Star Trek-Inspired License Plate Revoked, Deemed Offensive

"We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."

Two years ago, while trying to come up with a personalized licence plate for his car, Canadian Star Trek fan Nick Troller thought it would be funny to show his love for the popular and groundbreaking sci-fi franchise by getting a plate that reads: "ASIMIL8."

That's a reference to a word commonly used by the Borg, an arrogant group of cybernetically-enhanced aliens whose sole mission is to assimilate all life forms with their highly-advanced technology. They are without a doubt the Federations most ruthless adversaries.

To make sure there was no mistake as to what his custom licence plate is referring to, Troller also included a plate holder that has "WE ARE THE BORG" and "RESISTANCE IS FUTILE" written on it.

That's why Troller was stunned to receive a call from someone at Manitoba Public Insurance on Wednesday, informing him that his plate has been revoked because they have received complaints from two people that think the word "assimilate" is offensive to indigenous people.

The next day, Troller received a letter from the Manitoba Public Insurance that demands he "surrender" his plate immediately. The letter also provided Troller with only two options: get a new personalized plate that isn't deemed offensive or get a non-personalized plate and receive a $100 refund.

"But that's not the point," Troller told CTV Winnipeg. "We've become way too sensitive. You can't say anything anymore to anybody."

Ry Moran, from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, agrees with the decision to have the plate revoked. "For basically the entirety of this country's history, indigenous peoples have been forcibly assimilated through really extremely destructive means and ways," he said. Additionally, he went on to explain that "words like that, meant or not, have an actual impact on many people."

And since licence plates are property of the Crown, Troller can't make an appeal.

Star Trek: First Contact (1996) - Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the Next Generation crew engage in their most thrilling adventure yet. They call themselves the Borg - a half organic, half-machine collective with a sole purpose: to conquer and assimilate all races. Led by their seductive and sadistic queen (Alice Krige), the Borg are headed to Earth with a devious plan to alter history. Picard's last encounter with the Borg almost killed him. Now he wants vengeance.

The cast features Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Jonathan Frakes as Commander William Ricker, Brent Spiner as android Lieutenant Commander Data, LeVar Burton as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge, Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Commander Worf, Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher, Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi, Alfre Woodard as Lily Sloane, and James Cromwell as Zefram Cochrane.

On a $45 million production budget, Star Trek: First Contact went on to gross $146 million at the worldwide box office.