The owner of Mama Khan restaurant in Montreal, Abdul Rashia Khan, started a “pay it forward program” where customers could donate at least five dollars to provide free meal vouchers for those in need. The initiative was successful, with over 712 free meals given out. Khan, who runs the restaurant with his mother, believes in the importance of charity and has provided free meals during emergencies like the 2023 ice storm. However, the program was halted after the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) sent Khan a warning letter, stating that commercial publications in a language other than French are not allowed in Quebec unless the French is more prominent. This was in response to English-language social media posts made by Mama Khan.
Khan, who was surprised by the complaint and the subsequent warning letter, was unaware of the language laws as a first-time business owner. Fearing a fine from the language enforcement authorities, he took down the free meal vouchers, which were only in English. Despite spending money on printing and designing them, he had to remove them from the wall. After sharing his situation online, Khan received an outpouring of support from the community, including food blogger Jason Lee, who plans to sponsor more free meal vouchers at the restaurant. The OQLF clarified that they did not target Khan’s free meal ticket program, stating that they only warned him about his social media pages in response to a complaint.
Khan, who works 90 hours per week and runs a family-owned restaurant, expressed his willingness to learn from this experience and ensure that future initiatives are in line with language laws in Quebec. Although the free meal vouchers are no longer available, he still offers free meals to those in need who come to the restaurant. While disappointed with the halt of the pay-it-forward program, Khan remains committed to helping those in his community and providing support to those who are struggling. The OQLF emphasized that their intention was not to shut down the program but to remind Khan of the language laws in Quebec and ensure compliance with them in the future.
The impact of the language complaint on Mama Khan restaurant highlights the challenges faced by small business owners in navigating language laws in Quebec. Khan’s dedication to charity and community support is evident in his efforts to provide free meals to those in need, despite the obstacles he faced with the pay-it-forward program. The solidarity and support Khan received from the community, including local bloggers and customers, demonstrate the importance of coming together to overcome challenges and continue supporting those in need. Moving forward, Khan plans to incorporate bilingual or French content in his future initiatives to avoid similar issues with language enforcement authorities in Quebec.
