Promoting the idea of a bilingual Quebec is “extreme”, according to the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), Dominique Anglade.
This is what she admitted Wednesday morning when asked about the birth of two political parties promoting bilingualism. “The common language remains French in Quebec, in respect of our minorities. Then that is really important to mention because we are able to discuss language issues at the same time as we are able to do so in an inclusive manner with the entire English-speaking community,” she said in a press scrum at the National Assembly.
” [Le bilinguisme]it is sure that it is extreme, this kind of position there ”, chained the elected liberal.
The Canadian Party of Quebec, created the day before, included bilingualism in its six fundamental principles. The political party, which wishes to address English-speaking voters in particular, proposes “that newcomers who settle in Quebec must be able to have their choice of official language of choice respected in Canada”. According to its spokesperson, Colin Standish, French is not in decline in Quebec.
As for the Mouvement Québec party, created last week, it is led by the former candidate for mayor of Montreal, Balarama Holness, who recently proposed a referendum to decide on the bilingual status of the Quebec metropolis.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister François Legault had also denounced the ideas on the language of these political newcomers. “I believe that what is needed [que ces partis] understand is that if Quebec were to become bilingual, unfortunately, it wouldn’t be long before we no longer speak French and Quebec would become Louisiana,” he said in Quebec.
The PLQ still against
If putting forward ideas of bilingualism is extreme, according to Dominique Anglade, Bill 96 to reform the Charter of the French language also goes too far, she suggested on Wednesday.
His party will vote against the adoption of the legislative text, even if the Legault government watered down its wine Tuesday evening by tabling an amendment that will allow English-speaking college students to choose to take French courses or courses taught in French.
By revising his bill at the last minute, the minister responsible for the French language, Simon Jolin-Barrette, to some extent complied with the demands of the PLQ, which had itself made the proposal to oblige English-speaking students to receive three courses taught in French at CEGEP.
According to the Fédération des cégeps, this article threatened to create a “social crisis” by pushing many students towards the exit door. Last month, Dominique Anglade conceded that his team had made a mistake and urged Quebec to modify its bill.
By modifying its text, the government “fulfills its objective that all Quebecers can learn French,” said Minister Jolin-Barrette on Wednesday. He scorched in passing the decision of the PLQ to vote against Bill 96. “It’s another historic mistake by the Liberal Party,” he said in the corridors of parliament.
According to the latest news, Québec solidaire intends to vote for this bill. The Parti Québécois has still not made an official decision, although its spokesperson for the French language, Pascal Bérubé, has repeatedly stated that he is personally against this “not strong” legislative text.