A number of Liberal Liberal MPs will take part in a protest Saturday against the Quebec government’s plans to reform its Charter on the French Language.
Although no federal minister is expected to join the march, the presence of Liberal lawmakers such as Anthony Hausfader and Annie Cutrakis shows opposition to Quebec’s Bill 96 in the Liberal Assembly in Ottawa.
Organized by groups representing the English-speaking minority in the province, Saturday’s protest is set to begin at Dawson College and end at Quebec Prime Minister Francois Lego’s office in Montreal.
Liberal MEP Francis Scarpaleggia, who is the westernmost rider on the island of Montreal, voiced opposition to Bill 96 in an interview Friday. He added that he was “very likely” to take part in Saturday’s demonstration.
“This is not a bill that has a consensus. The Quebec Employers’ Council has many concerns about its impact. What I want is Quebec, which is strong, which can move forward, which has a strong economy,” he said.
Brossard-St-Lambert MP Alexandra Mendes said she could not take part in the protest, but added that she supported “most of the demands made by the Anglophone and allophone communities in Quebec”.
Liberal MEP Francis Scarpaledgia, who is the westernmost rider on the island of Montreal, expressed his opposition to Bill 96. (Justin Tang / Canadian Press)
Spokesmen for Housefather, who is in close contact with protest organizers, and Kutrakis confirmed that lawmakers will march against Bill 96. The offices of other lawmakers expected to join the march have not responded to requests for confirmation.
Quebec’s “Historical Responsibilities.”
Quebec’s French language minister, Simon Jolin-Barrett, vigorously defended Bill 96 in the face of criticism from English-speaking groups and local communities.
His office said that the defense of the French language should primarily take place in Quebec.
Simon Jolin-Barrett, the minister in charge of the French Charter, says there are no plans to exempt indigenous students from taking French language courses. (Frederick Bisonette / Radio Canada)
“Protecting, improving and promoting the French language are historical responsibilities of the Quebec government, which we fully intend to continue to take on,” said Jolin-Barrett’s spokeswoman, Elizabeth Gosselin-Bienvenu.
“It is up to the elected representatives of the Quebec nation to discuss Bill 96.”
Introduced a year ago, Bill 96 will make several changes to the 1977 Charter of the French Language (also known as Bill 101), strengthening the status of the French language in “all spheres of society”.
To ensure that French is “the official and common language of Quebec,” the government will impose new obligations on the use of French in companies with 25 to 49 employees. It will also control access to English colleges and regulate interactions in a language other than French between the Quebec government and the citizens and businesses of the province.
Open letter
Housefather, who represents Mount Royal’s federal riding, criticized several elements of Bill 96 last year, including restricting access to government services in English.
“Suddenly, hundreds of thousands of people who believe they are part of the English-speaking community in Quebec will no longer be eligible to receive certain services from the state in English,” he said.
He also criticized the fact that Quebec has preventively invoked the independence clause, which will limit the possibility of litigation.
“The idea of isolating the bill from possible legal challenges is deeply troubling. “The public will have no way of knowing if a right has been violated,” Housefather said.
He said he was also preparing an open letter against Bill 96, which will be published after the Quebec National Assembly passes Bill 96. The provincial legislature will be on leave next week and resume its session on May 24.
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