Concordia University professor Kyle Matthews has been on my show a number of times in his capacity as Senior Deputy Director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies at Concordia.

We usually discuss issues that arise from the Middle East or other hotspots around the world. But tonight, Matthews was talking about an issue much closer to home; the suggestion of Education Minister Marie Malavoy to cut back on English classes for first-grade French students.

Malavoy is also thinking about reducing intensive English courses taught to Grade 6 students in French schools.

As far as Matthews is concerned, this is detrimental to the interest of Quebec as a society, given that English is the global language and a necessary tool to advance economic opportunities.

Matthews was so upset about this that he's started a petition aimed at getting the PQ to re-think its position.

If you'd like to add your name to the petition, you can find it here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/pauline-marois-et-le-parti-quebecois-n-%C3%A9liminez-pas-les-cours-d-anglais-au-qu%C3%A9bec