A feud over bilingualism is escalating in the capital of New Brunswick, Canada.
Business owners have attacked proposals to make it compulsory for all commercial signs in Moncton to be in both English and French.
Moncton has a long history of linguistic division, but the last major conflict between anglophones and francophones in the city was four decades ago. Now tensions are resurfacing as suggestions of a new bilingual requirement are mooted.
Barry Renouf, a local store-owner who has led the charge against the proposals, said such a move would be "unconstitutional," and was tantamount to "bigotry against my English company in the city of Moncton."
Fellow critics claim mandatory bilingual signage violates freedom of expression.
Renouf hit out at a decision by neighbouring Dieppe to enforce bilingual laws. He says he has faced harassment since making his views known.
But Mayor George LeBlanc says no decision has been taken on the proposal, which was submitted by the special interest group Front commun pour l'affichage bilingue au Nouveau-Brunswick.
"We are doing consultations in the community, and then we will determine the proper course for Moncton," he told the city council.
Michel Carrier, the province of New Brunswick's Commissioner of Official Languages, called the criticisms "ludicrous," and denied opponents' claims that the move was being driven by French-speaking Quebec.
He said the proposals were made to ensure "that both languages in New Brunswick are of equal status and value."
Just over a third of Moncton's 64,000-strong population speak French.
19 July 2010
Go back to July 2010
