(Ottawa) The Bloc members find it “unacceptable” that a “large contingent” of Liberal Party of Canada MPs went to demonstrate on Saturday against Bill 96 in Montreal.
Posted at 4:08 p.m.
“As a provocation in Quebec’s fields of jurisdiction, we cannot imagine worse than that,” said Bloc Québécois parliamentary leader Alain Therrien during a press scrum in the foyer of the House of Commons on Monday. .
By their presence, the Liberal MPs sent the message that “there is no problem with French in Quebec, (that) the protection of French is perhaps even exaggerated,” he said. .
“Don’t get involved in this,” said Mr. Therrien, no longer passing through four paths.
Bill 96 should be adopted by the National Assembly by the end of the parliamentary session. It aims to impose tougher restrictions for workplaces and municipalities.
The future law will limit the use of English in courts and public services, strengthen the powers of seizure and search of the Office de la langue française and establish a cap on registrations for English-speaking CEGEPs. Students will have to take a greater number of courses in French.
According to the Bloc, the presence of Liberal MPs is further proof that the Trudeau government speaks out of both sides of its mouth. He says he is in favor of the defense of French in Quebec and his deputies participate at the same time in a demonstration which goes “clearly in a direction of the pure and simple anglicization of Quebec”.
For the Conservative Vice-President of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, Joël Godin, the Liberals “have a dissidence and are not consistent”.
Intercepted as he entered parliament, Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, who took part in the demonstration, said that “we are all here to promote French across Canada.”
Photo Adrian Wyld, archives The Canadian Press
MLA for Mount Royal, Anthony Housefather
The Anglophone minority is not responsible for threats to French. The English-speaking minority in Quebec also has the right to have its historical rights respected.
Anthony Housefather, MP for Mount Royal
Non-unanimous consent
In response, the Bloc presented a motion on Monday asking that the House of Commons “reiterate that Quebec is the sole implementer of its language policy and ask the federal government not to hinder or restrict in any way other the application of the Charter of the French language of Quebec”.
The MNA for Longueuil–Saint-Hubert, Denis Trudel, claimed that there was consultation between the political parties and that the President will find “unanimous consent” from the House.
A few seconds after he spoke, the Vice-President of the Chamber interrupted him by rising. “I’m already hearing ‘no’s,” said Chris d’Entremont. So the consultation is not done. »
During the session, the tone rose on the issue of the deputies who argue that there is unanimous consent. “There is abuse with unanimous consent motions in this House of Commons,” said Mr. d’Entremont, who was warmly applauded.
“I implore every member of this House to use Statements by Members to make their point rather than using unanimous consent motions as they are used now. […] I hope that they are used for what they are intended: to obtain the unanimous consent of this House. »
The Bloc members also oppose Bill C-13 aimed at modernizing the Official Languages Act and allowing employees and customers of businesses under federal jurisdiction to choose the language in which they wish to work or be served.
However, Ottawa “comes to encroach” on the competences of the province while French is “not a joke” in Quebec, estimated Mr. Therrien. “The language is in danger. We absolutely have to protect it and let the Government of Quebec work in that direction. »
“So mind your own business,” he offered again.