Quebec tables law to extend Bill 101 to English-language adult and vocational education

With just days remaining in the National Assembly’s spring session, the Quebec government has tabled legislation that would extend Bill 101 language restrictions to adult education and vocational training programs, a move critics say could significantly disrupt workforce training across the province.

French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge introduced Bill 8 on Thursday, saying the measure is intended to strengthen the use of French among newcomers and close what the government views as a gap in Quebec’s language laws.

“We saw a gap here where adult and vocational studies weren’t targeted by any measure in the French Charter, so I think we’re taking a step forward,” Roberge said.

Currently, Bill 101 does not apply to vocational training or adult education programs.

The four-page legislative document stipulates that it “imposes this requirement on school service centres and private educational institutions accredited for the purpose of subsidies relating to educational services that are the subject of accreditation.” 

Students who qualify for English-language education under Quebec’s language laws would remain exempt.

The government said the legislation would affect approximately 27,000 students, most of whom are newcomers. During the recent CAQ leadership race, Premier Christine Fréchette had pledged to expand Bill 101 into the adult and vocational education sectors.

Officials say the legislation includes a two-year transition period. Current students, as well as those entering programs during that period, would not be affected.

“The language that you should learn when you come to Quebec is French, to work and live and be a citizen in French as much as possible,” Education Minister Sonia LeBel said.

Roberge stressed that the bill is aimed primarily at newcomers rather than Quebec’s “historic” English-speaking community.

“It’s important to send a message to newcomers because we’re talking about newcomers. We’re not talking about the English community who lives here for decades,” he said.

School boards warn of enrollment losses

English-language school boards say the measure could have far-reaching consequences for both students and the labour market.

Christopher Craig, vice-president of the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA), estimates English vocational and adult education centres could lose between 70 and 75 per cent of their student population if the legislation takes effect.

“That people are willing or able to just jump from an English sector to a French sector — it’s a bit of an assumption,” Craig told CityNews.

He said school boards are not convinced the French-language network has the capacity to absorb the students who would lose access to English programs.

“We’re not sure that that’s going to be a viable way to help these people continue in their fields,” Craig said.

The association also warns the legislation could affect teachers working in English-language vocational training.

“In some cases there might not be an equivalency. So we do have a concern on the side of the teachers as well that we might have to be releasing teachers and still bound to pay out those contracts over the next five years,” Craig said.

Joe Ortona, chairman of the English Montreal School Board (EMSB), argued the bill could worsen labour shortages in sectors already struggling to recruit workers.

“There’s a desperate need for these people to enter the workforce in these specific trades, and now we’re going to create a massive backlog,” Ortona said.

Concerns over consultation

Both Craig and Ortona criticized the government for what they described as a lack of consultation with the English education sector before Bill 8 was tabled.

“This government’s never consulted us — not on this bill or on anything else,” Ortona said.

Craig echoed those concerns.

“I get a sense that it’s being rushed,” he said. “They seem to have rushed a few of their decisions and don’t consider our voices as important.”

That concern was also echoed by anglophone rights group TALQ, who qualified the bill as operating on “assumptions.”

“The government has not presented any evidence demonstrating that English-language vocational training poses a threat to the long-term vitality of French in Quebec,” TALQ President Eva Ludvig said.

Opposition parties also indicated Thursday that they need more time to review the legislation.

“How many persons affected? What are the rules? How will we proceed? That’s why we need time,” said Parti Québécois spokesperson Pascal Paradis.

Liberal MNA André Fortin said lawmakers still do not know enough about the contents of the bill.

“We don’t know what this bill actually contains,” Fortin said.

Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal added: “Yes, it’s too late. But we will read it, we will see what’s in it.”

Whether Bill 8 can be adopted before the legislature rises on June 12 remains unclear, as the government’s legislative agenda is already crowded heading into the final days of the session.

–With files from La Presse Canadienne