Future of PQ language bill hazy

Posted By: Angelica Montgomery · 12/5/2012 5:03:00 PM

Although no opposition group in the National Assembly says it plans to vote against the Parti Quebecois' language bill, the Liberals and the CAQ are not making any endorsements.

The two main parties both list a number of reservations, and the PQ minority could be forced to make adjustments for its bill to pass.

CAQ will wait

François Legault says he'll listen to comments from the public next spring before deciding what parts of the legislation he would be willing to support.

"Right now, it's not a priority to table a new law regarding French," says Legault. "We think the priority should be to apply the new bill 101."

Legault says he's especially concerned about the law's impact on small businesses.

Red Flag

The Liberals say they are willing to collaborate, but have serious reservations.

"We're always acting in good faith," says language critic Marc Tanguay. "What is suggested raises a lot of red flags and we will be very very vigilant."

The Liberals share Legault's criticisms, and are concerned about a "political language police" created by this law, where the minister can name commissioners with the power to investigate.

They also say requiring a mastery of French to graduate from English schools and CEGEPs could be hard on newcomers.

photo of: Charter of the French Language minister Diane De Courcy

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  • 27
  1. JohnH- posted on 12/05/2012 05:43 PM
    I will be closing my small business putting (8) people out of work. And moving to Canada. BYE BYE Quebec.
    1. Lisa posted on 12/05/2012 06:49 PM
      @JohnH- Please stay John. Hire the unwanted English and fight tooth and nail to gain the respect you deserve for contributing to the Province that we once could honorably call home.
    2. Bob posted on 12/06/2012 09:18 AM
      @JohnH- Dont fire anybody , just open a second company
      two companies 24 employees each
    show more replies
  2. Lisa posted on 12/05/2012 06:11 PM
    I commented on the story this evening on CJAD. I believe this to be an annihilation of human rights and a debilitating demise of the so called honor to consider Canada a free country. Why has the Federal government not stepped in and said "Hey, Quebec, you are still a province not a solitary nation"? Why have I heard so many Anglos just bitch and cohort and state that they are willing to leave their homes instead of unite and push for Ottawas involvement? This is segregation at the highest level of ignorance. Prejudice is not only based on color but on the bullying of a weaker minority. This is completely unacceptable and I hope to find comfort in a regiment of an ethical entourage that not only shares my views, but will not tolerate abuse and communistic beliefs.
  3. Lisa posted on 12/05/2012 07:40 PM
    101 is a PRIME number. Indivisible by any other commonality. Only thinking of the "ONE". Themselves. Think about it, yourself!!!!
  4. dan frank posted on 12/05/2012 07:48 PM
    Modifications to bill 101 were expected , however recently when language watch dogs expressed concerns about more English being used in Montreal especially by people who are "better educated " in their words is what we should be concerned about the most.
    The PQ knows the better younger generations are educated the more the PQ with their Lunatic policies will be ignored , the answer based on their perception is ;poor eduction , try and keep people ignorant all in the name of preservation of the French language by means of turning Quebec into the north American version Of north Korea , Totally isolated ,totalitarian and broke .
    1. Lisa posted on 12/05/2012 09:44 PM
      @dan frank I find myself almost obsessed with this oppression. Good similarity. North Korea. Ewwww. Scary connection. It seems that we are too damn polite to express in our own tongue exactly what we truly feel. To be crippled by political power is almost worse than to be bound to a life on wheels whence our roads have no freedoms.

      Respectfully,
      The Wanton South.
    2. Lisa posted on 12/05/2012 11:57 PM
      @dan frank Does this mean my brilliant uni-lingual mind is set aback and placed in retardation of fluent French? Or, does this mean being an Anglophone seats me merely in coach while the planes of life soar above and beyond my comprehensive abilities? They are clueless on their self destruction and an insult to the majority of the English business market. The pockets will pain while their language swears. Thank God I won't be listening. Par ce que....Je ne comprends pas.
    show more replies
  5. John F posted on 12/05/2012 08:19 PM
    Although the PQ has a minority government, it turns out that it has a majority because the opposition doesn't have the "guts nor the desire" to defeat it.

    What a "frigin'" mess that our elected politicians just don't "give a darn" to what the majority of the population of Quebec thinks.

    Only 1/3rd of the population voted for the PQ and probably only 50% of them are in favor of separation yet Marois & Cie are marching along as it is already a "fait accompli" . Hopefully, the population of Quebec wakes up before it 's too late.
  6. Lisa posted on 12/05/2012 09:49 PM
    NOBODY'S BLAMING LACK OF FEDERAL INTERFERENCE! Our only brick in the wall of bigotry. WHY??????
    1. chuck posted on 12/12/2012 06:29 AM
      @Lisa ottawa has bent over backwards and allowed quebec an almost free hand in their affairs. The specter of serious separation has made them do this. Now with quebec a welfare province any clear thinking individual in quebec should understand the consequences of leaving with such a huge debt. but often the tail wags the dog and we all tip toe around lest we offend the sensibilities of the hard core. sad we ar eall held hostage and perhaps the chips be allowed to fall where they may.
  7. alrev posted on 12/06/2012 02:29 AM
    the pq can't stop the high school drop out level in the french high schools so why not make sure the english schools are placed in the same situation. CLOWNS!
  8. Louis Vroomen posted on 12/06/2012 08:17 AM
    So, all Quebec citizens should become sentries, so the "offender" can be listed on the internet. I.e. guilty before being convicted!
    I lived through nearly five years of Nazi occupation in Europe, where children were encouraged to snitch on their parents.
    What does that say about the mindset of Mme. Marois et.al.
    1. chuck posted on 12/12/2012 06:31 AM
      @Louis Vroomen just look at germany before and during the war...it was a snitch society where no one was safe from accusations. at least the rule of law is still in place but marois is close to ending this.
  9. Jerry posted on 12/06/2012 08:34 AM
    What bothers me the most is how the Liberals had an excellent opportunity to dissolve this government when voting on the budget, but choose to play 'stupid' polictics by playing absent and allowing the budget to eke through. Why? Why? Why? I ask. Because they're not ready for another election as they do not have a leader to take them in the next election and until they make up their minds, we (all Quebecers) have to suffer with the ridiculous new language and tax laws. I have always voted for the Liberals but not any more! CAQ voted against this budget and they will have my next vote - I PUT THAT IN WRITING! We have to right the wrong! The sooner the better! The longer they stay in power, the more difficult it will be to remove them and to beat them in the next election. Shame on you, Liberals!!!
    1. Dana posted on 12/08/2012 12:11 PM
      @Jerry They didn't because they themselves are clueless and don't have great leadership in place. In fact we know they haven't for quite some time, to let things get to this point.

      We need to find asap a strong, wise and charismatic Liberal leader who will turn this place away from the downward spin of madness it has entered and restore our self dignity, our standing and reputation outsied of Quebec and our economic health, today and for future generations
  10. roger posted on 12/06/2012 08:51 AM
    Your right John why fight tooth and nail when you are alone most of the english are just doing nothing
  11. gnicolson posted on 12/06/2012 09:46 AM
    its called ..divide and conquer...

    if you feel the new bill is somewhat of a smack in the face ..

    then just wait and see whats next....
  12. Jenny posted on 12/06/2012 10:10 AM
    I strongly suggest we ALL contact our Libertal MNAs and remind them that our voite counts for something and if they do not protect our rights, our votes will reflect that when it is time to put that little tick next to their undeserved names.
    I know I for one have left 2 messages since yesterday to Mlle. Yolande James office. Maybe if we all did that, they will do something. It is time that the English community comes together and fight - this is not right. We have RIGHTS and they are being trampled upon by a MINORITY government.
  13. Richard F posted on 12/06/2012 10:28 AM
    Now that the PQ is recruiting its own "Brown Shrits" language vigelanties to assist In its Crusade to persecute the English community, it's only a matter of time before finding and maintaining employment will be too difficult to stay in this Provence.
    That is the goal of Bill 14. To encourage all non Francophne Quebecors to to "Self deport " out of the Provence and change the voter demagrafic enough the win the next reforandum. This is just phase 1 of a ten year plan. If this bill passes, it's the beginning of the end. What will it take for us to take to the streets and voice our outrage at this Bill? They're even threatening to resort to Cyber bullying to aid in this persecution, posting the names of offending businesses based solely on an annonomus phone complaint? What next, spay paint and broken windows? Don't laugh....
  14. gnicolson posted on 12/07/2012 10:02 AM
    François Legault says he'll listen to comments from the public next spring before deciding what parts of the legislation he would be willing to support.

    "Right now, it's not a priority to table a new law regarding French," says Legault. "We think the priority should be to apply the new bill 101."

    Legault says he's especially concerned about the law's impact on small businesses.

    wow..and this is the opposition ..he's concerned..yea im sure he is ...
    no backbone..whatsoever...the only thing he is concerned about is staying as opposition..and receiving a pay cheque and a great pension pension..in the end..its himself he's worried about....its all about me..
  15. Rudolph S posted on 12/07/2012 02:15 PM
    how long will it take until those PQ Bigots we have in the gouvernement , demand, that CJAD read the English News in French...De Coursi, make sure .,that all maudit anglais dissapers from Quebec and and let nature encapsulate la Belle Provence like a Cancer Cell....
  16. Dana posted on 12/08/2012 03:17 PM
    With the growing frustration from a non uni-lingual French speaker's perspective living this nightmare in Quebec, I felt the need to watch the old movie "Network" last night.

    Hadn't seen it in many years but it left an indelible mark on me.

    It's time for us all to scream, as actor Peter Finch did in his role as a disillusioned TV anchor:
    "I'm mad as hell....and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

    Great old movie, for anyone who hasn't seen it (probably people much younger than myself), but very good representation of how we, the minority 'Anglos' in Quebec, all feel.

    Great actors too!
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