(Montreal) The new Quebec language law has enabled dozens of Quebec municipalities to retain their bilingual city status, while a small number are considering abandoning it.
Posted at 9:49
Since the entry into force of Law 96, the bilingual city status of a municipality can be revoked if English is the mother tongue of less than 50% of its population.
However, it may retain this status if the municipal council adopts a resolution within 120 days of receiving notice of its population from the Office de la langue française.
While the law has come under heavy criticism from groups representing Anglophones, Scott Pearce, mayor of Gore Township in the Laurentians, says the government has done municipalities a favor by giving them an easy way to formalize their status. .
Mr. Pearce, whose wife is the CAQ member for Argenteuil, said he spoke to several mayors across the province. “They are really proud of their bilingual status and of the fact that the two communities — English and French — get along well,” he says.
A spokesperson for the Office de la langue française indicated in an email that the notices will be “well sent” to municipalities whose percentage of English speakers has fallen below the 50% mark.
“A municipality recognized as bilingual must nevertheless ensure that its services to the population are available in French, the official language of Quebec,” said Nicolas Trudel.