QUEBEC – A new language law will require Quebecois meteorologists to stop using the annual list of Atlantic hurricane names generated by the US National Hurricane Center, and instead refer to all named tropical storms as “Jean-Pierre”.
“The list of storm names generated each year by the National Hurricane Center does not reflect our language or identity, and it is not culturally appropriate for the Quebecois people,” said Pascale Déry, Quebec’s Minister of the Environment. “It is critically important that Quebecois families take appropriate steps to prepare for dangerous storms, and the only thing a Quebecois fears when he hears that Kyle or Arthur or Sally is coming is that he’ll have to hear someone try to order un Cappuccino glacé in English during his next trip to Tim Hortons.”
“This year’s list also contains the name Omar, and I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how upset the Quebec population becomes when they hear that an Omar is heading their way,” added Déry. “Much better to have our homes and lives torn apart by a Jean-Pierre, over and over and over again.”
Déry has confirmed that all weather stations caught broadcasting storm names from the National Hurricane Center will be subject to a $50,000 fine per instance.
Proponents of the French language have argued that the move does not go far enough to protect Quebec hurricane reports from non-French influences.
“The so-called French word for hurricane – ouragan – is not really a French word at all, but a loanword from the Indigenous Taino language of the Caribbean,” said Manon Gauthier, a representative from the Office québécois de la langue française. “Ideally we would want these storms to be given an entirely French name. Something easy to remember, like “la forte tempête cyclique qui résulte de températures océaniques anormalement élevées dans l’océan”. We would also like to see a $50,000 fine for not using this name in its entirety.”
Quebec authorities have confirmed that the name Jean-Pierre will be retired after the next major storm, beginning a new rotation of Quebec storm names that is expected to consist of Jean-Paul, Jean-Francois, Jean-Baptiste, Jean-Jacques, Jean-Phillipe, Jean-Claude, Erembourc, Euphrosine, Enguerrand and Marcel.
