'Allez Habs! Allez!': STM to support Montreal's sports teams en français

CBC News

· Posted: Apr 24, 2025 10:11 AM EDT | Last Updated: 7 minutes ago

Montreal's transit bureau volition beryllium removing the connection "Go" from its physics displays erstwhile supporting section sports teams, to comply with Quebec's connection laws, and the determination is raising eyebrows from adjacent the astir ardent defenders of the French connection astatine the National Assembly. 

As such, the fashionable operation "Go Habs! Go!" volition beryllium substituted with its French equivalent "Allez Habs! Allez!"

In a statement, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) says the determination follows a erstwhile bid from the province's connection watchdog, the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF). It's related to a ailment implicit the usage of "Go! CF MTL Go!" successful enactment of the section men's shot squad connected autobus displays.

Though the connection "Go" is simply a communal sports expression, it's an Anglicism.

Ruba Ghazal, the Québec Solidaire co-spokesperson and a self-proclaimed "lover of the French language," said "Go Habs! Go!" is Québécois, during a quality league gathering Quebec's absorption parties Thursday morning.

"I don't deliberation that's what's threatening the French language, the 'Go Habs, Go!'"

She said protecting the connection involves alternatively measures similar making definite caller immigrants arsenic good arsenic CEOs from ample companies larn French.

Catherine Gentilcore, the civilization and communications professional for the Parti Québécois (PQ), echoed Ghazal, saying that her enactment has "bigger" priorities erstwhile it comes to the extortion of the French language. She cited expanding Bill 101 to inferior CEGEPs (junior colleges), improving francization efforts and strengthening civilization and connection programs successful schools.

She said PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon volition not beryllium deleting "Go Habs! Go!" from his vocabulary.

"We've been utilizing 'Go Habs! Go' for a 100 years now. So I deliberation 'Allez Canadiens! Allez!' is bully it's good but 'Go Habs! Go!,' it's good too."

Quebec Liberal Interim Leader Marc Tanguay, for his part, said that whoever was liable for the determination astatine the OQLF could've done thing other to assistance beforehand Quebec, pointing to cuts to French-language classes.

"It's a discarded of time, discarded of money, discarded of energy," helium said.

"It's thing affirmative that we person the Montreal Canadiens successful the playoffs, tin we conscionable celebrate?"