In order to promote the French language, the Parti Québécois (PQ) proposes that welcoming and Quebec citizenship ceremonies be organized for all newcomers to Quebec and that a badge of good linguistic conduct be distributed to deserving companies.
The MNA for Matane-Matapédia and PQ spokesperson for Immigration and the French language, Pascal Bérubé, maintains that a welcoming and citizenship ceremony would greatly help the integration of new Quebecers and their francization . He proposes that such a ceremony highlight the uniqueness of French in Quebec and its importance in their host nation.
In his opinion, the welcoming ceremonies organized by the Government of Canada are not adapted to the Quebec reality, in particular, he specifies, because they repeat that Canada is a bilingual country and because talks about the King of England.
Pascal Bérubé proposes that the reception and welcome ceremonies be organized annually by the deputy of the riding of the newcomers, during which the importance of a successful integration in French would be underlined. They would be given a certificate and a Quebec flag.
On the other hand, MP Bérubé thinks that all companies doing business in Quebec have an obligation to meet the requirements of the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF). Those complying with all the provisions could affix a badge of good conduct on their doors. He believes that merchants could demonstrate their support for the protection of French and that consumers could choose the businesses they want to encourage.
The press release from the PQ MP also salutes the initiative of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal with its “I’m learning French” program, which aims to improve the language skills of owners and employees of small businesses. It is, he writes, a step in the right direction in the face of the urgency to act.
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