The Parti Québécois (PQ) began a major party convention in Montreal Friday with a debate over language and financing CEGEPs. PQ members at the convention will determine the party platform going into next year’s election.
A number of proposals which will be considered and voted on by party membership would extend Bill 101 to CEGEPs and daycares.
“What’s great about the Parti Quebecois is that each member can propose some ideas to get into the program, so this weekend we’re going to study each of these propositions,” explained PQ MNA, Catherine Fournier.
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Amendments won’t be voted on until the end of the convention Sunday. Many will end up on the cutting room floor — the proposal to extend Bill 101 to daycares is not likely to get support from PQ MNA’s.
“It’s impossible to defend this amendment politically,” said PQ MNA, Maka Kotto.
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Leader Jean-François Lisée has also said he has no plans to change Bill 101, but he has yet to take a firm stand on proposals that would decrease funding to English CEGEPs.
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Kotto said the PQ caucus agrees with Lisée’s plan to force English CEGEP students to pass a French language exam to get their diplomas. The PQ also wants to improve English classes in French CEGEPs to keep anglophones and allophones enrolled.
In his speech Friday night, Lisée spoke to anglophone voters, promising that he will not push for a referendum in his first term:
“Our commitment is firm; we will not put this issue to a vote until the subsequent election in 2022,” he said. “And there’s one thing for certain, with the Parti Quebecois, the anglo vote will never be taken for granted.”
Lisée faces a test of his leadership with a confidence vote Saturday.
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