The arrival in Quebec of two new political parties aimed primarily at English-speaking voters does nothing to reassure the minister responsible for the French language, Simon Jolin-Barrette, who sees it as a threat to the French fact.
The elected CAQ reacted Tuesday to the birth of the Canadian Party of Quebec, which wishes to seek the votes in the elections of next October. Officially launched in the morning, the “federalist” party wishes to “work [r] tirelessly for minority rights, socio-economic justice and linguistic harmony,” spokesperson Colin Standish said in a press release.
The announcement of its creation comes a week after the launch of the Mouvement Québec party, led by former Montreal mayoral candidate Balarama Holness. The formation has already confirmed that it will try to arrogate the “Anglophone vote and the ethnocultural vote” by presenting most of its candidates in Montreal next fall.
“There are still some people today who deny that there is a decline in French, launched Minister Jolin-Barrette in the committee for the study of budgetary appropriations, Tuesday, in parliament. When I see the different political parties that will be created… There are people who still deny. »
According to the elected representative of Borduas, the proof of the loss of speed of French in Quebec is no longer to be done. “What the public environment has shown is that there is a problem with French in Quebec,” he said.
Mouvement Québec has already expressed its opposition to Bill 96 to reform the Charter of the French language, tabled last year by Minister Jolin-Barrette. In its book of principles made public on Tuesday, the Canadian Party of Quebec also claims to reject “unconditionally and unequivocally […] to Bill 96.
“In reflection”
A few weeks before the adoption of the said legislative measure, the government of François Legault also says it is ready to put water in its wine with regard to CEGEP courses offered in French.
In its current form, the bill requires students from English-speaking CEGEPs to take three courses taught in French during their studies at CEGEP, regardless of discipline. The PLQ, which put this proposal on the table, has already agreed that it should not have done so and tabled an amendment two weeks ago. However, Minister Jolin-Barrette chose to vote against the joint proposal, arguing that he had not had time to study it sufficiently.
Tuesday, Mr. Jolin-Barrette said he was still “in reflection”. The elected official has only a few sessions to table amendments before the adoption of the bill, expected in May.