Introduction
Raymond Théberge, the current Commissioner of Official Languages (COL), visited Quebec on September 26, 2024 to give a speech to the Quebec English School Board Association. Nothing reassuring for French and Francophones in Quebec.
I will explain why this speech is so worrying, by quoting the CLO, followed by my comments.
A series of missed opportunities.
C-13
The Official Languages Act was amended in 2023 by Bill C-13, despite opposition from various English-speaking groups and by the Commissioner of Official Languages, to recognize the minority status of all Francophones and of the French language in Canada, including in Quebec, and the role of Bill 101 in defending them.
The modernized Act also recognizes the need to protect and promote the French language, given its minority status in Canada and North America, and proposes an approach that takes this reality into account. In my opinion, it’s entirely possible, even desirable, to support Quebec’s English‑speaking communities while promoting the future of French in the province. These objectives aren’t contradictory; they coexist in the Act and can very well be complementary.
This is the only mention of Bill C-13 in the CLO’s speech. One might think that the CLO would have come to Quebec to explain the new concrete steps he is proposing to take to support this new objective adopted by Bill C-13 of protecting French in Quebec But no, he states ex cathedra that promoting French can be done without harming English. Is this true? For example, the federal government advocates for two official languages in Canada (and thus in Quebec), in direct opposition to Bill 101.
In reality, the COL, in its speech, did not identify a single new measure to promote French in Quebec, where 90% of Francophones in Canada live.
What a missed opportunity.
Anglophones and mastery of French
In Quebec, English‑language school boards have the important mission of preparing students to live and thrive in their communities and to contribute to them. This means, first and foremost, educating students in the minority language while helping them to learn and become fluent in French.
Read this text carefully. He affirms the MISSION of English schools in Quebec to teach English to English-speaking students, without ANY obligation to ensure that they actually master French. At most, we must HELP students to learn French. This in 2024 in Quebec, 50 years after the adoption of French as the only official language in Quebec.
Elsewhere, we have proposed removing the application of section 23 of the federal Charter in Quebec because of the English school system’s refusal to require real mastery (fluency) of French; see Brief by Bonjour Merci Québec to the government to ensure a real mastery of French by English-speaking students in Quebec. This speech confirms to us that a constitutional linguistic change is necessary.
Missed opportunity no. 2.
University funding
The province’s English‑language universities are a valuable and vital resource. The talent they attract from around the world and the presence of leading‑edge research institutions on their campuses contribute to Quebec’s economic and cultural vitality. As you know, this complex situation is currently before the Quebec Superior Court. I will continue to monitor the situation in the hope that the Court’s decision will help clarify and protect official language rights.
A lively debate is currently taking place in Quebec on how to ensure that the French-language university system receives its fair share of the total public and private funding of all universities in Quebec. One might have thought that such an objective would be one of the measures promoted by C-13. Not for the COL: all he has to say is that he supports English-language universities in their legal recourse against Bill 96, which recently amended Bill 101.
Missed opportunity no. 3.
English-speaking parents who choose to send their children to the French-language system
At the time the Census data was published in November 2022, we were disappointed to learn that, on average, a quarter of children eligible for English‑language education in Quebec have never attended a minority language school.
Considering that English-language schools, with the support of the CLO, do not require graduates to have a real mastery (fluency) of French, we are not surprised that many English-speaking parents send their children to the French system. But NOT the COL, he is instead disappointed. So, he interprets section 23 of the Canadian Charter as not only granting a constitutional right to English-speaking Quebecers, but also imposing some kind of moral obligation on English-speaking parents not to send their children into the French-speaking school system.
Missed opportunity #4.
Unconditional support for the English-speaking elite
I applaud your commitment and dedication to defending your language rights and advocating for change in certain situations. … To conclude, I’d like to emphasize that Quebec’s English‑speaking communities are examples of resilience and tenacity.… I’ll soon be releasing a report that highlights some of these challenges and proposes concrete courses of action I have complete confidence in your leadership
The CLO ends his speech by reaffirming his unconditional support for the leaders of the English-speaking school system and their policy of judicial confrontation. Not a word about the English-speaking organizations that have withdrawn from QCGN because of this confrontational approach. And no criticism of the QESBA members’ policy of not requiring their graduates to have a real mastery of French.
Missed opportunity no. 5.
Quebec anglos near-death
Quebec’s English‑speaking communities are examples of resilience and tenacity. Despite the challenges they face, they continue to assert themselves to keep their linguistic and cultural identity alive and strong.
So the language and culture of Quebec anglophones is on death-watch, the fact they are still ALIVE is to be commended. Here is the victimisation myth laid out for all to see, that Quebecers who speak the language spoken by 98% of all north Americans are somehow in danger of disappearance.
Beyond words,
Conclusion
Here is a speech full of missed opportunities and which refuses to accept the new direction signaled by C-13.
Time for a new commissioner?
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Marc Ryan
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