Quebec announces additional $10M towards francization
Posted December 5, 2024 11:05 am.
Last Updated December 5, 2024 6:10 pm.
The Legault government announced a $10 million one-time assistance to increase French language courses in school service centres (CSS) on Thursday.
This announcement comes after the government was criticized from all sides for cutting funding to CSS, which offered French language services.
Quebec Premier François Legault was reprimanded on Wednesday by French Language Commissioner Benoît Dubreuil, who said he was “concerned about the short-term repercussions of service disruptions on students.”
Dubreuil added that “the importance of quickly relocating students whose classes ended suddenly.”
The closures of French language classes in Quebec continue to make headlines.
“Le Devoir” reported on Wednesday that 1,468 students in Beauce had their French language classes interrupted in November.
The $10 million will allow around 5,000 students to have access to French courses by March 31, Quebec Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge said in a press release on Thursday.
According to Roberge, the high demand for francization services led to some service centres to use a significant part of their budget during the first half of the year, which led to the closure of several classes in recent weeks.
“In response to this situation, the Quebec government has decided to reinvest additional funds that will be added to the $104.4 million envelope already transferred to the school network for 2024-2025,” said Roberge.
The $10 million is not new money. It represents the amounts saved after the government eliminated the allowance given to students who took part-time French language courses.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
