Language Legality Snags (and Sniggers)

The Parti Quebecois government's intention to bolster the provincial language law appears to have run into a bit of a controversial snag. That it is offensive and contrary to the rights of English-speaking Quebecers is a given; that it is likely illegal and contra to equality has also been pointed out to those insistent that French as a heritage language, threatened by the ubiquity of English in a largely English-speaking country, must be bolstered by more stringent laws.

Bill 14 is being savaged by the Quebec Bar Association, the provincial Human Rights commission and the federation tasked with representing Quebec's 48 public CEGEPs at Committee hearings. The warning from all concerned is that the proposed changes, if put into law would have the effect of trampling on human rights. English-language school boards have given warning they will be forced to shut schools, with declining enrolments resulting from the effect of Bill 14.

Anglophone mayors of Quebec towns where accommodation has been made for bilingualism to service the needs of the English-speakers living there, while still attending to the law and the needs of French-speakers, warn that the social equilibrium of the two will result in a state of that fabled two solitudes to replace the current stable and good relations enjoyed by all residents, French and English.

Tampering with the balance in the name of protecting the French language that no longer requires protection, is offensive to the rights of the minority. This has never been a persuasive argument in the ears of the committed pure laine Quebecois, those who long for the day when they will finally achieve their goal of Quebec independence, Quebec as a nation among nations.

The Quebec Bar Association, representing over 24,500 lawyers under the provincial and federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms, claims Bill 14 will be guaranteed to produce unsavoury challenges. "Indeed, certain measures proposed by Bill 14 risk having a disproportionate effect on the anglophone and allophone communities, and we fear that they cannot be justified in a free and democratic society", read the brief.

The bill is meant to strengthen the French Language Charter's preamble stating that French "constitutes the foundation of Quebec's identity and of a distinct culture that is open to the world". It is the position of the Bar that the strong wording "could be interpreted in a way to exclude the contribution of Quebec's other linguistic communities."

Also troubling to the human rights commission is the replacement of the term "democratic values" in the provincial Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, with the phrase "values of Quebec society" in its preamble. Moreover, they contend, the addition of "the right to live and work in French" has no place in the Rights Charter. Although Quebec unions would love it to be legally enshrined so that public sector workers could refuse requests by anglophones to accommodate them in English.

As for the CEGEPS, and the PQ's wish to block francophones and allophones from attending CEGEP in English, such a dramatic move would be ruinous to the future of English-language CEGEPs. Basing admission qualifications on anything other than academic standings would, in any event be unacceptable, according to the federation president.

Parti Quebecois minister responsible for language Diane De Courcy, is undaunted and unmoved by these representations. Dismissing the concerns aired at the hearings, she insists that: "Individual freedoms will not be diminished in any way."  Leaving the commission hearings with the impression that the PQ government is socially and legislatively incompetent.