Parti Quebecois upset that Quebecers allowed vanity plates in English

spaminator

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Parti Quebecois upset that Quebecers allowed vanity plates in English
Canadian Press
More from Canadian Press
Published:
July 6, 2018
Updated:
July 6, 2018 4:17 PM EDT
MONTREAL — Vanity car licence plates will be legal in Quebec within weeks but the Parti Quebecois says drivers should be banned from inscribing statements or slogans on them in any language other than French.
The governing Liberals and Quebec’s automobile insurance board — which enforces the highway safety code and auto insurance act — say the new law on vanity plates adheres to the province’s strict language legislation.
Pascal Berube, the PQ’s opposition critic for identity and language, was irked when he learned Quebecers would be free to have their cars adorned with vanity plates in any language they wanted.
“It’s unacceptable,” he told Montreal La Presse. “It’s a disappointment and we invite the (automobile insurance board) to reconsider.”
When reached by phone Friday, however, Berube refused to talk further about the issue.
“I said what I had to say, it’s up to the transport minister to comment on it…My earlier comments reported in (La Presse) are accurate.”
Quebec’s French Language Charter stipulates public signs, posters and commercial advertising must be in French only, barring certain exceptions.
Berube’s position is that the law permitting vanity plates goes against the spirit of Quebec’s language legislation.
“(Past) legislators clearly wanted personalized licence plates to fall under the (language) charter,” he told the news organization.
Marie-Pier Richard, a spokesperson for Transport Minister Andre Fortin, said in an email the vanity plates respect the charter because they are considered personal and non-commercial.
“English expressions are accepted, as are other languages, in the extent to which the vehicle is registered to a physical person and used for non-commercial means,” she said.
Mario Vaillancourt, a spokesman for the automobile insurance board, said as long as the plates are in Roman script or Arabic numerals — the standard letters and numbers used by most western countries — then everything is fine.
“It’s a driver’s choice,” he said in an interview.
There are still restrictions on what can be written on the plates, however.
The law stipulates vanity plates cannot express “an obscene or scandalous notion” or promote “the commission of a criminal offence,” among various restrictions.
They will sell for $250 and renewal will cost drivers $34.50, which falls within the range charged elsewhere in Canada.
Newfoundland and Labrador is the last jurisdiction in Canada where vanity plates aren’t available.
Quebec’s plates will be available for purchase online as of July 27.
http://torontosun.com/news/national...at-quebecers-allowed-vanity-plates-in-english
 

no color

Electoral Member
May 20, 2007
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1967 World's Fair
Apparently the SAAQ website crashed last Friday (July 27th) the first day Quebeckers were permitted to order vanity license plates. This was due to an unexpected volume of requests. It’s since been restored and no more issues have been reported.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to order my name, someone already beat me to it. But was able to get my second choice. Need to wait 3 to 6 weeks for delivery.

After ordering my custom tags, I was curious to see what type of screening was in place to prevent someone from ordering tags with obscene text or foul language. I was amazed in that most of what I typed was accepted. In fact, a couple of tags with foul language were not available as they had already been ordered by someone else. I just hope that there is additional screening prior to submitting the request to the manufacturer. I’m somewhat concerned since I received an auto email not long after placing my order informing me that my request had been sent to the manufacturer.
 

Curious Cdn

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Feb 22, 2015
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I remember being asked by a Quebecois Francophone (Independantiste) co-worker in Quebec what the purpose of Ontario's vanity plates were (circa 2005). My answer was "for the Province to generate revenues in a new, creative manner". Anyway, he was singularly unimpressed with the idea and thought that it was just another example of Anglo fluff (who can argue with that, eh?)
 

no color

Electoral Member
May 20, 2007
349
98
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1967 World's Fair
Just received my vanity license plate. I was initially told that it would take 4 to 6 weeks. It only took 2 weeks. Hat’s off to the SAAQ for speedy delivery!

I just hope the speedy delivery doesn’t mean that there’s no screening for usage of foul language or offensive text.

In any case, I activated my new tags online and placed the new license plate on my truck.
 

Curious Cdn

Hall of Fame Member
Feb 22, 2015
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Just received my vanity license plate. I was initially told that it would take 4 to 6 weeks. It only took 2 weeks. Hat’s off to the SAAQ for speedy delivery!

I just hope the speedy delivery doesn’t mean that there’s no screening for usage of foul language or offensive text.

In any case, I activated my new tags online and placed the new license plate on my truck.

They won't be screening for offensive language, only for English words, probably.
 

no color

Electoral Member
May 20, 2007
349
98
28
1967 World's Fair
They won't be screening for offensive language, only for English words, probably.
English words are fine. My new license plate has an English word (expression) on it. No issues. It’s been on my truck for 10 days now.

There’s no way the SAAQ would be able to prevent private citizens from ordering vanity license plates with English words on them. It would violate basic freedom of expression rights.
 

Curious Cdn

Hall of Fame Member
Feb 22, 2015
37,070
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English words are fine. My new license plate has an English word (expression) on it. No issues. It’s been on my truck for 10 days now.

There’s no way the SAAQ would be able to prevent private citizens from ordering vanity license plates with English words on them. It would violate basic freedom of expression rights.

The Office de la Langue Francais will start using cruisers to patrol the Autoroutes.