Quebec Provincial Government Wants More Powers From Canada To Protect The French Language

 

 

 

 

On Friday, the CAQ government caused some concern in Quebec’s Anglophone community, as they reportedly made public the changes they’re hoping to see in the federal language laws.

Among their demands, Quebec wants Canada to recognize it as a protector of the French, and wants to be granted more powers to do so. This has got the Anglophone groups worrying about the rights of English speakers that could be in danger.

Marlene Jennings, the president of the Quebec Community Groups Network said that it’s a non-starter, it’s a no-go, and it’s a full stop turn around, they should do a u-turn and go back.

The province published its formal position on what the new version of Canada’s Official languages Act should appear like, ahead of the federal efforts to modernize the law this year.

Quebec Intergovernmental Affairs Minister, Sonia LeBel told in an interview that what they are looking for is the acknowledgment in the law that they are in Canada, a bilingual country but that the French are in the much, that they would say in a weaker position.

Reportedly, Quebec wants the federal government to acknowledge that of the country’s two official languages, French is the only vulnerable one and that Quebec has a vital cross-country role in protecting it.

Lebel explained that maybe they don’t have the jurisdiction because it’s a federal jurisdiction but they certainly have a moral duty to be a leader in the French community towards Canada from coast to coast to coast and that this is something that they want them to recognize.

The Anglophone rights advocates say that the English language is under threat in Quebec and that they worry that if Quebec is recognized as the guardian of French, the English would be further squeezed out of things like education and health care.

Quebec Liberal MNA Greg Kelley, who is also the official opposition’s spokesperson on relations with the Anglophone community said that they are not too sure that whether or not they want to give this provincial government exclusive jurisdiction on the question of dealing with the English-speaking community.

This current government has shown a lack of respect for the English community several times since they’ve been elected. Jennings pointed out an ongoing court battle in which the English school boards are fighting with the Quebec government for the right to exist. She further mentioned that the lack of COVID-19 information available to Anglophones until the pandemic was several months old.

LeBel insisted that the goal is not to take away the Anglophone rights. She added that they just have to recognize that even if they are a majority of French-speaking people in Quebec, they are not a majority within Canada.

In a statement, Minister of Official languages, Melanie Joly said that she is devoted to protect and promote both the official languages. She said that shall always defend the vision of a country where the official languages can do and thrive.