Quebec invests $1.5M to promote French in Montreal

Quebec is granting the City of Montreal $1.5 million over three years to promote and enhance French in the metropolis.

Quebec’s French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge unveiled the details of the funding at a press conference at Montreal City Hall Friday, alongside Mayor Valérie Plante.

He stressed the importance of promoting the French language on the island of Montreal, as well as throughout the metropolitan region.

“I think we can promote French as our common language and still respect the rights of our anglophone community here,” said Roberge.

The funding will be used to set up various activities aimed at newcomers, the business community, young people and the cultural community.

The initiatives include a francophone business event and various communications campaigns to promote French.

“What we have to do is foster this common proudness of the French language and that’s what this announcement is going to do. It’s going to help people no matter if your anglophone, francophone, speaking another language at home to make French our common language,” said Dominique Ollivier, Executive Committee Chair.

With half of Quebec’s population living in the metropolitan region, the mayor said Montreal is a key player in protecting and promoting the French language.

“What we want is for French to become the common language – the language of the heart – without saying that other languages cannot exist – that is not the point,” said Plante.