I read in the Ottawa Citizen that you and the Hull Council has condemned a Citizen columnist regarding the integrity of the Hull police force. Since it was reported in English in an English newspaper, I write this letter in English.
I would like to know the language policy for the Hull police force. I get stopped by the police quite often when I drive on the reserved lane on Boulevard Taché with my 2 children who are almost invisible from the outside. I was stopped 6 times so far, twice in this February alone. Almost every time a police officer stops my car, he (they were all male so far) either speaks in English or asks me "English or French" or "Parlez vous français?". Most officers switch to French only after I start speaking French.
Is there a police regulation to ask every person the language preference (which is great since every person gets treated the same way!) or to assume the person's language based on his/her appearance? If the former is the case, I will send my best regards to the Hull police force. If the latter is the case, however, please clarify the police regulation regarding the language policy. If it is based on one's appearance and so that not every person is treated equally, I would have to resort to la Commission des droits de la personne. You are quoted to have said "We have an excellent reputation among new immigrants in this city". Well, you may have to improve your reputation among Canadian citizens residing in Québec, too.
BTW, is la Ville de Hull interested in placing its by-laws, regulations, announcements, meeting minutes, maps, tourist information, bus schedule, etc. on a World-Wide Web site? My company is doing research and development on electronic democracy, and may be able to help put Hull on the information superhighway.
