How you can tell the end is near....

...is when political correctness gets to the point that more people find it ridiculous than effective. Case in point - the Quebec language police.

Irish pub in trouble with Quebec language cops for vintage English-only signs
Fri Feb 15, 6:27 PM
By The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - The latest language skirmish in Quebec is turning into a real brewhaha.

Quebec's language watchdog is frothing at the mouth because of unilingual-English signs in a popular downtown Irish pub that showcase beers such as "Harp" and "Caffrey."

Dean Laderoute and Rick Fon, co-owners of McKibbins Irish Pub, are inviting Jean Charest in for a pint and say they will remove any sign the premier believes violates Quebec's language laws.

The Office quebecois de la langue francaise is cracking down on the English promotional posters and paraphernalia adorning the pub's walls.

Laderoute and Fon say the posters are simply decor and do not advertise anything the pub is selling.

The pub could face fines as high as $1,500 for each infraction.

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MONTREAL - The Office quebecois de la langue francaise is investigating a pub in downtown Montreal for English-only signs promoting Irish beers such as "Harp" and "Caffrey." Here are some other cases over the years that have attracted the interest of the language watchdog or people seeking to protect the French language:

1996:(at) - A woman warns the owner of a Quebec pet store she might get in touch with language authorities because Peekaboo, the parrot she wanted to buy, didn't speak French.

1999:(at) - The Old Navy chain is asked to rename its stores "La Vieille Riviere." It never happens.

2000:(at) - The owner of an Indian restaurant is told he's breaking the law by having coasters for "Double Diamond," a British beer.

2001:(at) Some people express disappointment that race-car driver Jacques Villeneuve calls his restaurant "Newtown."

2005:(at) Language authorities say they will investigate complaints that Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay's party used the word "Go" on its posters and pamphlets, as in "Go Montreal."

2007:(at) - Imperial Oil says it will keep its Quebec-only "Marche Express" name for its Esso gas stations after protests surfaced regarding a proposal to change the name to "On The Run" as they are known elsewhere in North America.

2007:(at) About 50 people protest outside a Second Cup outlet to demonstrate against the words "Les cafes" being dropped from "Les cafes Second Cup" at some of the chain's outlets.

2007:(at) Language activists decry the fact that callers to many Quebec government offices are told to "press nine" for English before instructions are delivered in French. Some of the departments have since changed the message to put English at the end.