Undercover observers. Secret shoppers. This week, The Gazette’s Andy Riga outed the latest covert operation by the Office québécois de la langue française to dispatch investigators into thousands of private stores and businesses over the next few months to spy on and record what languages retail workers use to greet and serve customers.

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Montreal Gazette ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, where you can share and comment..

There with you then. Here with you now. As a critical part of the community for over 245 years,The Gazette continues to deliver trusted English-language news and coverage on issues that matter. Subscribe now to receive:

Unlimited online access to our award-winning journalism including thought-provoking columns by Allison Hanes, Josh Freed and Bill Brownstein.

Opportunity to engage with our commenting community and learn from fellow readers in a moderated forum.

Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.

Montreal Gazette ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, where you can share and comment..

There with you then. Here with you now. As a critical part of the community for over........

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