What Montrealers had to say at Saturday’s Bill 96 protest

Bill 96, Quebec’s proposed French language reform, continues to be a concern for many in the province’s English-speaking community.

Several came out Saturday to have their voices heard. They walked from Dawson College to Quebec Premier François Legault’s office.

For the roughly 1,000 people attending the rally, their concerns are grounded in ensuring access to all sectors – including healthcare and education – in a language they understand.

The bill would also require those newly arrived and refugees to communicate in French to government agencies within six months of their arrival.

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Some young Montrealers came out to the protest to make their voices heard.

Several held signs denouncing Bill 96 like “My Future, my Education, my Choice,” “You Can’t Force Language,” or “In Diversity There is Strength.”

Here is what some of the protesters had to say about Bill 96.

“This Bill 96 is threatening to destroy the social fabric, the harmony that we live with for so long… Everything from education, the language, business how you conduct yourself.”

“We are the last Quebec stronghold in North America, but at the same time, we can’t protect French at the expense of English rights. It’s important that we protect anglophone rights because this new bill, it does a lot of damage.”

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“Anything that discriminates you because you speak English. Because you are English. That’s what the bill says. We don’t want you. That’s the bottom line.”

“I was born here. This is my province, too. I pay my taxes like everybody else. I should count here.”

“The French language, I don’t have a problem with it. But when it’s forced and it’s like threatening my education, like, I have family here and it’s my home, but it’s starting to feel different. So it’s going to change everything.”

“It violates our rights and against immigrants here. I think we should have more time to learn French. It’s my first year here in Montreal and I feel like society is not accepting us.”

“I go to a school that’s 50/50. Fifty per cent French and 50 per cent English. But we’ve only lived here for a while, for a little bit now. And I say it’s not right just to just turn it all French. Some of the kids there won’t understand a lot of French. They’re just completely wrong.” —Young Montrealer Nora Calixce

“I want him (Legault) to see who he’s hurting. I want him to see what the impacts of what he’s trying to do on the community.” —Kathrine Korakalis, president of the English Parents’ Committee Association

I want to say a special thank you to François Legault. It’s because of him that we’re all here today.” —Marlene Jennings, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network