The support of the parliamentary wing of Québec solidaire for the Legault government’s Bill 101 reform project has aroused the indignation of several militants of the left-wing party. Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois now wants to clarify the message by denouncing the “controversial” aspects of the legislative piece.
Posted at 11:06 a.m.
Updated at 11:33 a.m.
“It caused a lot of talk. […] We hear the fears, we hear the dissatisfaction, in particular the dissatisfaction, and especially the dissatisfaction of the new arrivals. We hear the indignation of the representatives of the indigenous peoples. We share these fears and this indignation”, recognized on Saturday the parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, who spoke before an audience of activists gathered in Montreal for the National Council of the party, dedicated to the preparation of the campaign. fall election.
The co-spokesperson defended his support for the Coalition avenir Québec’s Bill 96, which contains several elements “consistent” with the QS platform, including the application of Bill 101 to federally chartered companies and the most small enterprises.
But two things make you tick. The “arbitrary six-month delay to obtain services in a language other than French, which adds an obstacle to the inclusion and integration of newcomers to Quebec”, and the Legault government’s refusal “to follow up on the demands indigenous peoples with regard to language, particularly in Bill 96”.
He therefore passed a motion to write in black and white that “Québec solidaire formally undertakes to reverse these decisions as soon as it comes to power”, and that it “reiterates its commitments with regard to the official recognition and protection of languages indigenous “. Mr. Nadeau-Dubois pointed out that with the election campaign imminent, this motion would allow him to be “clear about the social project we are proposing”.
Fall in the trap
But many have denounced the maneuver. Activist Hélène Bissonnette denounced the strategy of Mr. Nadeau-Dubois and other elected officials, who “fell into the trap” of the CAQ. She believes that the “show of smoke around the decline of French is a trap”, and that this motion in no way justifies support for Bill 96: the message sent by elected officials is that we are “ready to pound on rights, she lamented.
Another activist, Sam Boskey called the support “sad, disappointing and dangerous”. Others lamented the support for a project that “reflects the right-wing identity nationalism” that QS is “supposed” to fight.
The candidate in the riding of Bonaventure, Catherine Cyr Wright, even believes that defending the rights of Anglophones is in the party’s “blind spot”. David Touchette, spokesperson for QS Montreal and candidate for the nomination in the riding of Westmount–Saint-Louis, believes that this support will hinder the party’s efforts to break into ridings where many Anglophones and allophones live, now perceive QS as “enemies”. Have QS elected officials “thought of fellow volunteers who want to make gains in the Montreal area,” he asked.
Manon Massé replied that Bill 96 is “heartless for newcomers and natives”, “but in PL 96 it must also be noted that the QS program on several points is found there”, she said. she replied.