Bank of Montreal | French as official language at Bank of Montreal

Status
0.79% votes in favour
AGM date
Previous AGM date
Proposal number
3
Resolution details
Company ticker
BMO:CN
Lead filer
Mouvement d'éducation et de défense des actionnaires (MÉDAC)
Resolution ask
Adopt or amend a policy
ESG theme
  • Governance
ESG sub-theme
  • Diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI)
Type of vote
Shareholder proposal
Filer type
Shareholder
Company sector
Financials
Company HQ country
Canada
Resolved clause
It is proposed that the language of the Bank be French, more particularly the language of work in Quebec, including the language spoken at annual meetings. Its official status must be formally recorded in writing in the letters patent of the Bank.
Supporting statement
The Bank’s registered office is in Quebec, a French-speaking State. The State of Quebec has existed for over 400 years. Furthermore, French is the official language of Quebec. Quebec is the only French-speaking State in America. The language of a people is its most essential fundamental attribute, an existential attribute. World diversity cannot in any way be reduced to issues strictly related to the biological nature of individuals or to the adjudication of individual privileges. World diversity is first and foremost a collective issue based essentially on the culture of peoples. The people of Quebec, through their territorial State and public institutions, beginning with their national assembly, constitution and charters, ensure the protection of linguistic diversity in the world by rigorously protecting the collective and public nature of their language. The spirit of the Law is clear1, including the spirit of the reforms to federal and Quebec laws. Respecting and promoting this attribute of global diversity is a matter of social responsibility for all companies. This is in the interest of all stakeholders, starting with the community as a whole, regardless of background. Sustainable development and long-term performance cannot be conceived of otherwise. The corporation has a duty to act in strict compliance with these sacred principles. Furthermore, it is perfectly possible to do business anywhere in the world with headquarters that operate in the language of the State in which it is located. For example, the annual general meeting of shareholders of Samsung (Suwon) is in Korean, Heineken (Amsterdam) in Dutch, Nissan (Yokohama) in Japanese, Foxconn (Taiwan) in Mandarin, Volkswagen (Wolfsburg) in German, L’Oréal (Clichy), Danone (Paris), Christian Dior (Paris) and LVMH (Paris) in French. The content is translated into other languages. The principle is simple and clear. The French language is not a choice. It is a collective instrument of communication. Besides, for foreign languages, there is translation, simultaneous or not. French is the language of all of us. It is a collective issue of equity, justice and dignity. A national issue.

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