While Quebec asks the federal government to adopt a differentiated approach between French-speaking minorities outside Quebec and the province’s English-speaking community, Justin Trudeau’s lieutenant in Quebec, Pablo Rodriguez, says the federal government must be present for both linguistic communities.
“It is true that there is only one threatened language in North America and it is French, said the Minister of Heritage on Friday, on the sidelines of the announcement of aid for the tourism sector in the region. from Montreal. That being said, the Official Languages Act and the Government of Canada are there for the two minority communities. »
The Trudeau government recognizes that French is threatened and that Quebec has a role to play to ensure its survival, assures Mr. Rodriguez. However, the federal government’s approach will have to ensure that members of the English-speaking community of Quebec can receive essential services, such as access to justice and health care, in their language.
Quebec is asking the federal government to have a different approach towards French-speaking minorities outside Quebec and the English-speaking community in Quebec, in its project to reform the Official Languages Act.
Quebec Minister of Canadian Relations Sonia LeBel this week sent a list of 14 amendments to federal MPs who are studying the bill, reports Radio-Canada. It would ask elected officials to recognize that the needs of the two communities are different.
Ms. LeBel would have asked elected officials to no longer allude to the promotion of English in the new version of the law and to speak only of the promotion of French and “the development of minorities”.
Mr. Rodriguez did not want to comment directly on Ms. LeBel’s request. “I think it’s important for Quebec to be able to speak out and give its point of view, but ultimately it’s the Standing Committee on Official Languages that will analyze this and decide what action to take. »