Montreal mayoral candidate addresses Anglo 'egocentricity'

A controversial candidate running for Montreal mayor says he believes there is too much English in the city, and that still poses a threat to the survival of French in Quebec.

Michel Brl, an author and publisher running under theIntgrit Montral banner, held a news conference this morning in Frenchonly, though he says he does speak English.

On a symbolic level, its very important that the mayor of Montreal speaks French. That is clear, Brl told reporters in French.

While the four main mayoral candidates identify as francophones, all speak English fluently. The four Richard Bergeron, Denis Coderre, Marcel Ct and Mlanie Joly participated in an hour-long, English-language debate hosted by CBC and McGill University this week.

Lack of anglophone support was one of thereasons cited by former mayoral candidate LouiseHarelwhen she announced she would not take another run at the mayors job this election. Harelhas taken lessons in English and, though not fluently bilingual, will respond in English to the media on request.

• WATCH: The CBC-McGillmayoral candidates debate

In contrast, Brl has been campaigning on a 100% Franais, zero corruption, platform. While he took questions in English at the news conference, he responded only in French.

Brls Intgrit Montral party is running a total of 24 candidates. Brlhas been fighting for years to protect the French language in the city, even starting a petition to push for more francophone music at Montreal Canadiens'games.

Last weeks Radio-Canada-CROP showed Brl had 2 per cent support in his mayoral bid.

At today's news conferencein his Montreal condominium, Brlsaid the majority of anglophones identify themselves with the English-American empire and empires historically want to dominate.

He said francophones living in New England were forced, at times brutally, to assimilate,and English colonialists were responsible for one of the most significant genocides in history: the attempted elimination of aboriginal people in North America.

Its very simple. We live in a North American context where assimilation was destructive, he said.

All we want is to feel safe on a linguistic level and not be afraid to lose our language in 20 or 30 years. Thats the reality.

The wordyoupiin French has only one p. The mascotYouppihas two ps. Thats the reality.- MichelBrl, Montreal mayoral candidate

He said anglophones arent interested in cultures other than their own, pointing to English-language bestseller lists which are dominated by English-language authors.

Theres a cultural egocentricity, he said. If you dont agree with that, you simply have your head in the sand.

In Montreal, he pointed to the Montreal Canadiens' mascot, Youppie, as a symbolic example of the subtle anglicism in the city.

The word youpi in French has only one p. The mascot Youppihas two ps. Thats the reality.

In French, "Youpi!" is an interjectionsimilarto "Yippie!" in English.

In the last census, 226,433 Montreal residents identified themselves as anglophone, about 21 per cent of the citys population.