The debate raging in Quebec about reasonable accommodation has entered the locker room of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens.
A lawyer from Quebec City told a provincial commission that there are many Canadiens hockey players who don't learn French even after four or five years in the province.
"Can we consider it reasonable, the accommodation granted by the management of the Montreal Canadiens, notably with respect to its players by exempting them -- even after five years with the team -- from speaking French, Quebec's official language?" asked Guy Bertrand.
He then singled out team captain Saku Koivu, who he said does not speak French when giving speeches or public presentations, despite the fact that he has lived in the province for 12 years.
On Wednesday, Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois went even further. She said the Canadiens organization should insist on French courses for its players.
Koivu responded by saying his French is not perfect, but he often speaks the language in private. He said he took great efforts to learn English when he arrived from Finland and that he speaks French to children he visits for charity work that he does at Quebec hospitals.
"There's nothing we can do when politicians have opinions on the team or on me," Koivu said, according to the Canadian Press.
"Sometimes you can't control what's being said out there."
Koivu's coach Guy Carbonneau said his players are not paid to be ambassadors for the French language. He said their first job is to play hockey and what they do during their off-time is their business.
Bertrand, a separatist-turned-federalist who has reverted back to separatist politics, told the Quebec commission that it can only protect its culture by getting rid of multiculturalism. He said that can only be achieved through Quebec sovereignty.
The commission is looking into how immigrants integrate into Quebec society. It was formed after some Quebecers complained about rights afforded to ethnic and religious minorities.
The town of Herouxville even wrote up a "code of life," telling immigrants how to live in Quebec. Among its features included provisions against covering faces with veils in public life and the stoning of women.
Last week, Marois introduced a bill which would have required anyone running for public office in Quebec -- including for school board positions -- to be proficient in French. The bill was lambasted by constitutional experts, who said it would never pass judicial muster.
On Tuesday, Premier Jean Charest wrote an open letter to the province, which was published in several newspapers. He accused Marois and ADQ leader Mario Dumont of promoting a mentality that "feeds on prejudices."
He also blamed the media for jumping on the bandwagon of intolerance and pointing out the most sensational cases of accommodation of religious and ethnic minorities.
He said Quebecers are in danger of destroying their international reputation.
"People are wondering what's happening here at a time when we need to open our doors to others," he wrote.
"I never would have thought it possible in Quebec that the leaders of our democratic process would feed on prejudices rather than fight them."
