In March 2022, the federal government tabled Bill C-13, an \u201cAct to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.\u201d<\/p>\n
The intent of the bill is to modernize the \u201cOfficial Languages Act\u201d to protect, promote, and recognize the French language as a minority language in Canada and to encourage the use of both English and French.<\/p>\n
In Quebec and other regions in Canada that have a strong Francophone presence, the \u201cUse of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act\u201d gives new language rights for employees in federally regulated private businesses. The Act also refers to Quebec\u2019s \u201cCharter of the French Language,\u201d giving employers the option to follow the Charter or the Act.<\/p>\n
The \u201cCharter of the French Language\u201d has undergone changes since new language law Bill 96 was adopted by the provincial government, whom used the notwithstanding clause, to protect the French language. The bill has been seen by many as an attack on the fundamental rights and freedoms of Quebecers.<\/p>\n
As Bill C-13 continues to be reviewed, it has sparked some concern amongst the English-speaking communities, English community groups, and organizations in Quebec.<\/p>\n
Sylvia Martin-Laforge, Director General of Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), a non-profit profit organization that advocates for English-speaking Quebecers, speaks on Bill C-13 and the potential impacts it may have on the English-speaking minority communities in the province.<\/p>\n
Martin-Laforge explained that the process of modernizing the \u201cOfficial Languages Act\u201d started back in 2018 to ensure that it is updated and current.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is something that the QCGN has been enthusiastic about since 2018. Over the past four to five years though, Bill C-13 has taken on a bit of a different turn. Bill C-13 now, which is being reviewed in parliamentary commission, talks about the province of Quebec and refers to the \u201cCharter of French Language,\u201d she said. \u201c(\u2026) It refers to the \u201cCharter of the French Language\u201d in its new look of Bill 96.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Bill C-13 is about the federal applications of the \u201cOfficial Languages Act,\u201d because it refers to provincial legislation, we all should be concerned about talking about provincial legislation, added Martin-Laforge.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy the federal government would refer to a bill, a law, Bill 96, the \u201cCharter of the French Language\u201d now, we feel it\u2019s hostile to the English speaking community,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n
Martin-Laforge highlighted that the \u201cUse of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act\u201d would give federally regulated private businesses in Quebec the choice to abide by the Charter of French Language or the federal government.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has the potential of affecting employees of those federally related business and services to the public. There\u2019s an asymmetrical approach now to English and French in Bill C-13 and the \u201cOfficial Languages Act\u201d that we do not agree with,\u201d mentioned Martin-Laforge.<\/p>\n
Certainly in Quebec, the impact is that employees will not have equal access to performance reviews, to forms, explained Martin-Laforge. That is very possible because the language of work in Quebec under the \u201cCharter of French Language\u201d is very much more regulated.<\/p>\n
\u201cColleagues in your workplace can say that you are using too much English. There\u2019s a whole different feeling of culture in the employment sector in Quebec because of Bill 96, which will also have a consequence now in federally regulated businesses. In our view, federally regulated businesses shouldn\u2019t be regulated under the provincial regulation,\u201d emphasized Martin-Laforge.<\/p>\n
She added that it creates a situation where employees and clients may be confused, and something that the federal government has not promised to either the English community in Quebec or Francophones outside of Quebec.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want the stability of having English and French recognized equally in our provinces and as Canadians. That is quite a bone of contention for us. Also, recognizing the \u201cCharter of the French Language\u201d that, with Bill 96, has used the notwithstanding clause. How can the government of Canada, by evoking the provincial legislation of the Charter, how can they put that in federal legislation? That is, to us, not logical and the principle is wrong,\u201d explained Martin-Laforge.<\/p>\n
Martin-Laforge said that Quebecers have to pay attention to Bill C-13 because over the past year the federal government seems to be legitimizing the \u201cCharter of the French Language\u201d as it is now.<\/p>\n
According to Martin-Laforge, there is also a concern as to how legislation at the provincial and federal level will affect the funding that linguistic minority groups depend on it to thrive and be vital.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think that most English-speaking Quebecers right now feel that the government of Quebec will ensure the vitality of the English-speaking community, we don\u2019t feel it. We have always relied on the federal government to ensure that vitality. If, in a law, we are diminished to second class citizens, that might very well have an impact on the funding they give to English-speaking communities in Quebec,\u201d explained Martin-Laforge.<\/p>\n
In an open letter to the federal government, QCGN has asked for a reconsideration of the wording used in Bill C-13.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, with Bill C-13, we\u2019re seeing a description of English-speaking Quebecers as less than because of the federal government\u2019s emphasis on the protection of French. Now protection of French in terms of language is fine, but protection of the community, the vitality of the community, has to be taken into account. We must continue to rely on the federal government to ensure the protection, the vitality of our community in Quebec,\u201d emphasized Martin-Laforge.<\/p>\n
To read and sign QCGN\u2019s letter<\/a> to the federal government.<\/p>\n