Parti Quebecois leadership candidates debated English education in the province Monday night in Quebec City.
It was the last debate before Friday’s leadership election, organized by the Le Devoir newspaper. Debate moderators asked questions about the higher rate of graduation in English high schools and the fact more francophone students are choosing to to go to English CEGEPs.
Candidates Martine Ouellet and Alexandre Cloutier said it is a concern for them because these students could be more likely to seek work in English.
READ MORE: Parti Quebecois candidates debate the English language
“There are different studies that said that with more francophones in the English CEGEPs, then afterwards they’re more open to work in English and I think the working place in Quebec should be in French,” Ouellet said.
“I hope Quebecers try to get their training in French and get jobs in French; this is what I’m trying to work on,” Cloutier said.
READ MORE: PQ leadership hopefuls square-off in debate
Jean-Francois Lisée stated his focus is on making sure English students have sufficient French language skills.
“I’m appalled by the fact that a number of college graduates in the English CEGEPs come out with insufficient French skills to succeed in the Montreal job market, so I want to ensure that every student that comes out of an English CEGEP has a French proficiency to be successful in Montreal,” said Lisée.
The debate took place the day a new Angus Reid poll found support for sovereignty is dwindling. Three quarters of respondents said Quebec should “stay in Canada.” Sixty-three percent said they were “proud” or “very proud” to be Canadian.
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