Tongue Taliban hits NDG

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by Kristian Gravenor

In spite of official-sounding disapproval by former premier Bouchard and more recently by the Estates General on the Status of the French Language, the measuring-tape crew from the Commission de la protection de la langue franÜaise is still doing its thing.

Boutique Rock, at 5522 Sherbrooke near Girouard, was fined $604 last week for infractions against the provincial language law, which orders a marked predominance of French on commercial signs. The rolling paper, hash pipes and medieval supplies shop features such signs as "Open/Closed," "sandwiches" (instead of "sandwichs"), a sticker that reads "Harley Parking Only," as well as some equal-sized bilingual notices.

Owner Sam Servello says he'll fight. "I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Me, if they want me to do a couple of days in jail, I'm glad to do it, I don't give a fuck. You know, bottom line, I pay taxes, I pay rent and what the fuck, I'm trying to make money and if English works for me, if French works for me, it's fine. Chinese too."

A spokesman for Alliance Quebec says that language bureaucrats usually stall in the face of shopkeepers who resist compliance. "They come and liquidate your stuff, but you almost have to dare them," says Andrew Male. He adds that the English rights group would again be willing to buy back whatever goods get auctioned off, as they did for Bill the Plumber last year. :