The Conservative Party of Quebec proposes to broaden support for francization to all family members of newcomers and to adjust French training more closely to the workplace where these newcomers work.
Conservative leader Éric Duhaime, who was in Montreal on Tuesday morning to present his party’s proposals for francization, cited data from the latest census to affirm in turn that the situation of French in Quebec is precarious.
In the same breath, while acknowledging that what he is proposing is close to “Law 96”, the CAQ reform of Law 101, he nevertheless promised to abolish this law to replace it with another version that does not would not contain what he considers to be infringements of the rights of Anglophones.
Mr. Duhaime, however, rejects the claims of certain representatives of the English-speaking community that the survival of English is threatened in Quebec. For the Conservative leader, English is in no way threatened in Quebec, with or without “Law 96”.
Immigration and Roxham Road
The Conservative Party also intends to ask Ottawa for full powers over immigration and says it hopes that all parties will speak with one voice on this issue.
Asked about the situation on Roxham Road at the Canada-US border, where there have already been some 19,000 irregular crossings since the start of the year, Éric Duhaime blamed both Quebec and Ottawa for their lack of leadership in this case.
According to him, this situation is detrimental to regular immigration and undermines Quebecers’ confidence in immigration in general.
Unpaid taxes: to help a friend
In addition, Mr. Duhaime was once again called upon to explain his late payment of municipal and school taxes. He repeated that the house in question, in the Montcalm district, in Quebec, is lent to a friend in need and his four children.
A lease had been signed for the first year of occupation, but his friend being unable to honor it, it was simply not renewed. In these circumstances, he asked his friend to simply pay the living expenses of the house, namely municipal and school taxes, heating, electricity and so on. Again, the friend in question found himself unable to pay the taxes and it was the Conservative leader who paid the requested sums.
Éric Duhaime affirms that he is losing money with this house, money that he will only be able to recover if he sells it since its value has increased.