do we call them? "La bitte de Tim?"
  23. Donna Baker posted on 02/26/2013 10:26 AM
    I moved out of the province in 1980 but I remember clearly the effect the language police had while I lived in Montreal. I remember we were not allowed to use the pop machine (they had locked it) because it said "insert coin here". It's sad to see it starting all over again.
  24. Paul posted on 02/26/2013 10:33 AM
    Did the PQ say a few moths ago that they wanted to encourage businesses from the rest of Canada, America and the world to invest in Quebec? Where these same people wondering why they were not able to drum up business for Quebec? Quebec being a raciest and fascist state is the reason nobody want's to invest in Quebec.

    If you look at your history before the Quite Revolution you will realize that Montreal was the largest city and the financial hub of Canada. Quebec had economic power and political influence.

    After the Quite Revolution Quebec has become a state that leaches of the rest of Canada through transfer payments, poor economic growth, lost of political power as the population continues to shift westwards and the highest welfare roles per population size.

    That's right Quebecois, keep blindly supporting the PQ and BQ along with your oppressive language laws and we'll see how much worse it gets for you.
  25. Nic posted on 02/26/2013 10:51 AM
    I thought multiculturalism was one of our qualities and source of pride in Quebec. I am a French Canadian who loves to have access to so many cultures. How can some not see it as an advantage to be regularly exposed to multiple cultures. It has proven beneficial every time I've traveled. It provides very important social adaptation skills. Je ne crois pas que d'imposer notre langue est la meilleure façon de la faire valoir. Tout au contraire, je crois qu'il faut promouvoir le multiculturalisme et mettre en valeur les bénéfices de connaître plusieurs langues (incluant le français bien sûr).

    @NicFalardeau
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