The minister for the French Language has mentioned letting bilingual municipalities hold referendums in order to decide whether or not they keep their status.

Diane De Courcy brought up the option during a committee hearings. But, she did not say whether she's for or against this idea.

She says she had a talk with the official languages commissioner, Graham Fraser "(he) spoke about his worry, not as much about the intentions of the government, but especially about the sole use of percentages."

De Courcy says Fraser told her there were other options available.

The CAQ's critic, though, Nathalie Roy has her own idea: "I would like to ask you to think about the idea that the municipalities could decide for themselves," she says, possibly after a larger consultation.

"I imagine your talking about referendums or something like that," De Courcy says. She did not indicate whether or not she favours that option, but the minister does say that the issue is so sensitive that it is hard for municipalities to ask to have the status removed.