(Trois-Rivières) Not only is Bill 101 an “old carriage” that bullies the English-speaking minority, but the Quebec government cannot enshrine in the Canadian Constitution, as it has done, that Quebec forms a nation and that its only official language is French, says Liberal candidate Deepak Awasti. Leader Dominique Anglade disagrees with his remarks and maintains that Mr. Awasti now espouses the party’s position.
Updated at 0:37
The Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) announced on August 22 the candidacy of Deepak Awasti in Laurier-Dorion, in Montreal. He was elected by party members after an open nomination. He is an “immigration and refugee law representative” and a “public policy analyst,” according to the party statement.
PHOTO FROM THE QUEBEC LIBERAL PARTY WEBSITE
Deepak Awasti, Liberal candidate in Laurier-Dorion
In a letter he co-signed and which was published in the Montreal Gazette in 2016, Deepak Awasti claimed that Bill 101, “once an appropriate response to the Great Darkness”, is now “an old horse-drawn carriage in the age of the hybrid car”. He adds that “the fear and resentment that [la loi 101] reflects, the imposing weight it carries and the assimilating countenance it presents — all are of the past. It seeks uniformity where asymmetrical governance and respect for particularity prevail”.
In essence, he argues that the rights of the Anglophone minority are violated and that this situation must be put to an end. “The presence of the English-speaking community is shrinking relentlessly. The mandate of the Office québécois de la langue française is to promote and protect only the French language. Which Office protects and promotes the English language and the rights of its community, a “founding nation” of Quebec? he asks himself.
According to him, “Quebec society needs another Quiet Revolution to modernize Bill 101” in order to make Quebec “more inclusive”. “The walls of Jericho must crumble; let the winds of freedom sweep them away,” he concludes.
In another letter, this time published in the English-language newspaper The Suburban in 2021, Deepak Awasti affirms that the Legault government does not have the right to include in the Canadian Constitution, as it did with law 96, that Quebec forms a nation and that its only official language is French . Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is wrong to let the Quebec government do this, he says.
Here again, Deepak Awasti contradicts a position of the PLQ, which supported this measure even if it voted against the overhaul of law 101 of the Legault government during its final adoption.
At a press conference in Trois-Rivières on Monday, Dominique Anglade replied that she had “absolutely no” intention of reopening Bill 101 to increase protections for the English-speaking minority as her candidate suggested. “The position on Bill 101 is clear to the Liberal Party of Quebec,” she argued, recalling the 27 measures she proposes to strengthen the protection of the French language.
The Liberal leader had “discussions” with her candidate who, it should be remembered, was chosen by the members of Laurier-Dorion and not by herself.
He is fully aware of the positions we have and defends them now.
Dominique Anglade, Leader of the Liberal Party
Deepak Awasti was unavailable for interviews. He injured himself while installing his election signs. He has just been released from the hospital after being treated for a broken elbow, a herniated disc and a lumbar sprain, the PLQ reported.
Québec solidaire captured the riding of Laurier-Dorion in the 2018 election; the outgoing deputy is Andrés Fontecilla. The PLQ had been victorious in the four previous elections, when Gerry Sklavounos represented it before his expulsion from caucus in 2016.
Laws 21 and 96
From the start of its mandate, a Liberal government would eliminate the derogation provisions used by the Legault government to shield against legal proceedings its laws 21 on the secularism of the State and 96 on the French language, indicated Dominique Anglade. Until now, she was content to say that she would not renew these derogation provisions from the Charter of Rights and Freedoms after the five-year period.
Dominique Anglade explained that she would reopen Bill 21 to ensure that teachers can wear a religious sign and, by doing so, eliminate the derogation provision.
As for Bill 96, it would strike out the same clause, as would restrictions on English-speaking CEGEPs and the six-month period imposed on newcomers to learn French.