Quebec language police go for the matzohs
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.HUGH WINSOR
in Ottawa
They're calling it "Matzohgate", after over-zealous Quebec language police swooped on Jewish delicatessens this week and ordered religious speciality foods, some of which had been imported for the Passover, to be taken off the shelves because they did not have French labels.
The move by inspectors from the Office de la Langue Francaise has provoked an outcry from Quebec's 100,000 strong Jewish community and moderate Francophone Quebecers who fear a sabotage of premier Lucien Bouchard's recent overtures to the province's English and immigrant communities.
Although Quebec and Canadian laws require all consumer goods to be labelled in both English and French, officials have traditionally ignored the Kosher matzoh balls, farfeh and gefilte fish imported from the US for Jewish holidays.The Canadian market is not big enough to justify production of the kosher specialties locally and there has been a similar policy towards foods imported for the Chinese community.
But the fact militants in the French language bureau chose this particular time to swoop is seen as significant.
The language police were established almost two decades ago when all languages other than French were prohibited from outdoor signs. That law was recently eased, however, to permit other languages as long as French predominates.
This followed last fall's referendum on independence in which former premier Jacques Parizeau blamed the separatists' close loss on "ethnics and money", a not-too-subtle reference to Montreal's prosperous Jews.
Since Mr Bouchard took over earlier this year he has tried to calm the English and immigrant communities. This in turn has led to a backlash among some of French-speaking militantsand bureaucrats whose raison d'etre is enforcing French laws. Now Mr Bouchard's credibility on the line.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments