No more ‘Go Habs Go’: STM changes messaging after OQLF complaint

Montreal buses will no longer be permitted to display Go! Habs Go! slogans after a complaint to the French-language watchdogs.

It may be playoff season for the Montreal Canadiens, but don’t expect to see any “Go Habs Go!” signs on the city’s buses any time soon.

The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) says it had to change its messaging to the French, “Allez, Canadiens Allez!” following a complaint that was filed with the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF), as first reported by the Montreal Gazette.

“The anglicism ‘Go’ was replaced by ‘Allez Montréal’” explains Isabelle Tremblay, a spokesperson with the public transit agency. “The new wording also retains the team spirit, while complying with Law 14 [also known as Bill 96].”

• READ MORE: U.S. government classifies Quebec’s Bill 96 as ‘foreign trade barrier’

The law, An Act Respecting French, the Official and Common Language of Quebec, is considered to be a significant piece of legislation that strengthens, protects and promotes the French language in the province.

Its reach extends from the health sector to the education network, including capping enrollment at English-language CEGEPs.

It affects business signage, services available to newcomers to the province, as well as limits the use of the English language in court and other public agencies.

“My first reaction was, ‘is go not a French word?’ Because we use it a lot,” said Eric Caldwell, chair of the board of directors of the STM. “I’ll be in touch with the Office québécois de la langue française to see if they stand by their decision and if they want to review it.”

Caldwell goes on to say that the STM works hard to apply the language law and promote French in its network.

“But by saying ‘Go Canadiens Go,’ on a personal level, I don’t think that we’re not respecting the law,” he added. “That being said, it’s not up me to make that call. It’s up to the Office.”

Thursday, the STM confirmed it made the decision to change the wording on its buses after it received a complaint last year about the message, “Go CF MTL Go” for Montreal’s soccer team.

• READ MORE: Quebec only issuing marriage certificates in French under Bill 96, causing immediate fallout

“The Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) asked the STM to modify its message,” Tremblay said. “Given that the word ‘Go’ is considered an anglicism, the STM has decided to remove this word from its bus weathervanes.”

The STM notes it had to manually change the messaging on each vehicle, starting at the end of last summer.

It took several months for the modifications to be complete.

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The public transit agency adds that writing messages on its weathervanes is a way of “saluting national sports teams, supporting STM’s official partners and establishing the STM as a player in the community.”

For its part, the OQLF refused CTV News’ request for comment, confirming only that it first received a complaint last summer about the “Go CF MTL Go” message.

“The Office informed the STM that, in accordance with the Charter of the French Language, it must use the French language in an exemplary fashion, which implies not using English terms in their signage,” said Gilles Payer, a spokesperson with the OQLF.

The Montreal Canadiens also declined to comment.

A ‘menace’ to the French language?

Meanwhile, reaction at Quebec’s National Assembly has been sweepingly in favour of keeping the original chant.

The Quebec Liberals (PLQ) called the fiasco “ludicrous,” saying we should focus instead on cheering for the Habs as they take on the Washington Capitals.

“It’s not [because] I’m saying ‘Go Habs Go’ that I’m putting French at risk,” said Marc Tanguay, interim leader of the PLQ. “It’s a waste of time, waste of money, waste of energy.”

The Parti Québécois (PQ) echoed the thought, saying it has other, bigger priorities to promote the French language in Quebec, including creating better cultural programs in schools.

“We’ve been using ‘Go Habs Go,’ for 100 years now,” said PQ MNA Catherine Gentilcore. “I think ‘Allez Canadiens Allez’ is fine, but ‘Go Habs Go’ is fine also.”

Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal said she doesn’t consider “go” a threat to the French language.

“For me, ‘Go Habs Go’ is Quebec language, not French,” said Ghazal, adding she doesn’t want to criticize the OQLF. “It has no impact on the protection of the French language.”

For its part, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) said it would not get involved, with French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge stating he would let the STM and the OQLF work things out on their own.

Finance Minister Éric Girard repeated that thought, adding, “I have no expertise on what should be on bus signs. I’ll let the OQLF and the STM find the right compromise.”

Premier François Legault did not respond to reporters asking if he was bothered by “Go Habs Go.”

Bill 96 is currently being challenged in the Quebec courts, with some groups begging the federal government to intervene.

It was sponsored by Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette and was adopted in 2022.