Quebec's Language Laws Lead to "Pastagate"

BY ELISABETH FRASER | Friday, March 15 2013

 Internet meme for "Pastagate"

In Canada, the province of Quebec's endless language wars are playing out yet again in the public arena, this time as farce — thanks in no small part to the power of social media.

The long-running language debate in a province where English-speakers are outnumbered by French-speakers, has recently reached new heights of absurdity against the backdrop of a proposed language law tabled by the province's separatist minority government.

Bill 14, a piece of legislation authored by Premiere Pauline Marois’ Parti Québecois, would toughen the province’s existing laws, limiting access to English education for Francophones and Anglophones alike, stripping many municipalities of their bilingual status, and broadening the powers of the province’s so-called “language police”.

This comes on top of a controversial law passed in 1977 — the Charter of the French Language, popularly known as Bill 101, which enshrines French as the province’s official language. According to this law, which is a central part of Quebec’s language policy, all aspects of every day business, from law enforcement to commerce, must be conducted in French. In areas where there is a native English speaking majority or plurality, bilingual services, signs and notices may be provided — but only on condition that French is given more prominence than English. The law is strictly enforced by the Office québécois de la langue française (Quebec Board of the French Lanuage), a.k.a. the language police.

The new bill prompted immediate and widespread backlash with many Anglophones — and even some Francophones —denouncing it as excessive. But it took a flap over spaghetti for things to really boil over, creating an online storm that has the province being labeled an international laughingstock.

From the outside, Québec`s unique linguistic situation may seem hard to comprehend. The largely Francophone province is home to small but significant pockets of English-speakers. This is particularly true for the island of Montréal, the economic heart of the city, where a significant chunk of the population is Anglophone. Montreal is a cultural metropolis that attracts tourists from all over the world.

While in the past these groups (Anglophones and Francophones) were known as the “Two Solitudes”, recent generations have become increasingly bilingual. Today, most Montrealers are now at least functionally fluent in both languages.  The island is also home to its own unique hybrid dialect known as “Franglais”, in which commonplace English and French words are randomly dropped into everyday conversation.

But the province is also home to a vocal separatist movement, which wants Québec to separate from the rest of Canada and form its own country.  The movement is home to many Francophone language hawks, many of whom form the base of the PQ.

It was perhaps in the spirit of appeasing that base that Marois’ language minister, Diane de Courcy, submitted Bill 14 to the Québec legislature.  And it was perhaps in this spirit that the Québec language cops badly fumbled the PR ball.

On February 14, an officer from the province’s “language police” paid a visit to upscale Italian eateryBuonanotte, and sent a letter of warning to the restaurant for a series of language infractions, including the use of the word "pasta" (as opposed to the French pâtes) in the establishment’s menu.

Qubébec’s language officers operate out of the”Office de la langue français” (Office of the French language), a body which oversees and enforces Bill 101, the province’s existing language law.  Amongst other things, officers must be on the alert for English wording, and measure the ratio of English-vs-French wording on all public signage (French must always be larger than English).

Once the OQLF officer targeted Buonanotte, the owner took to Twitter, posting a photo of the word “pasta” circled on the restaurant’s menu. The Internet went wild.  After Anglo journalist Dan Delmarbroke the story, other media outlets followed suit, and "Pastagate" was born.

Soon, media outlets across the city were carrying the story.  Facebook came alive, and Twitter exploded with #pastagate posts.  Popular memes evolved, often depicting Premiere Marois in mocking Photoshopped scenarios: One popular image circulating the ‘net shows the Premiere vomiting up a huge plate of pasta on her desk at the National Assembly.

Pastagate has now wound up attracting international attention, with the Economist labeling Québec an international laughingstock.

The language issue in the province is currently at full throttle, as hearings on Bill 14 continue.  A new militant Anglo-rights group, “CRITIQ” has formed to fight the bill and defend businesses targeted by the OQLF.  Local businesses are hopping on the bandwagon.  And the OQLF’s President, Louise Marchand, resigned on March 8 in wake of the scandal.

The future of the bill remains to be seen, as Pastagate continues to prevade the provincial discourse and create international headlines.  But with a $100 per plate benefit for businesses targeted by the OQLF scheduled at Buonanotte restaurant next month, it seems the provincial government has some serious spin control work ahead.

Elisabeth Fraser is a Canadian journalist.

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