Quebec's new language minister tried to reassure a business crowd this afternoon about upcoming though unspecified changes to the French language charter.

Diane De Courcy told a luncheon meeting of the Conseil du patronat, Quebec's largest employers group, that she is worried about the decline in French and a growing requirement for bilingualism at some Montreal companies. She said the decline in French demands an obligation for results, and that changes to Bill 101 will mean discussions. And the minister told reporters she won't name specifics until after that, insisting she didn't say anything in her speech about changes to things such as daycares or CEGEPS.

Head of the Conseil du Patronat Yves-Thomas Dorval said he's counting on those discussions and an analysis of the impact on business.

"It's a huge delicate issue and changing anything regarding the Chartre de la langue francaise may bring some new protests, some new issues, some new crisis and I don't think that's what we need in Quebec right now," Dorval told reporters.

De Courcy said French should be the common language in the workplace and that while bilingualism is a plus, it should not be a requirement.

Photo: PQ