Pontiac MNA André Fortin spoke with THE EQUITY last week for a recap of the recent parliamentary sitting, and to discuss his party’s new French-language plan and the upcoming provincial election.
This National Assembly session, which ended on June 12, was shortened by three weeks due to the departure of premier François Legault in April. When the session resumed, the CAQ government passed six pieces of legislation of a total of 19 proposed.
Fortin highlighted a few pieces of legislation as particularly impactful for Quebecers. First was the province’s ban on energy drinks for people under the age of 16, which makes Quebec the first Canadian province to implement such a ban. The law came after a combination of Red Bull and ADHD medication was revealed to have contributed to the death of 15-year-old Zachary Miron in 2024.
The other law Fortin noted was Bill 23, which loosens the criteria for when a person considered to be a danger to others can be involuntarily hospitalized. Previously, Quebec law stipulated that people could be involuntarily hospitalized if they presented a “grave and immediate danger” to themselves or others. The new bill changes this language, so that doctors and other professionals would be able to confine any person who is in a situation “where there is danger” to themselves or others.
Aside from these consensus issues, Fortin said the session was spent discussing issues that are not top of mind for Quebecers. Fortin pointed to Bill 8, which would make it harder for residents to access adult education and vocational training in French, as an example.
“The government put forward this bill to apply Bill 101 to adult ed, and they said it openly, ‘We have no intention of this passing in the legislature. It will be in our program for the next campaign, but we’re putting a signal forward that this is something that we want to see passed if we’re re-elected [ . . . ] It’s hours we could have spent discussing other stuff, health care, economy, or whatnot.”
On the QLP’s French language plan
Last week, the Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) unveiled its French language plan that it would roll out if elected to form government. The plan, which would cost $380 million over four years, would make reading and education in French a national priority while also accelerating the rollout of francisation courses for new arrivals to Quebec.
Fortin said that the government-offered French courses can take up to four months to begin after arrival in the province. He said his party would like to start them within the first four to six weeks.
“We think we can, by investing more in people who want to learn French, who need to learn French, it’s helping employers get these newcomers in jobs as quickly as possible. So we think it’s a win-win situation,” he said.
He said his party’s plan offers a different approach to the French language than the CAQ’s approach of tightening restrictions and expanding the French-language charter. He said his party would take a more positive approach toward French education.
“There are people across Quebec who want to learn French, who deem it’s necessary for them to be integrated into social life in Quebec, to the economy, to get better jobs, and if people are willing to learn French, the government has to be there to support them. It’s very much going from a restriction-based policy to a more supportive-based policy,” he said.
Fortin said that preserving and encouraging the French language does not have to mean that English is discouraged. He said that his party would allow for the growth of English-language institutions like CEGEPs, instead of the current policy which is that English-language CEGEPs lose their empty seats if they are not filled.
“You allow the French network and the English network to grow together over time to increase the spots as the overall CEGEP population increases, which it is forecasted to do over the next two years. That’ll allow francophones to go to English CEGEP if they want. It’ll allow anglophones to go to their own English-language institutions. And it allows for the CEGEPs to stop decreasing and start increasing the number of spots.”
The QLP’s plan also says the party would amend the province’s French-language charter to determine geographical areas where French is “weakened” and introduce targeted strategies. Fortin did not say if the Pontiac would be one of those areas, but said the strategies would be developed regionally in partnership with local players.
“You have to work with the municipalities, you have to work with the school boards, you have to work with everybody [ . . . ] There are a million different ways to foster interest in the French language that are not simply imposing fines or restrictions.”
On Bill 96, and the notwithstanding clause
In April, QLP leader Charles Milliard was in the hot seat after suggesting he was in favour of renewing the notwithstanding clause to protect Bill 96. The clause allows the province to shield legislation that infringes on certain Charter rights from judicial review for a maximum of five years.
In 2021, the Legault government used the notwithstanding clause to pass Bill 96, a law that expanded the province’s French-language charter. Milliard originally said that he would renew the notwithstanding clause, but later retracted that statement to say that he would first amend Bill 96 and then see if the renewal of the clause would still be necessary.
Fortin agreed with Milliard’s amended statement, adding that his party’s priority is to look at possible changes to Bill 96. He said his party “doesn’t want” to use the notwithstanding clause, but after consulting with legal experts may determine that it is necessary.
“What we want to do is make the changes to the bill. And then if we don’t need it, great. And then if we need it, well, then it’s a valid tool. But we have to tell people exactly what we’re using it for,” he said.
The next provincial election is set for October. Recent election polls show the Parti Québécois in first place, with Fortin’s Liberals trailing by just a few points. The CAQ also appears to be regaining popularity, sitting in third place after rebounding following the departure of premier François Legault.
In a Pallas poll from June 11, however, the QLP is 20 points behind the Parti Québécois and 10 behind the CAQ among francophone voters. When asked what he believes his party needs to do to close this gap, Fortin said his party’s focus on the bread-and-butter issues like the economy and healthcare and the French-language plan, will appeal to both French and English voters.
“We have a new leader in place who’s only been there for a couple of months. But proposing policies that are very closely aligned to what people want is what we will do during the next campaign.”
