Federal language commissioner to keep close eye on new Bill 101

Posted By: Canadian Press · 9/7/2012 5:13:00 PM

Canada's commissioner of official languages says he will be keeping a close eye on the new government of Quebec as it moves toward toughening the province's language laws.

Premier-elect Pauline Marois says she will attempt to introduce a language law — a new Bill 101 — to stop a perceived decline in French around the Montreal and Gatineau areas, which she calls a major concern.

Graham Fraser says he intends to make sure the changes aren't in conflict with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

He also is concerned about any measures that may damage the institutions of the English minority such as the junior college system.

Fraser says he has sent a letter to Marois asking for a meeting and was encouraged that she addressed anglophone rights in her victory speech.

He rejects suggestions that the French language is in decline in Quebec pointing out you can't welcome 45,000 newcomers into your society every year and not expect to see a drop in the percentage of individuals who claim French as their first language.

Photo: Canadian Press

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  1. Mike posted on 09/07/2012 06:41 PM
    Graham Fraser: Our anglophone saviour?
  2. Marc posted on 09/08/2012 07:58 AM
    What a joke....anglos have more rights in Quebec than French have in other provinces....who are you kidding. The sooner quebec opts out of this loose association called canada, the better. Everyone will be better for it.
    1. Jon posted on 09/08/2012 07:00 PM
      @Marc Well if you want cheap property you will certainly get that, followed by third world status when all the corporations pull out. The USA won't tolerate your language crap if you want to deal with them and you wont be able to go cap in hand to the rest of Canada either.
      In the rest of Canada everyone has the right to education in the language of their choice as Canadian citizens.
      As Ghandi said,
      When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS.

      Ghandhi
    2. Dan posted on 09/10/2012 07:35 PM
      @Marc Marc! Spoken like a true separatist. You will fine french people in the rest of Canada. Problem is that french people don't venture out. If they did, they would realize that Canada has way more to offer the french people than you think. I will include Jon's statement in my comment here. Lets see how you get by living in Canada with no power, money, no land and vital services. All the REAL important stuff is back by the federal government. Oh and lets not forget to mention the huge part of the National debt Quebec will have to pay back. Yes, with what land is left after the titles return to the native people, Quebec will become a third world country. And please don't think France will move in and help Quebec. The Government wants nothing to do with Quebec. They have stated so many times. You, my separatist friend, and others like you, are living in a dream world. Quebec will end up hitting rock bottom before people wake up and realize this province needs to be bilingual to survive. It will revert to what it was 20 years ago before this Bill 101 crap started.
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  3. Josiey posted on 09/08/2012 08:50 PM
    We are counting on you Mr. Graham Fraser to stand up for our rights in this undemocratic society. You are our only hope in this province. We don't want to lose our language either. Even though there is more English than French spoken in the rest of Canada, Quebec is our home (and has been for hundreds of years) and we worry that our language will be lost in Quebec as much as the French worry about losing theirs. We have lost so many of our rights as it is and they are trying to take away more. English is a beautiful language as is the French, but the government here acts as if it is a virus that will wipe out the French language. French will always flourish in Quebec and not die, even if there were no undemocratic laws to stifle English. How is it a democracy when no one French English or Allophone can put up a sign in English or any other language except French, or go to the school of their choice? I think that the French and English will never understand each other when it comes to bill 101. We see it as suppression. They see it as protection.
  4. Letsbehonest posted on 10/12/2012 08:23 AM
    The Language Commissioner Office is yet again another sham from the government. The real issue is why doesn Stephen Harper have the balls to change it, he definitely has the authority, so why doesn't he Do It Already! All of our politicians are cowards, that make all these promises they just do not honor.
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