(Quebec) The 138 million dollars from Ottawa intended for the English-speaking community of Quebec must be used for francization, asks the Legault government.
On Wednesday, as soon as the federal action plan on official languages was announced, the Minister responsible for Canadian Relations and the Canadian Francophonie, Jean-François Roberge, deplored that he had noticed nothing at first sight to protect French. in Quebec, while an envelope is reserved for the province’s English-speaking community.
Thursday, “after analysis”, he said that Quebec “could have a share” of the funding provided for “some measures that affect all of Canada”. But above all, he made a “request” to the federal Minister of Official Languages, Ginette Petitpas Taylor.
“I see that there is still a lot of money that is intended for English-speaking communities in Quebec”, an envelope of 138 million, he noted, adding that “Prime Minister Trudeau says that it is really French which is in danger in Canada and that [the federal government] has a responsibility”. “What would be a good idea is that the amounts intended for Anglophones be used for francization. [That’s] what I expect. »
The Minister responsible for the French Language also replied that “it would be unacceptable” for this federal money to be used to “finance groups that challenge the laws of the Quebec nation”, such as the reform of Bill 101 (Bill 96 ).
The three opposition parties in the National Assembly have argued that Ottawa is not doing enough for French in Quebec with its action plan.
However, this unanimity ended at the Salon Bleu, when PQ MP Pascal Bérubé wanted to present a motion, supported by the government, for “the National Assembly to denounce the insufficiency of new investments in the federal Action Plan” for protection of the French language in Quebec, “compared to the amounts allocated to the Anglo-Quebec community”. The motion added that “the Anglo-Quebec community benefits from privileged cultural and educational institutions, which amply guarantee the maintenance of its vitality in Quebec”. The Liberal Party of Quebec did not give its consent to the tabling of this motion, which was therefore not debated.
