“A 68-year-old grandmother in Aylmer, Que., is furious with Sears Canada after the company refused to ship her an inflatable talking toy meant as a Christmas present for her grandson because the doll does not speak French.” Shirley Hammond’s six-year-old grandson had been pleading for the Super Sound Socker Bopper Bop Buddy, which rocks back and forth and says, “Come on, I dare you!” and “Is that all you’ve got?” when hit. However, a salesperson for the retailer, which features the doll in its Christmas catalogue, declined her request. (Stefanie Arduini, “Unilingual doll can’t be bought in Quebec”, CanWest/National Post, Dec. 11; “Punch drunk pettiness” (editorial), Ottawa Citzen/Vancouver Province, Dec. 12). Four years ago (see Dec. 16, 1999), Quebec’s provincial language minister threatened legal action against the makers of Pokemon children’s collectible cards for allowing them to be sold in the province without French-language packaging and instructions.

Filed under: Canada