(Questions from the Partners for a French Quebec to the leaders of the main parties.)
At the opening of the next parliamentary session, 125 of the approximately 880 people running for the October 3 election will have the honor of sitting in the National Assembly. Inheriting the legislative power and, for many, the executive power, these people will have all the necessary levers to reverse the critical decline of our national language, French, which is accelerating. – They will have the power… but, will they have the want to?
Your opinion
interests us.
Do you have an opinion to share? A text between 300 and 600 words that you would like to submit to us?
More glaring than ever, the issue of the linguistic destiny of Quebec and, even more pressing, of the linguistic destiny of our national metropolis, transcends partisan divisions. In view of the new figures released by Statistics Canada, no one can ignore the seriousness of the situation, let alone deny it. Researcher Charles Castonguay is categorical: “The tipping point is […] behind us. The anglicization of Quebec is now well under way. »
Law 96
In the opinion of specialists, Law 96 will not be enough, alas, to reverse the current trend. Despite several beneficial advances, the new legal situation is unlikely to change many things in the real linguistic situation. An unfinished work, the reform will not in itself make it possible to put an end to the anglobilingue dynamic which, firmly rooted in our social and institutional reality, destroys all hope of a linguistic environment normal for French, the common language in Quebec. We believe that much remains to be done to guarantee the status of French as the language of the State, of administration, of work, of education, of integration, of commerce, of telecommunications…
The future of French Quebec requires the completion of this reform, in the short term, in order to complete the work accomplished to date.
In view of this umpteenth – but necessary – renewal, we, the Partners for a French Quebec, wish to address a series of questions to the leaders of the various political parties:
Objective
First, where do you stand with regard to the need to prevent any further decline in the demographic vitality of French vis-à-vis English in Quebec, between now and the next census? What do you want to put in place to promote the use of French? Do you subscribe to these goals, or conversely, are you comfortable with the idea that the decline will continue?
Quebecers are certainly entitled to have the facts straight in this regard.
Means
Secondinsofar as you subscribe to what has just been stated, do you have any expertise demonstrating that your language proposals will make it possible to achieve the objective in question?
Furthermore, how far are you prepared to go, politically, to remove all obstacles to reaching this target?
A decisive democratic discussion
Third, do you formally commit to denouncing the campaigns of fear and misinformation carried out by certain groups hostile to Bill 101? Are you committed to putting in place the conditions for a democratic discussion that favors facts and data?
In the process, can we count on you to reiterate without ambiguity the inclusive and universalist nature of this fight?
Finally, do you recognize Quebec’s inalienable right to linguistic self-defence, in the face of the innumerable constitutional torpedoing maneuvers of Bill 101, which are already making a comeback before the courts?
We look forward to hearing your action plans.
Partners for a French Quebec*
Caroline Senneville, President of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN)
Éric Gingras, President of the Central Trade Unions of Quebec (CSQ)
Mélanie Hubert, President of the Autonomous Federation of Education (FAE)
Christian Daigle, President of the Quebec Public and Parapublic Service Union (SFPQ)
Lydia Martel, Acting President of the Union of Professionals and Professionals of the Government of Quebec (SPGQ)
Maxime Laporte, President of the French Quebec Movement (MQF)
Marie-Anne Alepin, General President of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society (SSJB) of Montreal
Thérèse David, President of the National Movement of Quebecers (MNQ)
Jacques Girard, President of the Lionel-Groulx Foundation (FLG)
Étienne-Alexis Boucher, President of Collective Rights Quebec (DCQ)
*A broad coalition of labor organizations and key players in the national movement, the Partners for a French Quebec (PQF) aim to make French the true official and common language of Quebec.