‘My community is under attack’: Bill 96 procession protest in CDN-NDG
Posted November 19, 2023 2:13 pm.
Last Updated November 19, 2023 6:12 pm.
A group taking the federal and provincial governments to court over Bill 96 organized another convoy in Montreal Sunday.
Drivers, cyclists and others on foot took part in a 10-kilometre procession – from Jean-Talon W. to Trenholme Park – to have their voices heard in opposition to Quebec’s language law.
The event was organized by the Task Force on Linguistic Policy.
“This series of processions that we’ve done, this is the fourth one, will continue to raise awareness of all the negatives that Bill 96 is causing for us and for people in general across the province,” said Andrew Caddell, the group’s president.
“We are 1.5 million people, we are not going away. We are going to be heard. We want to tell Premier (François) Legault that we are Quebecers as much as you, and you accept us,” Caddell added, speaking both English and French.
Protesters taking part in Sunday’s procession told CityNews they fully opposed Bill 96.
“The laws are draconian,” one protester said. “They are not for a multicultural society. They are geared towards one society who is not even in favour in large of this law. It’s a law that can’t stand, it won’t stand and we’re here to make sure that that message gets out.”
“Absolutely unnecessary,” added another. “Not good for the economy, not good for Montreal.”
Quebec’s language law reform, which received royal ascent last summer, tightened the province’s language laws and affirmed that French is Quebec’s only official language and the common language of Quebec.
The changes impact various aspects, including business operations, the court system, and education throughout the province.
The Quebec government has described the law as a moderate response to what it says is the declining use of French in the province, particularly in Montreal.
“I’m a native Quebecer. I was born in Quebec. My wife was born in Quebec. My mother was born in Quebec,” one protester said. “I have a ton of friends that are francophone. We’ve always gotten along. We always speak in ‘Franglais.’ And past couple of years, I feel that we are under attack. I feel that my community is under attack. I feel that my schools are under attack.”
“We are after all in Canada and Canada is officially a bilingual country,” said another.
“This is not just an issue for the allophones and anglophones,” added a third. “The francophones are also being affected. I have a colleague at work who is a francophone. She went to English CEGEP. Now her younger brother is unable to go to English CEGEP.”
WATCH: First hearing for lawsuit against Bill 96, Quebec’s language law
Bill 96 has drawn much criticism and legal challenges from the province’s English and Indigenous communities.
“We tabled the lawsuit in court on the 31st of May just before the new changes in Bill 96 came in,” said Caddell. “We have six plaintiffs. I’m the lead plaintiff, and there are five other people who are affected directly in their lives in a very negative way.”
–With files from The Canadian Press
