Man sues airline for 12,000$ over lack of French service

[Ailia]

A man from Québec sued Air Canada for not providing him with French service on the plane. The man himself is bilingual but threw a fit when the flight attendant couldn't understand his French request for 7Up and brought him Sprite instead. He aimed for 500,000$ - not for the money itself, but "to make a point" - but "only" received 12,000$ and coverage for legal fees. He also sued Air Canada for the same reason back in 2002 (and won) and tried to sue the Ottawa bus system for lack of French service (that didn't work out).

I'm from Québec myself and find this absolutely ridiculous. Yes, Canada is officially bilingual and yes, Air Canada should be offering service in both official languages, but was it really necessary to sue them over this? It's not that big a deal to switch to English if a flight attendant can't understand you - hell, I've had to switch to English numerous times on air planes, buses, or at work.

I'd love to hear your opinions on this, especially if you've been in a similar situation. Did the man over-react, is Air Canada at fault, or both?

Source: http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/07/14/air-canada-language-ruling-sparks-controversy

 

[aba1]

This is why Quebec gets such a bad rap and everybody hates them I mean I have nothing against them directly but somtimes its just like commmmmonnnnnnn your part of Canada you are canadian get over it what makes you think you are so special and so much better than everyone else you should get your own country anyways euggg....

But ya they really should speak both on the plane esspecially if they are traveling from quebec to other places.

 

[bvanschaayk]

I will have to remember this the next time I travel to Quebec and the people there refuse to speak English to me.

 

[trooper6]

Well...I imagine that *someone* on the flight attendant staff could speak French...and also, what's to say the 7Up/Sprite mixup was due to a language issue? Perhaps the airline didn't have 7up, but rather only had Sprite. I find places rarely have both 7up and Sprite, similarly they rarely have Pepsi and Coke. If I ordered a Coke and got a Pepsi, I'd be really annoyed, but I wouldn't assume it was because someone couldn't understand me.

 

[Booze Zombie]

What a little *****, I'm surprised he got the fucking money.

 

[Spade Lead]

What a little *****, I'm surprised he got the fucking money.

Me too, especially as THIS was my first thought:

Well...I imagine that *someone* on the flight attendant staff could speak French...and also, what's to say the 7Up/Sprite mixup was due to a language issue? Perhaps the airline didn't have 7up, but rather only had Sprite. I find places rarely have both 7up and Sprite, similarly they rarely have Pepsi and Coke. If I ordered a Coke and got a Pepsi, I'd be really annoyed, but I wouldn't assume it was because someone couldn't understand me.

 

[Qitz]

OH GOD DAMN IT!

The stupidity from America is seeping into Canada. Now where are we supposed to run?

Also, I'm shocked he got paid any money. Is there really that big of a difference between 7Up and Sprite? I could, barely, see if he was allergic to cheese and got some on his food after he asked for it to be excluded but still.

 

[King Toasty]

That's... technically illegal NOT to have bilingual government service in Canada, and illegal not to have French service in Quebec. So he's a whiny little *****, but he's legally safe.

 

[Weaver]

That's... technically illegal NOT to have bilingual government service in Canada, and illegal not to have French service in Quebec. So he's a whiny little *****, but he's legally safe.

Air Canada isn't owned by the government, though.

 

[Smooth Operator]

So hes just a lawsuit troll, any judge with half a brain would throw his ass out the moment he saw his track record.

But I can see how the man has a case since Canada has two official languages all public services should by law work in both.

 

[sir.rutthed]

OH GOD DAMN IT!

The stupidity from America is seeping into Canada. Now where are we supposed to run?

Also, I'm shocked he got paid any money. Is there really that big of a difference between 7Up and Sprite? I could, barely, see if he was allergic to cheese and got some on his food after he asked for it to be excluded but still.

That ain't being stupid, it's being a snob. Those Quebecker have that in spades.

OT: I'm really surprised the airline paid up. This doesn't even strike me as a legitimate legal issue, but I guess more inane lawsuits have been won.

 

[Veylon]

From the article:

"As former Crown corporations, both Air Canada and Via Rail must comply with the Official Languages Act."

The issue isn't this guy and his overreaction over receiving the incorrect soft drink, it's that the airline is breaking the law. Whether this bilingual law ought to exist is a story for another day, but it's reasonable to expect that a corporation stays within the legal lines, especially if it's already had trouble with this before. So, no, the guy certainly doesn't deserve half a million dollars for this minor problem, but the company ought to be fined by the government.

 

[silverbladz]

I live in Quebec and thats because off these idiots that we have a bad rep. Thats why I was thinking about starting a party that would have as an electoral platform to burn all the idiots complaining about lack of french. BTW, I'm french, just to make things clear

 

[Canid117]

He should have paid their legal fees plus extra for being an ass. But what do you expect? Everyone hates the Quebecois. I guess Canadians have something in common with the States. Lots of people assume terrible things about them because of a few vocal idiots.

 

[Mandalore_15]

Haha, that's so stupid it's hilarious! Maybe I should go to Canada and sue the airline for not having any staff that can speak Gaelic? =P

 

[aba1]

OH GOD DAMN IT!

The stupidity from America is seeping into Canada. Now where are we supposed to run?

dont worry its only Quebec they like to pretend they arnt attached to us anyways..

 

[Gnoya]

Im from British Columbia, ex military and spent alot of time in Quebec in Valcartier.. and this is why I hate Quebec and wish they would just hurry up and leave the country. The Double standards that Quebec has in regqards to language is laughable. Biggest whinnest part of the country by a LONG shot..

From language police, to The way signs MUST be done there, to the hypocrisy of the CBC VS SRC in regards to Content..

ARG makes me so angry..

So much wasted Government time is spent on this Stupid language issue and pandering by our government, while real problems fester with OTHER primary communities such as First Nations..