Bill 14 won’t extend language law to Quebec CÉGEPs

QUEBEC – The new Parti Québécois proposal to amend Bill 101 will not extend the language law to the CÉGEP level.

But graduates on English high schools and CÉGEPs will have to demonstrate a “good knowledge” of French and French tests for such professional orders as nursing will be toughened under the proposed changes.

English CÉGEPs will be encouraged to favour the admission of English-speaking students and English teaching will be upgraded in the French school system, including in CÉGEPs.

Premier Pauline Marois told reporters the decision to not apply Bill 101 rules to English CÉGEPs could be reviewed.

If, within three to five years, the enrolment of non-anglophones in English CÉGEPs is seen as a problem, the government could change its position.

“We will be very vigilant,” Marois said.

As well, companies with as few as 26 employees will have to demonstrate their employees can work in French.

At present the requirement is for companies with 50 employees and more.

Companies, and even smaller businesses, such as dépanneurs, will be required, within reason, to have staff on duty who can function in French.

Municipalities, which now have bilingual status, could lose that distinction if census figures show they have less than 50 per cent anglophones.

Immigration Minister Diane De Courcy presented her long-awaited bill Wednesday to update Quebec’s Charter of the French language, to counter what the Parti Québécois government sees as the threat to Montreal’s French character posed by the growing use of English in the city.

Bill 14 also introduces “new rights in linguistic matters” to Quebec’s human rights charter. The bill will update the inspection process, meant to ensure the law is respected.

The changes will apply to the public sector, businesses, municipalities, universities and colleges and it will have an impact from daycare to immigration, the minister said.

Introducing a new Bill 101 was an election campaign commitment by the PQ. Marois said her government would extend the rules for admission to schooling in English to the CÉGEP level, meaning only Quebecers who study in English would be able to attend English CÉGEPs or junior colleges.