French speaking Canadians do not seem to have any hesitation in using the imperial system.

When asking route directions in Quebec the reply has always been given to me using miles as an indicator of distance.

Many of the famous 'Arret' road signs include the distance to the junction in feet.

Speed signs on private roads remain in miles per hour.

A Quebec policeman who was talking to me used 'miles per hour' in conversation.

Rather hilariously my Parisian colleague and I were making a joint presentation to the French-speaking board of a large retail firm in Montreal. I concluded my presentation having used 'square feet' throughout to describe store sizes. My French colleague then took over and being rather Eurocentric he started quoting sizes in square metres. He was quickly put right by the French Canadians who told him that they used square feet in Canada!

It's interesting to compare the situation in Ireland, where I've been twice recently.

Although all the major roads now give distances in kilometres, and bed-and-breakfast signs etc. are mostly in kilometres and metres...

1. The people don't use these measurements in everyday language

2. All the bridge height and roads width restrictions are in Imperial only i.e. feet and inches

3. *All* the minor roads are still in miles, causing much confusion.

4. All speed limit signs are mph

Tony Bennet wrote (concerning Ireland)

<<
2. All the bridge height and roads width restrictions are in Imperial only i.e. feet and inches

3. *All* the minor roads are still in miles, causing much confusion.

4. All speed limit signs are mph
>>

I too went to Ireland this year.

2. I recall havong seen both metric and Imperial signs on bridges.

3. I noticed both miles and km on minor roads. All signs in km were clearly marked with the letters "km". Signs with no units were obviously in miles. It appeared ot me that the Irish, in the interests of saving money, were replacing distance signs on minor roads with "km" signs when the old ones reached the ends of their useful lives.

4. At the end of October, on the day that Tony was pre-occupied with his court appearance, the Irish Governemnt announced that the metrication of speed restriction signs would take place within the next eighteen months. I noticed a few metric speed restiction signs in car parks and on private roads.

Perhaps we could be told how many hospital operations will be postponed, how much aid to third world countries will be reduced, how much specialist help for the disabled will be delayed and no doubt other sacrifices made in the Irish Republic in order to satisfy the Irish government's lust for a wholly unnecessary conversion exercise?