Canadian complains after being spoken to in English on the plane

In addition to the impressive nature, large metropolises such as Vancouver or Toronto, the maple leaf and ice hockey, Canada is also known for its bilingualism. This can also lead to conflicts, as an incident in an airplane recently showed.

Jean-Pierre Beaudoin wanted to fly with Air Canada from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the US, reports msn.com. But the journey did not go as Beaudoin had envisioned. His business class waitress spoke only English, which the passenger did not like at all. He wanted to be served in French by the stewardess.

Therefore, he would have asked someone else to serve him. The flight attendant then spoke to a colleague and then told him – in English – that she was responsible for this area on the plane. She will serve him and if that does not suit him, he is free to leave the plane before departure. This is how Beaudoin describes what he experienced on TVA Nouvelles, a French-language TV channel.

Beaudoin, who speaks both languages ​​fluently, turned down the chance to get off the plane. Instead, he responded with an act of rebellion—only answering questions in French when the flight attendant addressed him in English. It’s about the principle, Beaudoin told the TV channel.

He further said:

When it comes to the language situation in Canada, you should know that while English is the dominant language in much of the country, French is mainly spoken in the state of Québec in the east of the country. French is widely spoken in the major cities of Montreal, Quebec City and the capital Ottawa. The Canadian Constitution specifically emphasizes bilingualism, a legacy of the colonial era. Public services must be offered to the population in both national languages.

Because of its history, the language issue is an emotional one, especially for many French Canadians. Air Canada had this experience in 2019, when a couple complained that some signs on a domestic flight were only in English. As a result, the airline had to pay a fine of more than $15,000.

To ensure that the two national languages ​​are treated equally, Canada has its own language authority, which is intended, among other things, to safeguard this matter. Dissatisfied passenger Beaudoin has now also contacted them and filed a complaint against Air Canada.

The airline describes the incident slightly differently than the angry passenger: the service on board was always available in both languages. Leaving the plane was certainly not the only option. Beaudoin’s account of how the incident happened was wrong. Two of the three staff present spoke French and would have been happy to serve the annoyed guest in his preferred language if he had wished. (con)