quebec arrogance | GTAMotorcycle.com

quebec arrogance

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timtune

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Went to NL for a month. Both ways thru quebec not a single english sign. For miles on the Transcan we were being warned about something. That much we could decipher but with french only the specific danger was unclear.
With at least 3 english only provinces on either side of them you would think some english signs might be offered as a curtesy,but no.
To me that is the height of arrogance.
We made sure to only buy gas and drop off garbage (in a proper receptacle) while going thru.
 
we should change all the signs in brampton to punjabi, "its our cultural heritage!"
See how they like it.
 
We don't post signs in French here, and I see lots of Quebec plates. Is that also arrogance?
 
Sometimes i think people don't grasp how French quebec is outside of the big city centers and touristic attractions. People don't learn/speak/understand english for the most part if they don't need it
And also NB is technically bilingual and there are a lot of francophones/acadians closest to that border.

Now should there be indicators in both languages...definitely, yes.
But are we talking about a temporary sign for a hazard/danger that was put up by construction crews that only finished their high school diploma, on the outskirts of the province (and probably don't speak English at all?) In that case i might see it as more plausible that they wouldn't have bilingual indicators if they interchangeably use those same signs for all their local construction projects.

If it's a permanent installation then probably something should be done about it.

Growing up in Quebec city, my "high level" of bilingualism back then was quite rare. So this doesn't really surprise me.
 
LePhillou said:
And also NB is technically bilingual and there are a lot of francophones/acadians closest to that border.
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Don't forget the francophones in Northern Ontario.

As for New Brunswick. Their laws on language seem stricter then Quebec. I didn't have to provide French documents for Quebec as long as there is someone internally who can assist. In New Brunswick even internal company documents must be provided in both languages. Or so said the legal department.
 
Just did a similar trip a few weeks ago....

With respect to the mobile signs (electronic or not) that warn of traffic flow, construction, etc. In Ontario near the Quebec border they have both English and French. Fixed signs are typically English only. The further you get form QC the French tends to get dropped or is less prevalent.

In New Brunswick which is officially bi-lingual (only province that is AFAIK) they typically have both languages throughout for all signs (but most stop signs just say stop, some say both).

As for QC, yes only French but at the same time even with my min required grade 9 French some 38 years ago that I never use I had no issues getting the gist of the signs (any of them). It really is not that hard and maybe if you plan to drive through it might be a good idea to do quick refresh yourself via google translate on the basics like construction, closed, etc? I do not see it as arrogance ON THEIR PART... When in Rome.
 
Priller said:
We don't post signs in French here, and I see lots of Quebec plates. Is that also arrogance?
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We don't? Is that a recent thing? A new tit for tat on account of Quebec banning English on road signs?

highwaysign.jpeg
 
Never been to Paris, France?
 
timtune said:
3 english only provinces
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Which ones would that be? Or are you projecting your own lazy unilingualism/imperialism on the entire population of the rest of Canada?

"We" implies that you weren't alone in the vehicle either, which means that a passenger could've typed the sign's message into Google Translate/Bing/Deepl if you really wanted to know (without having to commit any of that filthy foreign language to memory for more than a few seconds.)

But no. It's Québec that's arrogant.
 
Dimitri said:
Standard Government messaging like that does. The moment they put a traffic alert, or other message it's English only.

Green fixed signage tends to all be English only as well.

View attachment 57109
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There you go splitting hairs again. There are either signs posted in both languages in Ontario or there isn't. It's a yes or no answer. There is no grey area.

Side note: What are your views on Darkside?
 
FullMotoJacket said:
There you go splitting hairs again. There are either signs posted in both languages in Ontario or there isn't. It's a yes or no answer. There is no grey area.

Side note: What are your views on Darkside?
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Just like you have both languages in Quebec, just not everywhere?

Which to me is a whole lotta gray area, lol.

...here i go being a contrarian again. Sorry.
 
LePhillou said:
Just like you have both languages in Quebec, just not everywhere?

Which to me is a whole lotta gray area, lol.

...here i go being a contrarian again. Sorry.
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I've driven to MSA and Bromont enough times. I don't recall seeing English on a road sign. Ever.
 
FullMotoJacket said:
We don't? Is that a recent thing? A new tit for tat on account of Quebec banning English on road signs?

highwaysign.jpeg
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I'm not sure a few placeholder messages on pixelboard signs is the winning argument you think it is when >99.9% of signs across the province are unilingual...

Also not sure what the big deal is. Signs are meant to be read quickly and easily by the majority of road users. Trying to squeeze in two languages is confusing and broadly pointless on both sides of the border. Unless somewhere is truly bilingual (e.g. Ottawa, Montreal, big chunks of NB) you're negatively affecting the vast majority of users for the minimal benefit of a few. We all know what a red octagon means, whether it says 'stop' or 'arrêt'.
 
Lot's of French speakers in North Ontario as well.
 
Priller said:
I'm not sure a few placeholder messages on pixelboard signs is the winning argument you think it is when >99.9% of signs across the province are unilingual...

Also not sure what the big deal is. Signs are meant to be read quickly and easily by the majority of road users. Trying to squeeze in two languages is confusing and broadly pointless on both sides of the border. Unless somewhere is truly bilingual (e.g. Ottawa, Montreal, big chunks of NB) you're negatively affecting the vast majority of users for the minimal benefit of a few. We all know what a red octagon means, whether it says 'stop' or 'arrêt'.
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True, but I believe in @timtune example there was something up ahead they should be aware of. I am pretty sure around the GTA they use 2 sets of temporary construction signs letting you know if something like "exit to DVP closed tonight" etc. one placed after the other in Eng & Fre.
 
sburns said:
True, but I believe in @timtune example there was something up ahead they should be aware of. I am pretty sure around the GTA they use 2 sets of temporary construction signs letting you know if something like "exit to DVP closed tonight" etc. one placed after the other in Eng & Fre.
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Only required in designated bilingual areas per OPSS 706.07.01.01. Having done TCP's across Ontario between Windsor and Kingston, North Bay and Niagara, I've never once been asked to include French signs. Nothing in Ottawa or anywhere else that could be designated as bilingual, though.

Can't speak for the 400 series, as that work was too big for the company I worked for, but I can't recall if French portable signs are standard...
 
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