International student decides to leave Quebec after Bill 96 is adopted

Bill 96 or Quebec’s French-language reform being officially adopted at the national assembly on Tuesday, means anglophones, and allophones are continuing to question their place in Quebec – and Avery Wong is one of them.

“When I came here, I thought that French would be a good challenge. It would be something new. But I didn’t foresee it as something that would hold me back,” explained Avery Wong, an international student.

“With all the different bills that governments tried to apply, like, you know, Bill 21 and this Bill, it just feels like it’s like pushing immigrants away.”

Avery Wong, international student affected by Bill 96. (Photo: CityNews)

Wong came to Quebec in 2019, studying at John Abbott College, an English-speaking school on the West Island of Montreal. With Bill 96 passing it means she will have to leave the province.

“I still find it really ridiculous, actually, and I didn’t think that it’s actually going to pass because like given, a lot of people voiced their opinions. A lot of English teachers have protested. Teachers are against it and students are against it. I just thought that maybe the government will listen.

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“Really, really think about it. I really think that it’s just going to divide different communities. The whole anglophone francophone the difference is just going to get more huge,” added Wong.

“I don’t think that that should be the goal of the government should be, you know, helping different communities get together, embrace each other’s culture, language. and now it seems like it’s really biased towards the francophone side.”

Earlier this month, thousands of Quebecers came together at Dawson College protesting against Bill 96 – concerns grounded in all sectors – including accessing healthcare and education – in a language they understand.

Avery Wong, international student affected by Bill 96. (Photo: CityNews)

Quebec Community Groups Network, one of the organizers of the protest said in a statement, “the QCGN, and indeed most in our community, favour promoting and protecting the French language in Quebec and throughout Canada.

“However, we are convinced that there are more effective and inclusive ways to achieve this goal than those outlined in Bill 96 and that it can be achieved without vacating the human, equality, and legal rights of Quebecers.”