BILL 14: Is there "too much bilingualism in the civil service?"

Posted By: Aaron Rand · 3/14/2013 1:20:00 PM

This is where we live ...

Hearings on Bill 14, the new language law, opened in Quebec City Tuesday, and the intolerance began on Day 1.

Lucie Martineau, president of the SFPQ ( Syndicat de la fonction publique du Quebec) said "there is too much bilingualism in the civil service." That's right, too MUCH bilingualism, or as she described it "galloping bilingualism." Can you imagine the terror and anxiety this must cause civil servants on a daily basis ?

Then, when Liberal MNA Geoff Kelley, whose riding encompasses Baie D'urfe, Beaconsfield, Pointe Claire, St. Anne de Bellevue, and Senneville, brought up the fact he regularly receives complaints from Anglos in his riding who can't get service in English from a government body or ministry, Ms. Martineau actually said she was "floored" by that revelation, and then added - get ready - ... "I don't believe it. I have never received a single complaint of that nature." But wait, there's more ! She then challenged Kelley to produce names and then send them to her.

So in an attempt to introduce Ms. Martineau to the real world, I'd like you, or anyone you know who has ever been unable to get service in English from any Quebec government body, to let her know. Maybe that way, she won't think we're all liars who do nothing more than try to stir up trouble.

And feel free to post those complaints here too.

Address your experience/complaint to
Madame Lucie Martineau -

E-mail : communication@sfpq.qc.ca

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  1. comentatord20 posted on 03/14/2013 04:56 PM
    I am a French Canadian professionnal (bilingual) and I cater to both the French and English equally. My customers use the services of the provincial government...let me tell you that minimal forms have been translated and it is practically impossible to have a translated form, or even an English speaking person.
  2. Robert posted on 03/14/2013 05:46 PM
    Bold move, Aaron
  3. Frankie Berube posted on 03/14/2013 06:52 PM
    On December 20, 2012. I had a Conciliation meeting with the Tribunal administratif du Québec against the Societe de l’assurance automobile du Quebec. The SAAQ sent their lawyer and her assistant and neither one of them could speak English. I have sent a letter to my agent at the SAAQ stating that I was not happy about this. I can provide you with a copy of that letter if you like. The Judge had to be the translator between the lawyer and myself. I try very hard to communicate in French but when the matters are serious enough I would like it to be in a language that I'm very comfortable with.

    I would also like to point out since Bill 14 has hit the fan the SAAQ are not providing too many agents that speak English. On many occasions my husband has been in contact with them and they refuse to speak English to him.

    destination_ultime@hotmail.com
  4. Frankie Berube posted on 03/14/2013 06:55 PM
    On December 20, 2012. I had a Conciliation meeting with the Tribunal administratif du Québec against the Societe de l’assurance automobile du Quebec. The SAAQ sent their lawyer and her assistant and neither one of them could speak English. I have sent a letter to my agent at the SAAQ stating that I was not happy about this. I can provide you with a copy of that letter if you like. The Judge had to be the translator between the lawyer and myself. I try very hard to communicate in French but when the matters are serious enough I would like it to be in a language that I'm very comfortable with.

    I would also like to point out since Bill 14 has hit the fan the SAAQ are not providing too many agents that speak English. On many occasions my husband has been in contact with them and they refuse to speak English to him.
  5. Le Québécois posted on 03/14/2013 09:21 PM
    Can we also send her all the examples of the failure of our bilingual federal government to keep its french service promises in the ROC to make things more relative ?

    The problem is not that the phone is answered in english the problem is when you refuse to hire people if they don't speak enough english.

    Some immigrants come from Maghreb and we tell them it's a french province and they believe it and when they get here they cannot get a job.

    This is discrimination and this is why she is making those comments.

    Not because most Quebekers can and are willing to communicate in english.
    English should be an asset, but not a handicap.

    The same way it is in all the other english only provinces.
    This is Canada get used to it.
  6. CDU posted on 03/17/2013 09:06 AM
    When signing forms for my children's 7$-day daycare, I was given the French version. I went to the ministry website to at least read the English version so I could understand what I was signing and although there are English versions of some of the forms out of "courtesy", I cannot submit the version I understand.
    Also, I live in Ile-Bizard and the burrough page on the Montreal city website is solely in French - which I find frustrating considering I pay taxes to the City of Montreal, shouldn't my local information also be available in English? At times when I call the 311 line to get information, a bilingual agent is not available. Just don't call on week-ends. Same with infosanté.
    Here's one third party hear-say: My 70-year-old+ mother was told by a friend that if she needs to retake a driver's test to keep her license, she better be prepared to take it in French otherwise they will fail her. My mother's friend claims she was failed because she asked to do it in English, but when she retook it in French, she passed.
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