Canada to conduct study to check out just how bilingual the capital is

Interesting article here in French: the Commissioner of Official Languages in Canada (Graham Fraser) is looking for 'spies', people that will go around Ottawa to see in which language services are offered - in hotels, stores, and restaurants.

The ad for these positions was released without fanfare, but it was immediately noticed by the media.

The objective of this project is to understand the 'message' given to tourists who visit as well as citizens, whether the city gives the impression of a bilingual city or an English city with a bit of bilingual atmosphere here and there, or something else. The mystery shoppers will also see just how far a person can get in the capital only knowing French.

The project is to go from 22 August to 30 September, and 545 'observations' are to be conducted for a total cost of $40,000 for the project.

The results of the study are to be published 15 months from now, in the 2012 annual commissioner's report.


Another article on the same subject is here.