QUESTION PERIOD — Canadian Heritage
Decline of French Language in Quebec
November 19, 2020
My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Leader, last week before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages, MP Emmanuella Lambropoulos said, and I quote:
. . . we hear, I don’t want to call it a myth, I’ll give the benefit of the doubt. We hear the French language is declining in Quebec. I’ve heard that on several occasions. I have to see proof in order to believe that.
That is what she said in English while putting the word “declining” in air quotes. She was talking to the Commissioner of Official Languages, Raymond Théberge. This insulting and disrespectful statement elicited a very strong reaction from many members of the House of Commons, including a number of Liberals. The Liberal minister responsible for official languages, Mélanie Joly, said that she was “extremely surprised,” “stunned,” and “disappointed” that her colleague would question the existence of the decline of French in Quebec.
My question for you, Leader, is this: Are you extremely surprised, stunned, and disappointed by what the Liberal MP said?
I thank the honourable senator for the question. I was very disappointed and surprised by those remarks.
When you live in Montreal, when you are a francophile and a Quebecer and you walk around the city, it is clear that protecting the French language in Quebec is always going to be a challenge.
The importance of our two official languages is paramount in many ways, and this also includes the strength of the French language in Quebec. Everyone can choose their preferred adjectives, but I agree with the position of the Government of Canada, as expressed by the Prime Minister and Minister Joly.
I understand that you don’t share that view, and neither do I, by the way, because there is clearly a decline.
What have you observed personally, every day, when you are in Montreal, that illustrates the decline of French?
It’s both complicated and nuanced. Montreal is Quebec’s metropolis, and it attracts the vast majority of immigrants. Quebec is special and unique, it has specific powers with respect to immigration and integrating immigrants, and does a good job with that, but even so, for those who settle in Quebec past a certain age, it takes more time to learn French.
In addition, Montreal and Quebec City attract a lot of tourists, or at least they did before the pandemic. We see situations in some businesses where someone, say an employee or the owner of a little corner store, has trouble mastering French. There are signs like that, and for those who are sensitive to linguistic issues, which I certainly understand, that is an irritant. That is what I observe as I walk around Montreal.
