OLF Targets Cupcake Shop In Montreal

We all love them, those delicious little cakes nicely decorated. We ate them as kids and even as adults we are hard pressed to pass a cupcake without taking a bite. Travel around the world and chances are if you ask someone what a cupcake is, they most likely will tell you. Cupcake shops have become as ubiquitous as hot dog stands in some American cities, and have spread to Rome; Istanbul; Berlin; Seoul, South Korea; and Sydney and Australia. Even the Arab world is not immune to such a Western frivolity. 

However, this cupcake frenzy does not seem to have hit the Office De la Langue Française just yet. Today the owner of “Crazy About Cupcakes” in Pointe Claire, Montreal was told by the OLF that the word "cupcakes" in her brand name may not be acceptable. Armed with this knowledge, we decided to do a little research to see what these little illegal cakes are called in France. We found out they were called....well..."Cupcakes". Here are some of the shop names we found in France:

Cupcakes & Company : http://cupcakesandco.fr/index.php
Synie’s Cupcakes: http://www.syniescupcakes.com/ Located in Paris
Tout savoir sur les cupcakes http://www.cupcakes.fr/Cupcake/Cupcakes.html (A Book)
Choppy’s Cupcakes and Coffee Shop: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Choopys-cupcakes-coffee-shop/120435958030730
Sugar Daze: http://www.sugardazecupcakes.com/en/index.php (Paris) English Site
Even *gasp* Cupcake camp : http://cupcakecampparis.blogspot.ca/p/sponsorspartenaires.html

For anyone with a marketing background, a logo and a name are very important, a lot of money and research goes into their design. Unfortunately for Tanya Bouzaglo, owner of “Crazy About Cupcakes”shop these changes would affect many aspects of her business. Not only would her brand name take a hit, she would also have to update her software, cash register, business cards, advertising and even a car she has wrapped in an ad. The OLF did agree to pay for 75% towards making her business French as this is their rule for small business,  however it still leaves the owner footing 25% of the bill after all changes are implemented.

How generous of the OLF to pick up 75% of the tab to ensure “Cupcake” or ”crazy” is eradicated from Quebec. We all know who is really paying for this nonsense, we the taxpayers and small business owners. Lets face it, the fight against the word cupcake is so important and SHOULD take precedence over not so important issues such as health care, roads, cancer funding and equipment for children’s hospitals.

We encourage everyone to drop by “ Crazy About Cupcakes” http://www.montrealcupcakes.com :48 St Anne #4, Pointe Claire and order some delicious cupcakes. But when you order try not to be too loud when using the word cupcake, the OLF just might be listening to you


If you would like to support the fight against language discrimination please join us at the following links below:

FB : http://www.facebook.com/putbacktheflag
Twitter: putbacktheflag






Sources : http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/dining/23cake.html?_r=0

OLF Back On The Attack Against Montreal Ben And Jerry's

We recently featured a story on Montreal’s Ben And Jerry’s and their struggle with the language police. Over the course of a year they have been the repeated victims of the OLF’s bullying and harassment. Ben and Jerry’s have complied fully with all demands on every occasion only to have the OLF come back for more.
 
CJAD and CTV news did a full report on the issue last month and judging from the response they received from the OLF, they felt that the issue would be put to rest.

Unfortunately today, Ben and Jerry’s have been harassed once again. They received a letter in the mail asking that they further comply. The problem this time, the terms “GST” and “phone” printed on the cash register receipts.


We won’t make this a tabloid story as we are sure everyone at this point would like to stick to the facts. In our opinion, this repeated harassment, despite FULL compliance on numerous occasions, is simply outrageous. Local businesses in Montreal do not deserve this sort of treatment. It is difficult enough as is to survive in a stagnant economy. Making the choice to become a small business owner is a difficult one for many to make. Profit margins are usually quite slim and these small owners need to put their children through school and food on the table.

We find it absolutely disgusting that our own government, to whom we pay taxes to, should repeatedly threaten, add to stress levels and force small businesses into submission. The fear these business owners have are legitimate; heavy fines and an eventual bankruptcy would be the result. They have no choice but to comply at their own expense.

Service in French and signage is NOT the problem. Walk into any Ben And Jerry’s and you will see there is absolutely no issue.

We need everyone to take this seriously. Bill 14 will make the situation worse; we need to ensure that everyone’s voices are heard.

If you would like to keep track of all the latest news on language discrimination in Quebec please feel free to join our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/putbacktheflag

If you are a small business owner, have been harassed by the OQLF, please feel free to contact us at : putbacktheflag@gmail.com  We will fight for you.

To read our original blog post with pictures, click here

CTV News Story about Ben And Jerry's : http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/quebec-s-language-laws-leave-ben-jerry-s-shop-with-ice-cream-headache-1.1077743

CJAD: http://www.cjad.com/CJADLocalNews/entry.aspx?blogEntryID=10478778

Man At The Quebec License Bureau (SAAQ) Humiliated In Front Of His Family For Speaking English

Born and raised in Egypt, Mohamed Amin was excited to come to Canada 1.5 years ago to begin his life with wife Camilla. Weighing his options, Canada seemed to be the best fit for his life and family. Mohamed decided that Quebec would be the province he would settle into. His wife had convinced him that Canada was a place where freedom of choice and liberty were paramount.

Not too long after Mohamed began his life in Montreal, he quickly got a sense that something was very wrong. From being ignored by the bus drivers, to being talked down to by the metro workers and store clerks, he began to feel that speaking English in Montreal was not going to be an option.

Mohamed then enrolled in French courses offered by the government and was put into level two French. Mohammed struggled through the course as the teacher was unable to speak to him in English to facilitate his learning. When he asked for explanations in English, the teacher promptly told him, “On est au Québec, on parle français.”

Along the way, Mohamed was reminded of this very fact over and over again. Mohamed remarked, “It started to feel like the teachers took a course on how to repeat this same sentence over and over again as if to brainwash us new immigrants. I have heard it too many times to count.”

Recently his experience took a turn for the worse at the SAAQ (Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec), located at 6900 Décarie, in Côte St. Luc, QC, when transferring a vehicle license. After having waited for their number to be called up, his wife Camilla approached the attendant and  first spoke to them in English. The attendant replied back to her in French. The couple made their best efforts to understand the contract and fine print legalities in French. When asked to have one part explained in English, they heard “the famous line” yet again, “Ici on est au Québec, on parle français.”

A confused Mohamed asked why he couldn’t get services in both official languages as he had understood when accepting his Canadian citizenship. At this point the SAAQ attendant pressed the NEXT button ignoring Mohamed completely and failing to provide the service his tax dollars pay for.

According to Mohamed, this experience left him feeling humiliated in front of his wife and daughter. It disappointed and ruined his day. He could not believe what had happened to him and reflected on all the experiences of discrimination he had endured this past year and a half in what he would describe as “A culture of hate.”

Mohamed told us, “I feel that in Quebec, the only way you can feel normal or fit in is if your first language is French. That is the only way to feel normal, if your first language is not French you are made to feel like an outcast. When I am repeatedly told I must speak french because I am in Quebec,  it’s as if I am being told we serve only whites here. I cannot believe this is happening in 2013 and in a free country like Canada.

Fight Language Discrimination In Quebec :
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/putbacktheflag
Website: http://www.putbacktheflag.com
Twitter: putbacktheflag
Media Inquiries:  putbacktheflag@gmail.com

In the rest of Canada, we respect paramedics, why don't you Madame Marois?

Putbacktheflag.com  would like to show their full support to our ambulance technicians who despite being on strike give their 100% commitment to the job.

Join us to fight dircrimination in Quebec : http://www.facebook.com/putbacktheflag

Vote Down Bill14 Protest: https://www.facebook.com/events/447506535312173/

QUEBEC — About 120 striking ambulance technicians and paramedics blew vuvuzelas, ate hotdogs and drank Pepsi Friday outside the offices of their employer, Quebec’s treasury board. 

Yvon Bonesso, a vice-president of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux union representing the ambulance attendants, said the picnic-style demonstration was meant to attract public attention to the strike by 2,500, which began on Dec. 24, 2012. 

“We’re on strike and we’re giving 100 per cent service,” Bonesso said, saying that in normal times, less than 100 per cent of ambulance service is available. 

“It’s better than usual,” he added. “Our hands are tied.” 

 Quebec’s essential services commission has ruled the union must maintain full ambulance service during their strike. 

Bonesso said the union is not seeking a wage increase. Instead it is asking for changes in the pay scale so that its members reach the top pay scale in five years, as is the case in other provinces.Now it takes 16 years to reach the top scale. The union is also seeking pension improvements. 

Bonesso said ambulance workers often quit, are injured or get too sick to work before reaching normal retirement age, similar to what happens to police, firefighters and people in the military. 

They also want the same recognition that paramedics get in other provinces. 

The union has been without a contract since March 30, 2010.

Source: http://www.globalmontreal.com/quebec+ambulance+worker+strike+aint+no+picnic+-+except+when+it+is/6442786814/story.html

Marriage Between Anglos and Francos? Not If The PQ Have Their Way

CEGEP is important for linguistic transfer. It is the time when young people make lasting friendships, find a marriage partner, start a job. We want that to happen in French.” – Jean-François Lisée Ambassador to the Montreal Anglo Community, PQ Minister of International Relations, La Francophonie and External Trade.

This quote by Jean Francois Lisée is quite disturbing and brings to mind apartheid and Bill 101 similarities.

In South Africa an amendment to the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act of 1949 prohibited marriage between persons of different races. So blacks and whites could not marry because children might have fallen into the "black" category in the future. In Quebec, the PQ government's Bill 101 separates the two linguistic groups in the educational system as well, and tries to prevent future relationships between the two cultures from meeting.

The New Bill 101( Bill 14) is another extension and tool to prevent future relationships which would make it increasingly more difficult for french young adults to meet english young adults in anglophone colleges. God forbid a francophone meets an anglophone, get married,  and have bilingual children. That would go completely against the Parti Quebecois views and especially Jean-François Lisée as clearly stated in the above quote.

Of course in South Africa the laws were more extreme and in North America one could not get away with such unconstitutional legislation. The work around? other laws must be pursued to prevent the unions of anglos/allos with francophones.

Statistics say that 25% of all students that go to English public schools in Quebec come from mixed marriages since it requires only one parent to be English and qualify. The PQ government it would seem, want to close that gap by separating the groups at all levels in the educational instruction with the goal of having less anglophone or billingual children. 

 Sound familiar?

Contributed by "flagster" member Jimmy K. 


Join to fight discrimination based on language in Quebec: http://www.facebook.com/putbacktheflag

Sources: http://lavitrecassee.com/2012/10/03/la-segregation-linguistique-de-j-f-lisee-et-du-pq/
Journal De Montréal : http://blogues.journaldemontreal.com/liseravary/actualites/9031/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Government Should Never Have To Protect A Culture

People I know and the treatment they received here in Quebec recently due solely to the use of Canada's other Language (English) has not impressed me. The Language Police's constant barrage of idiotic proposals and wasted resources that so many of us have known as reality for a very long time are now being brought to light at long last. I am sickened, astonished and quite ashamed to be honest. Its disgusting discrimination and worst of all the oppression of the Francophone people of this province. They are being deprived of the freedom choice and education paramount to being part of a global society or any global business progression. 

When everyone on this planet want to provide their children with the gift of a second language, ironically Quebec is forbidding it. When the rest of the planet is moving forward Quebec is taking steps backward. When we are working feverishly every day hoping and praying to build acceptance and working towards global unity of every race religion and culture relishing in every small step forward toward global cohesion, the Quebec is breeding bigotry and hatred. It's neolithic quite frankly.

They are making asses of themselves and blackening the eye of a country I love. I am proud of who I am and my heritage. I do not need ANYONE or ANY government to maintain it for me. I am quite capable to do so for myself and my family. I love the people of Quebec and feel truly blessed to have been a part of what is Quebec culture while I've lived here. The incredible people and culturally rich individuals of this province do not need either to have the French Quebec culture shoved down their throats. They don't need to be told they don't have the right to provide their children with a second language. They do not need to be monitored by the language police and threatened for speaking English in their office or their businesses. The last time I was outside my front door,  the people of Quebec that I came in contact with were as smart as any Canadian I know and could make their own choices. Quebecker s are perfectly capable in taking pride in their language and culture without being mandated to do so by the government.

I am not just an Anglo, I can more then get by in a second language. However the longer I live here amongst this bigotry and oppression the less I have the desire to use this second language as I have been made to gag on so many many times. My heart goes out to the life long residents of Quebec. 

Hopefully the choice of culture and language will one day belong to the people as it does in the rest of our country. I for one truly believe after my years living here that the pride of the people are all that is needed to preserve the the incredible culture of Quebec.

Danyell Trotter-Worr Putbacktheflag.com Member

Join our 14,000 members fighting language discrimination in Quebec : http://www.facebook.com/putbacktheflag