[Newsbot]

<strong>Title: </strong> <a href="/link.php?id=30796" target="_blank">English test no good for Quebecer</a> (click to view)

<strong>Category:</strong> <a href="/news/topic/17-business" target="_blank">Business</a>
<strong>Posted By: </strong> <a href="/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=userinfo&username=Alta_redneck" target="_blank">Alta_redneck</a>
<strong>Date: </strong> 2008-02-28 08:42:05
<strong>Canadian</strong>

[bootlegga]

I wonder how easy it is to get the same test in English in Quebec. Or is the font half the size of the French test?

[Kiwigirl]

I think offering both languages in a bilingual country is important ... but why all the other languages? If ya can't read road signs in English/French, then you shouldn't be driving.

[martin14]

when i took my test for Quebec, it was bilingual.. and not half size

but it may have changed...

[mtbr]

"Canada's Official Languages Act makes it mandatory that federal services be available in French and English, but that doesn't apply to provincial services like driver's licences."

pretty much kills that argument

[bootlegga]

Federally, Canada is bilingual, but as the article says, provincial portfolios are not mandated to be bilingual. I feel for the guy, as I remember how difficult it was driving in Asia, but seeing as Quebec does everything in its power to eliminate English from everything, I think a quid pro quo is fair.

[saturn_656]

By the end of March, a new electronic testing program is supposed to be introduced to offer the driver's tests in languages such as French, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Punjabi and Tagalog, among others.

We REALLY shouldn't be doing that, offering the tests in English and French only may give some a kick in the shorts to learn the language(s) of the land. If we starting offering our services in every insignifigant foreign language where the hell is the incentive to learn at least one of the two official Canadian languages?

Besides if these people can't understand English or French they shouldn't be driving anyway, since our street signage is in the two official languages. Not Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic, or whatever.

[Clogeroo]

$1:

If ya can't read road signs in English/French, then you shouldn't be driving.

I can't read them in French yet I still drive.

$1:

Besides if these people can't understand English or French they shouldn't be driving anyway, since our street signage is in the two official languages. Not Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic, or whatever.

If you do not have a strong command of the English language yet though writing the test may be difficult and even some words may not translate as well. The test is about testing your driving knowledge not about testing how well you know the language. Stop is still Stop, P stands for Parking, and Green is still go on the test just the questions asking them may be in a different language.

[dino_bobba_renno]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

By the end of March, a new electronic testing program is supposed to be introduced to offer the driver's tests in languages such as French, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Punjabi and Tagalog, among others.

We REALLY shouldn't be doing that, offering the tests in English and French only may give some a kick in the shorts to learn the language(s) of the land. If we starting offering our services in every insignifigant foreign language where the hell is the incentive to learn at least one of the two official Canadian languages?

Besides if these people can't understand English or French they shouldn't be driving anyway, since our street signage is in the two official languages. Not Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic, or whatever.

I definitely agree. We have two official languages in this country, if you want to live here get off your but and learn at least one. What’s next street signs in 12 languages?

That being said I don't see as why Alberta can't make the test available in both languages. Sure Quebec is pissy when it comes to the English signage thing but we are still a bi-lingual country and as we such should have government documents available in both official languages regardless of what province your in, be it Alberta or Quebec.