The Quebec Liberal Party is urging Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette to “unlock new classes” in French-language training on the North Shore of Montreal. And to do so “quickly” in order to prevent service disruptions.
“Your government is breaking the moral contract with immigrants who came here to contribute to Quebec society and with all the good will to integrate by wanting to learn our common language, French,” deplores MP André Albert Morin in a letter sent to the minister on Thursday and whose The Duty got copy.
“I ask you, Madam Minister, to take rapid action and release new classes in order to meet the growing demand for French-language education.
The MP was reacting to the revelations of Le Devoir on the cancellation of 90% of the French language courses offered to adults at the Centre de services scolaire des Mille-Îles in the Laurentians. A situation also observed in other regions of Quebec.
“This is not the first time that I have challenged you on the Francisation Québec fiasco that your government created,” wrote the Liberal spokesperson for immigration and francization.
The situation is all the more “embarrassing,” argues the L’Acadie MP, because Bill 96, which the CAQ passed, imposes “major obligations” on immigrants to learn French in the first six months, while “guaranteeing them access to francization within a reasonable time frame.”
“It is clear that your government is incapable of meeting its own objectives. A major failure.”
Government ‘unable to keep pace’
Asked to respond, Minister Fréchette’s office did not comment specifically on the situation on the North Shore of Montreal. However, it reiterated that “the arrival of too many non-permanent residents is putting untenable pressure on our public services” and that the situation reported in The Duty is “new proof”.
“The growth in demand is too great for us to keep up,” the firm added by email. “We are asking the federal government to do its part: Ottawa must reduce by half the number of immigrants in the PMI and the number of asylum seekers.”
He also mentions that Francisation Québec will eventually be able to offer more courses. “Francisation Québec was set up last year, we are in the process of continuous improvement to enhance the offer and continue to serve more and more people.”