(Quebec) Prime Minister François Legault is keen on the candidacy of Benoît Dubreuil as the very first French language commissioner. He will propose to the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) and Quebec solidaire (QS) to meet his candidate in the hope that they will change their minds and give him their support.
On the last day of the short parliamentary session on Friday, François Legault wanted to propose the nomination of Benoît Dubreuil to the National Assembly, but he gave up after QS announced his intention to vote against and the PLQ turned around.
The Liberals had hinted to the government during the week that the candidacy of Benoît Dubreuil was not a problem for them. Isabelle Gautrin, chief of staff to interim chief Marc Tanguay, had informed the government that the Liberal Party had studied this candidacy and that it was giving the green light. “You may proceed,” she wrote in an email dated Dec. 8.
But the Liberals backed down the next morning in private talks with the government. Questioned at a press conference, Marc Tanguay and his parliamentary leader Monsef Derraji, however, did not want to take a clear position on the candidacy of Mr. Dubreuil. The government sees this as an open door. He still hopes to convince them.
PHOTO ANDRE PICHETTE, PRESS ARCHIVES
Benoît Dubreuil (left) and Guillaume Marois, authors of the book The imaginary remedy – Why immigration won’t save Quebecin 2011
For its part, QS publicly declared the same day that it opposed the candidacy proposed by François Legault. She is not “unifying”, pleaded her parliamentary leader, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, on Friday. “This candidacy has, in the past, expressed positions that do not join us,” he added, without giving details. He mentioned, without naming him, the test The imaginary remedy – Why immigration won’t save Quebec (Boréal, 2011) that Benoît Dubreuil co-wrote with demographer Guillaume Marois.
A government source argued that Québec solidaire had taken a position without having met Benoît Dubreuil. This is why the government will propose to QS to have an interview with its candidate. The same offer will be made to the PLQ.
François Legault therefore wishes to return to the charge with the candidacy of Mr. Dubreuil during the next parliamentary session, which will begin on January 31. The three Parti Québécois deputies will then sit in the Blue Room, following the adoption of the law abolishing the obligation to take the oath to the king. They support Mr. Dubreuil’s candidacy.
Two-thirds support
The appointment of the French language commissioner requires the support of two-thirds of the deputies, as provided for in Bill 96 adopted last spring. The Coalition avenir Québec already has more than 66% of the deputies, but the government generally seeks unanimity, or at least broad support, to make this kind of appointment.
If the PLQ and QS stick to their position, could the government settle for the support of a parliamentary group, the Parti Québécois, to move forward? He did not decide the question. He first put on his offer to meet with Benoît Dubreuil, explains a government source.
The caquistes maintain that Benoît Dubreuil, doctor of philosophy, is an excellent candidate, “a lover of the French language”. He obtained various positions within the federal apparatus, proof that he is not dogmatic, it is argued. Benoît Dubreuil is currently Acting Director General of Regional Operations for Eastern Canada at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. From 2016 to 2019, he worked at Indigenous Services Canada.
He previously worked at the Commission for the Evaluation of College Education, as well as at the Center for International Studies and Research at the University of Montreal, among others.
The French Language Commissioner is a new independent watchdog created under Bill 96, the Legault government’s reform of Bill 101 passed last spring.
According to the law, “the person proposed by the Prime Minister” for the position of French language commissioner “must have a sensitivity as well as a marked interest in the protection of the French language”. The mandate is for seven years and cannot be renewed.
The commissioner is responsible for “monitoring the evolution of the linguistic situation in Quebec”. In particular, it must “monitor the knowledge, learning and use of French by immigrants”.
Its function is to “supervise respect for the fundamental rights” conferred by the Charter of the French language and “the fulfillment of the obligations” that it imposes on companies and the public administration.
It has investigative powers and can intervene in court for the defense of French. It has the power to formulate opinions and recommendations to the Minister of the French Language, to the government and to the National Assembly.