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Anglophones who report language violations to the Office québécois de la langue française can do so in English — and even expect a reply in their own language, the Quebec Ombudsman has ruled.

The ombudsman made the call in the case of an English-speaking man whose complaint was rejected because he wrote it in English and sent it by mail instead of submitting it online.

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In October, the man wrote to the OQLF to report a sign that violated the province’s French-language charter, which says French must be predominant on public signs.

The OQLF replied in French, asking the man to resubmit his complaint in French, and to use a form on the Office’s website instead of sending a letter.

The man complained to the ombudsman, which posted its decision on its website Monday.

The man said he speaks and reads French, but doesn’t write it, and doesn’t have access to a computer.

The ombudsman, who deals with citizens’ complaints about government services, overruled the OQLF, pointing out under Quebec’s French-language charter, government agencies can respond to citizens in “a language other than French” (English).