English Supporters in Quebec Protest Proposed French Language Bill

If you were in a foreign country and did not know the language, you would naturally try to start a conversation in English. However, if the Parti Quebecois gets its way, majority of citizens in Quebec would only know how to speak French. This is why English language supporters are trying their best not to let this piece of legislation pass – the proposed French Language Bill.

On Sunday, some 250 protesters braved snow and bitterly cold weather to protest the proposed Bill 14, which will further limit access to English in the region. The debate is as old as the settlers in the area – there are those who support more French language than English and vice versa.

The weekend protest rally converged outside the office of Premier Marois’ on McGill College Ave. The action went on for over an hour, with songs, chants and speeches delivered by known movers and activists who are outrightly appalled by the proposal. Not surprisingly, the protest action concluded with the protesters singing the Canadian anthem in both English and French.

Contents of the French Language Bill

The motion was started by PQ Language Minister Diane de Courcy. It would see some radical changes in the existing language laws. For one, the new law requires that there be an anglophone population of more than 50% in a particular area in order for it to keep its bilingual status.

Professionals who want to work as nurses in Quebec would also have to be proficient in French. At the same time, existing French language rules which cover businesses and establishments with 50 or more employees will be expanded to include even those with under 26 employees. This means that even the most basic establishments would need to have an employee who can speak French fluently on more or less every shift.

Amendments to the Charter of the French Language

The new law further proposes that all educational institutions should take steps to make sure that Quebec students are given more than enough training to become proficient in French. Additionally, all public businesses should address their clients in the French language.

For the past hundreds of years the French vs. English battle has been going on in Quebec. There have been some wins and losses for both sides. However, people say that this time, the Parliament has taken the situation a little too far. Residents would like to be accorded equal opportunity to be instructed and become proficient in both languages.

Knowing more than one language can help a person immensely not only in social interaction, but also in furthering their careers or being employed abroad. Parents are not totally in favor of the proposed language bill because most of them have experienced first hand what it’s like to be lost in translation.