The streets of downtown Montreal were flooded with protesters on Saturday as many gathered against Bill 96, a law proposed by the Quebec government to reform the French Charter.
Organized by groups representing the English-speaking community in the province, the protest aimed to send a strong message to the majority government that legislation in this form is unacceptable.
“We are telling the Prime Minister [François] Lego and its CAQ government [that] we are Quebec residents, “said Marlene Jennings, president of the Quebec Community Group.
“We value and support the French language, we want it to be protected and promoted, but not on our backs, not on our fundamental rights.
Submitted a year ago, Bill 96 is in the final stages of adoption and is expected to be voted in the National Assembly later this month. This 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”.
While many protesters said the French language should be protected in the countryside, they said the law would restrict access to education, health care and justice for those who do not speak French. (Canadian Press)
Despite the heat, protesters left Dawson College at 10:30 a.m. and marched just under two kilometers to Quebec Prime Minister Francois Lego’s offices in Montreal on the corner of Sherbrooke and McGill College Avenue.
Signs reading “Is there a place for me in Quebec?” and “Defend the French, but not at the expense of English rights” were seen in the crowd.
While many protesters agreed that French should be protected in the countryside, they said the law would restrict access to education, health care and justice for those whose first language is not French.
“An additional burden on our people,” said the indigenous activist
Among the proposed changes to the charter are requiring newcomers to Quebec to receive public services exclusively in French after six months in the countryside – which many have called an unrealistic schedule for learning a new language.
An amendment to the bill was recently passed, which will require English CEGEP students to take three additional French courses – without exception for indigenous students.
Kenneth Deere of the Kahnawake Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk) nation called the move colonial and insensitive.
“We are struggling to keep our own language alive. So Bill 96 puts an additional burden on our people,” he said.
“Our priority is for our people to learn mohawk.”
An amendment to Bill 96 was recently adopted, which will require English students at CEGEP to take three additional French courses – without exception for indigenous students. (Rowan Kennedy / CBC News)
To ensure that French is the “official and common language of Quebec”, the government will also impose new obligations on the use of French in companies with 25 to 49 employees, restrict the use of English in courts and public services, provide powers to search and seize without order the Quebec language regulator and restrict enrollment in English CEGEP to prevent more students from French language schools from switching to the English stream.
Quebec Liberal Party leader Dominique Anglad took part in Saturday’s protest, saying there were better ways to strengthen the French language than by creating a divide between Quebec residents.
“We are very aware of the importance of the French language, the importance of protecting it, of promoting it,” Anglad said.
“But we need to do it in an inclusive way, for all Quebecers, and Bill 96 is not doing that right now.”
Quebec’s French minister, Simon Jolin-Barrett, vigorously defended Bill 96 in the face of criticism, as did Lego, who called it sensible, balanced and necessary, “to ensure adequate protection of the French language.” “
The government has preventively invoked the independence clause, which will limit the possibility of legally challenging the law.
Despite Legault’s assurances that the rights of English speakers will be protected, Dawson College student Kiana Lalavi is worried about how additional CEGEP French courses may affect foreign students and newcomers to Quebec.
“They don’t have English rights,” she said. “Their R score will decrease, their life chances will be limited and they will not be able to enter the programs of their choice.”
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