Jorge Maria

Campbell’s Bay Sept. 15, 2021 

On Sept. 7, MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller held a press conference announcing a new petition proposing changes to Quebec’s proposed language law.

The petition, initially announced during a Bill 96 information session held by the Regional Association of West Quebecers on August 3, requests amendments to any portion of the bill which would negatively impact anglophone or bilingual Quebecers. It also seeks to ensure that students can study in the language of their choice. The current bill puts a cap of 17.5 per cent on attendance at English language CEGEPs by francophones and allophones. Lastly, the petition wishes to ensure that the legislation does not create administrative burdens on businesses.

Petitions are available to be signed between Sept. 8 and 4:00 p.m.  on Oct. 15, In addition, the MRC has sent the petition to all 18 municipalities across the Pontiac and encourages businesses to print out copies and make them available to their customers. 

After the petition period, MNA André Fortin will present the petition to the National Assembly in Quebec City.

“I’d like to add that the council of mayors has approved this petition and it was unanimous,” Toller said.

“We are very proud to be =bilingual in the MRC; we are truly bilingual,” Toller said. In the 2016 census, 59.4 per cent of those surveyed said their first language was English; the majority are bilingual, she added.

The Equity asked Toller how many signatures they hoped to get on the petition, and she said, “As many as possible.”