The Legault government adopted Bill 96 on Tuesday, which will improve the Charter of the French language.
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Only Québec solidaire supported the bill, despite reservations. “We are quite capable of recognizing that there are also advances, then it is on the basis of these advances that we will vote for”, explained its parliamentary leader, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
Liberals, PQs and Conservatives came out against the reform, although for different reasons. The PLQ denounces the use of the derogatory clause and the extraordinary powers granted to the Office québécois de la langue française. A position similar to that of the Conservative Party of Quebec, which is concerned to see the bill suspend 38 articles of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of Quebec.
On the other hand, the Parti québécois considers that the measures proposed by the Legault government do not go far enough.
More and more opponents
While it had made few waves since it was tabled in May 2021, Bill 96 has seen its opponents multiply in recent weeks.
The English-speaking communities kicked off, due to the freezing of places in English-speaking CEGEPs and the cancellation of the expansion of Dawson College (announced in stride). It all culminated in a big march in Montreal, led in particular by the Liberals of Dominique Anglade.
English-speaking Indigenous communities also came to the National Assembly to ask to be exempted, along with Québec solidaire.
