The Joual Language Office of the Parti Kebecois government (OLFQ) of la Metisse Pauline Marois has finally crossed the line, and now we will see the fireworks that will result in their actions.

Members of the OLFQ have now demanded that all U.S. companies doing business in Kebec must change to Joual names or face prosecution, since they violate Kebec's Bill 101, which was the language law that the Legislative Assembly passed in August 1977. Among the U.S. chains doing business in Kebec are COSTCO, WAL-MART, GUESS, THE GAP, OLD NAVY and BEST BUY, which were ordered to change their American names to Kebecois names.

The above companies have decided to sue the Kebec government. Hoping that their actions will change this illegal policy, but they are in for a surprise. Every case so far fought by non-Kebecois in the courts of Kebec has always ruled in favour of the Kebec government. So, U.S. owned businesses in Kebec should not hold their breath hoping for any change soon in that policy.

It is now for the U.S. government to take reciprocal action against Kebecois owned businesses in the U.S., like Bombardier, Desmarais Ltee., and a few other Kebec owned businesses now operating in the U.S. This is the only way that could bring about some change in Kebec's discriminatory policies and at the same time force it to yield in the area of trade. If the U.S. owned firms close shop and move out of Kebec altogether that will create unemployment on such a scale that it might wizen-up the ultra-nationalists like Pauline Marois and her ilk. But, if they choose to continue with this policy of forcing name changes then we might see the collapse of the Kebecois economy, which is already in a bad way.

It is now time to be serious in dealings with Kebec, or they will use every trick in the book to try and get past the present problem. But there must be no let-up, because Kebec will take that as a weakness. So let's get to work and tighten the screws right away.

Kenneth T. Tellis