A bit much for moi

When I worked at Bombardier some time ago, we produced all literature and video materials for Sea-Doo watercraft in English and French.  Bombardier is a French Canadian company so it made sense, even though sales in Quebec were only a handful.

But today, Quelle horreur! French-Canadians Michel and Lynda Thibodeau were awarded roughly $12,500 after suing Air Canada because the airline’s flight attendant failed to address them in their mother tongue as legally required, the Canadian Press reports.

The Thibodeau’s lawsuit was based largely on being unable to find an agent who spoke French and a baggage announcement that was made only in English when they were traveling from Ottawa to the United States. The couple was seeking $500,000 Canadian in damages.

The carrier, it should be noted, must communicate in both English and French when there is demand.

An important note: Mr. Thibodeau speaks English fluently.

Thibodeau has a history of being litigious. He sued an Ottawa bus company in 2002 because the bus driver said “Hello” not “Bonjour.”

It would be easy to chalk this up to one Quebecois being a jerk, but there are actually political groups that cheered the Thibodeau’s victory in court.

It really is a different world up there.

One of Many

Passion des règles!