French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge has said that the “Go Habs Go” slogan is part of the DNA and identity of Quebec and should be left alone.
Roberge made the comments after reports that Montreal’s public transit operator, Société de transport de Montréal (STM), said it was ordered to use the French “Allez Habs Allez” in bus messages by the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) and remove the English terms.
The minister said “Go Habs Go” has been used for decades to support the team. He says the watchdog will dismiss any future complaints regarding the phrase, and that the “time-honoured expression must never be questioned.”
Montreal buses may re-introduce the “Go Habs Go” message on buses in the fall, the board of directors told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement.
Responding to Roberge’s comments, STM chairman Éric Alan Caldwell said the board was “pleased” to hear of the minister’s stance on the phrase.
“In light of the new guidelines given by the minister and the OQLF’s statement, discussions are necessary with the latter to obtain official confirmation that we are authorized to use the word ‘go’ in a sporting context and that we will not be penalized if we do so,” Caldwell said in a French statement emailed to The Epoch Times.
However, Caldwell said that “no changes can be made in the short term.” He said they would instead be using the “usual update processes” that take place in the fall. Caldwell said the board did not want to spend more money or resources on the situation as things were tight.
“The STM is proud to be a long-standing official partner of the Montreal Canadiens and we will continue to be so. Go Habs Go!” Caldwell said in the statement.
Parti Quebecois Member of the National Assembly for Quebec Catherine Gentilcore said the party had “other big priorities” such as better culture and language programs.
“We’ve been using ‘Go Habs Go’ for 100 years now. So I think ‘Allez Canadiens Allez’ is good, it’s fine, but ‘Go Habs Go’ is fine too,” she said during a news conference, “Both can live together.”
Roberge said workers at the OQLF office have received threats since the news hit headlines on April 24.
The Montreal Canadiens will host Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Friday night against the Washington Capitals. The Habs are down 2–0 in the best-of-seven matchup.
