Language police Exhibit 4
This is a public organization that was established in 1961. Jean Lesage was the one who had started this organization although it was under Bill 101 that its function was clearly laid out. The purpose of the OQLF is to: align on international French, promote good Canadianisms and fight Anglicisms. From the year they were established they started to call people and businesses out for having anything English spoken or written around them. The OQLF is still out there today. A few months ago they walked into an Italian restaurant, looked at the menu, and saw the word Pasta. The OQLF started a whole argument with them, and the restaurant was forced to take Pasta off their menu. This incident is now referred to as 'Pastagate'. Another example is in the year 2005 when Allan Singer got busted. Singer was a business owner in Montreal, and on the outside of his office he had the words, “Allan Singer Limited Printers and Stationers Office Supplies.” They made him change it immediately and Mr.Singer and the OQLF ended up going to court. In Montreal in 1995, the Quebec language watchdog appeared once again. This time it was regarding Mayor Gerard Tremblay who used the word "Go" in his campaign pamphlets and posters. The use of an english word on election pamphlets is against the French language law and the language police is out looking for violators.