Liberals won't raise fines for language violations
Party takes middle-of-road approach. Provincial government to seek sweeping powers over broadcasting in Quebec
PHILIP AUTHIER, The Gazette
Published: Sunday, September 28
Quebec's Liberals yesterday opted for a middle-of-the- road approach to language and identity issues. They dropped plans for a big increase in fines for language-law violations but still plan to hire a greater number of what are being called "councillors," who will have the power to visit more merchants - including small mom-and-pop dépanneurs - than ever before.
The party is also proposing the province attempt to negotiate sweeping new powers over broadcasting in Quebec - to the point of having a veto power on all decisions affecting the province made by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
Premier Jean Charest has already said the province is once again interested in "cultural sovereignty," and yesterday the Liberals added the goal of having the CRTC make "the quality of the language spoken," a criteria in the issuing and renewal of broadcasting licences in Quebec.
In a debate that lasted less than 45 minutes and with barely a squeak of opposition, 400 members of the party's general council adopted new policies on language, identity and the constitution. The package is a leftover from its policy convention in March. The Liberals ran out of time then to adopt them.
Charest - absent from the debate - is expected to react to the resolutions in a speech and news conference today wrapping up the two-day council in this town across the river from Quebec City. The minister responsible for the language file, Christine St-Pierre, was also conspicuously absent. An aide later said St-Pierre was on a mission in Tokyo and her positions on language are already well known.
The measures were hatched in the wake of stories about the lack of French services in downtown Montreal malls and complaints too many workers are still working in English.
The Liberal adopted a series of motions designed to reinforce the role of the Office québécois de la langue française, which has as its mission the promotion of French and ensuring the Charter of the French Language is respected.
Specifically, the resolutions say Quebec will:
n Hire a greater number of "francisation councillors," who will teach merchants how to respect the charter, which requires them to provide service in French. The councillors will be making regular visits to as many businesses as they can.
n Take all necessary steps to defend the integrity of Quebec's language laws before the courts.
n Require the respect of Canada's Official Languages Law and call upon the federal government to restore the court challenges program used by minority groups to ensure their rights.
n Demand federal political parties commit themselves - if elected - to naming Supreme Court judges with a sufficient mastery of French to hear cases. When it comes to ambassadors, heads of Crown corporations and deputy ministers, the Liberals want them to be "perfectly bilingual."
As for the constitution, the party re-adopted it's previous platform calling for recognition of the province's "specificity," limits on federal spending powers, a reform of the Senate and the constitutional entrenchment of Quebec's powers over immigration.