Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Airport; Human Factors
After push back from the gate we were told by CYQB Ground Control to taxi to Runway 6 via Taxiway Bravo; Runway 30; and Golf. When we were exiting the ramp area on Taxiway Bravo just about to turn right onto Runway 30; the Ground Controller stated; 'Just for your information there is an opposite direction Cessna with a landing light out taxiing on Runway 12.' I then stopped the aircraft smartly and quickly short of the runway because my First Officer stated he thought he saw the aircraft the Controller was telling us about. The Cessna taxied past us from right to left. At no time were we told to hold short of runway 12/30 or give way to the Cessna.We then questioned the Ground Controller if we were still cleared to taxi onto Runway 30 and continue our taxi to Runway 6 and the Controller simply stated yes. If I had continued and turned right onto the runway we may have had a head on collision with this single engine Cessna. The Ground Controller may have forgotten to tell one of us to give way to the other. I cannot say if the Ground Controller told the Cessna to give way to as all radio chatter to others was in French. Although by looking at the airport layout and traffic flow at that time it would have made more sense for us to give way to the Cessna.I believe a huge factor in this was we were the only subjects on the frequency that were speaking English or were spoken to in English. All other radio transmissions to or from other aircraft; ground vehicles and ATC transmissions were in French including Tower; Arrival; and Departure frequencies. Had the Controller been speaking in English we might have known this Cessna was going to be taxing past us way before I was forced to take evasive action.Every time I go to Montreal and Quebec City this is an issue. They speak English to me and French to everyone else. I'm not knocking the French language; but it becomes very unsafe when I can't understand anything that is going on around me because of this language barrier. The international aviation language is English. As a pilot I gather much information about my surroundings and the airport environment by listening to ATC talk to other aircraft and ground equipment. I know the pilots in other airplanes can speak English and I am positive the controllers can as well. I find it extremely frustrating that ICAO does not enforce the rules they make up; especially when the organization is based in Montreal not too far from Quebec City.
A CRJ Captain had to brake abruptly to avoid a Cessna taxiing opposite direction on the runway he had been cleared to utilize for taxi. Situational awareness was compromised by the use of French vice required English by the Ground Controllers and pilots of other aircraft.