Il n'est pas gratifeé, n'est ce pas?

	True to the directives coming from the government, the new language policy aims at forbidding the use of English, except for cases where it is absolutely necessary.	Under the Parti Quebecois, the Quebec government keeps using its coercive power to drive the English language to the margins of public life. In the name of the fundamentalist vision contained in the Charter of the French Language, one sector after another where English used to be accepted is ruled out of bounds. This month, a new ukase restricting the use of English was published by an agency of the Quebec government that is close to the lives of the people: the Commission de la Sante et de la Securite du Travail (CSST). This body deals with workers to compensate them when they have been injured on the job and enforces rules of safety in the workplace for 2,637,932 employees across Quebec. Hundreds of thousands of these workers are English-speaking. But, true to the directives coming from the government, the new language policy aims at forbidding the use of English, except for cases where it is absolutely necessary. The cover page of the publication laying out the new language policy gives an early warning of what it contains. The word francais is repeated over and over -- in all, 170 times. It's as though a negligent student had been ordered by the teacher to stay after school and, as punishment for a lesson not learned, was sentenced to write over and over again the same word, to be forever engraved in the memory: francais. Here are some of the strictures contained in the new policy: - "The language of work is French." - "Business cards are in French." - "The documents made available in display stands will be in French only. A translation in another language may be available separately, if requested." (Presumably, an English version can be pulled out from behind the counter if the client insists.) - "Pamphlets, flyers or other documents distributed widely are to be in French only." - "The messages given out on answering machines and voice mail will be in French only." - "When a staff member replies to someone who has spoken to him in another language than French, he must first ascertain whether the person he is speaking to understands French. He may pursue the exchange in another language if the situation requires it."
	Reaching all of the workers with information dealing with safety is not the first priority. Establishing the imperial status of French is more important than safety.	Remember, this is the body that formulates and enforces the rules for safety in the workplace. Apparently, reaching all of the workers with information dealing with safety is not the first priority. Establishing the imperial status of French is more important than safety. The new policy does not absolutely forbid the use of English (referred to as "another language") in all circumstances. Only in most. And, where English is allowed to be used, it is made more difficult, or is treated in such a way as to make plain that English is merely tolerated. For example, the 3,796 employees of the CSST are told that, when speaking with the personnel of companies, associations or unions established in Quebec, they must use French only. However, if they are dealing with a head office outside Quebec, or if they are dealing with a company established in Quebec with a head office outside of Quebec, and members of that head office are present at the meeting, they may use "another language." The rules are complex, with all kinds of subtleties. For instance, if a member of the CSST is writing to the federal government or one of the other provinces where French is official, the letter must be in French only. But if the letter is going to a government that cannot be presumed to operate in French, the letter must be in French, but it can also carry a version in English or another language. But the letterhead and the signature may only be found in the French version. The non-French version must carry the word: "Translation." When dealing with individuals who are not representing a corporation, a union or an association, the employees of the CSST may use English -- but only after first speaking to the person in French. They are never allowed to use English spontaneously, either in spoken or written communications. The use of English may only come after the person they are dealing with has requested it. Incidentally, if you want to read all these complex rules in English, you are out of luck. I was told that the new policy "exists in French only."