Mr. Roberge, in your statement of January 9, you tried to put out the flames of hope revived by the idea of extending Bill 101 to colleges by denigrating it. In doing so, you may have thought you were giving her a finishing blow… when she needs a boost.
Your arguments, on the contrary, will have the effect of a whiplash capable of convincing that its application is more necessary than ever. Why? Because the facts prove you wrong.
Anglo Cégeps: 52% of diplomas!
Did you know, for example, that in 2018, on the island of Montreal, the number of college diplomas awarded by English CEGEPs crossed the historic threshold of 52% of the total? Yes: in the heart of the metropolis of Quebec, CEGEPs graduate more in English than in French… for an Anglo-Montreal community of 17%.
To what level will French CEGEPs have to be drained of their lifeblood before you react? What threshold of anemia, what sign of the decline of French CEGEPs will pull you out of your torpor? When will only 40, 30 or 20% of French graduates remain? This will happen faster than you think, because the gaping holes in your insufficient Bill 96 will notably allow non-subsidized private colleges to grow without limits by recruiting an English-speaking clientele internationally.
Contrary to what you say, it is precisely the growing mastery of English by their teenagers that is pushing more and more parents to “direct their offspring to the English college and university network”. The more they master it, the easier and more tempting it becomes to continue their training in this language.
It’s time to act
But when tens of thousands of Francophone and allophone students overwhelm English CEGEPs and transform them to the point where Anglophones are in the minority, it’s time to act.
When the French network is skimmed off its top performing students in favor of its English alter ego, it’s time to act.
When French CEGEPs are in decline everywhere in Quebec for both pre-university and technical courses, it’s time to act.
When thousands of employees of English CEGEPs have to work in this language even though they are not English speakers, it is time to act.
Mr. Roberge, you have gone from hope to obstacle. Between the fear of abolishing a privilege and the need to ensure the future of the weakened and threatened network of French CEGEPs, you have chosen the side of the privileges of a growing and threatening English network.
No, Mr. Roberge, you haven’t nailed the last nail in the coffin of this necessary idea; your words will only have whipped up the ardor of its defenders.
The Regroupement for the French CEGEP
Jean-François Vallée, Cegep of La Pocatière
Nicolas Bourdon, Cegep of Bois-de-Boulogne
Georges-Rémy Fortin, Bois-de-Boulogne CEGEP
Caroline Hébert, Cegep de Sainte-Foy
Sebastien Mussi, Cegep de Maisonneuve
Mathieu Bélisle, Jean-de-Brébeuf College
Yannick Lacroix, Cegep de Maisonneuve
Richard Vaillancourt, College of Bois-de-Boulogne
Jean-Francois Joubert, Cegep Garneau
Stéphane Beauregard, CEGEP of Bois-de-Boulogne