The government of François Legault will not revise its plan to reform the Charter of the French language, even if a common front of indigenous communities asks to be exempted from it to avoid a “cultural genocide”.
“As since 1977, everyone is subject to Law 101”, launched the Minister responsible for the French language, Simon Jolin-Barrette, Tuesday, at the National Assembly. He was responding to complaints voiced a few minutes earlier – and a few steps later – by a coalition of First Nations representatives, according to which Bill 96, supposed to revise the Charter of the French language, threatens to accelerate the assimilation of the first peoples.
The legislative text, which should be adopted soon, provides that Aboriginal students in English-language CEGEPs take three courses in French – or in French – during their college career. In the eyes of the Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, Ghislain Picard, “the bill is being adopted hastily, without any consideration for the rights of Aboriginal people”.
“The message we are carrying today is [qu’on doit être] exempt from Bill 96,” he said on Tuesday afternoon, flanked in particular by opposition MPs Gregory Kelley, from the Liberal Party, and Manon Massé, from Québec solidaire.
Chief John Martin, of the community of Gesgapegiag, fears that the articles of the bill concerning college education will exacerbate dropout problems in the communities. The reform of Bill 101 could even encourage young people to settle in Ontario, he believes.
“The problem we face in our communities, [c’est que] French is not a language that is used. At home, we speak Micmac and we speak English. […] For young people who have studied in English and Micmac, it takes a monumental effort to be able to succeed and then get their credits,” he said.
On Tuesday, Québec solidaire and the Liberal Party of Québec urged Minister Jolin-Barrette to open his door to the communities, in order to assess the means he could take to adjust his bill. ” [C’est] a last-ditch meeting that Mr. Jolin-Barrette cannot miss,” insisted Ms. Massé.
“In my riding, at Cégep de John Abbott, there are about a hundred Inuit students, then I hope that Bill 96 will put no, no barrier in their academic success,” continued Gregory. Kelly. According to the elected Liberal, there are still a few chances for the minister to water down his wine.