Tourisme Quebec's English brochures raise francophone ire
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 8, 2009 | 10:30 AM ET
CBC News
A Franco-Ontarian offended by an English-only tourism pamphlet touting Quebec City as a choice destination says he's ready to take his complaint to Canada's highest language watchdog.
The brochure, mailed out by Tourisme Québec to Ontario residents, urges people to take advantage of Quebec City as a tourist destination.
Jean-Marie Leduc, who lives in the Ottawa area, says the pamphlet ignores the reality of thousands of francophones living outside Quebec.
"In Ontario, there are more than one million francophones, and in Ottawa, there are maybe 150,000 to 200,000. This being the national capital, the least they can do is respect the region's bilingualism!" Leduc told CBC'S French-language service this week.
"We're inviting us to go to Quebec, but only in English. I reacted, because I am a francophone by birth, I respect my mother tongue, and I want people to respect me too," he said.
Tourisme Québec defended its English-only pamphlet, citing budgetary constraints.
"We made the choice to produce this ad campaign for markets in New England and Ontario, where the majority of people are anglophone," said Michel-André Roy, communications director for the Ministry of Tourism in Quebec.
Leduc has filed a formal complaint with Tourisme Québec, and said he is in contact with Canada's Official Languages Commission as well.
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