February 26, 2002
Province Approves Use of Optional Bilingual Stop Signs
Province Approves Use of Optional Bilingual Stop Signs- - -
Decision Recognizes Important Symbol for French-speaking Community: Ashton
Transportation and Government Services Minister Steve Ashton today announced that the Highway Traffic Board has approved the optional use of signs featuring "arrêt" and "stop" throughout Manitoba.
"The government recognizes that these signs have become an important symbol of Manitoba's French-speaking community," said Ashton. "The Highway Traffic Board has investigated the use of these signs and determined that their use internationally has not posed a safety risk. For this reason, we have no objection to permitting local authorities to use these signs."
Ashton noted that similar signs are used internationally with the addition of local languages and no safety concerns have been raised.
The regulatory change will permit traffic authorities across Manitoba to use either the single word or double word version of the sign. The adoption of national standards in 1960 permitted the use of signs featuring "arrêt/stop" as a bilingual version. However, amendments in the 1980s by the previous government chose the word "stop" as the accepted bilingual version. Ashton referred the matter to the board for review in response to recent community concerns over replacement of the "arrêt/stop" signs in St. Boniface as part of ongoing maintenance.
"Today's announcement will help to strengthen our province's cultural heritage while ensuring safety on our roads," said Greg Selinger, minister responsible for French language services. "We are pleased to be able to address the concerns of Manitoba's French-speaking citizens and recognize the importance of their community and its history, values and vitality."
"The presence of a vibrant francophone community in Manitoba is one of our greatest assets and we are recognizing that fact with this decision," concluded Ashton.
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