The Big Five Podcast A St-Léonard barbershop owner says he’s being unfairly targeted by the OQLF. Plus: CBS will be ending The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Jul 18, 2025
Karim Boulos, a political analyst and former city councillor, teams up with Neil Drabkin, a lawyer and political commentator with a rich background in government, to delve into current political matters. They discuss the plight of a St-Léonard barbershop owner targeted by Quebec's language watchdog, examining the broader implications of language laws on businesses. The conversation also touches on Craig Sauvé's mayoral ambitions and the need for change in Montreal governance, alongside the impact of lowering the voting age on youth political engagement.
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Quebec Language Law Enforcement
- The barbershop owner using English on his sign in Quebec faced language police scrutiny and possible fines.
- This results from established Quebec language laws that require commercial names and messages to be in French.
Comply With Language Rules
- Businesses in Quebec should comply with French language laws to avoid hefty fines.
- Ignoring these rules invites legal trouble and no sympathy, so check compliance before starting.
Anglophone Community Challenges
- The Quebec English community may seem to have lost its fighting spirit against the language police.
- This is partly due to lack of federal government support for minority language rights in Quebec.