Federal election Q&A: Bill 96 where parties stand on language
By Trevor Greenway
The Quebec government passed Bill 96, which restricts the use of English in businesses and public services, using the notwithstanding clause. This allowed the government to bypass the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Bill 96 negatively impacts minority language constituents in their day-to-day lives, such as by restricting access to services. How would your party address this bill and/or improve the situation for the minority language population of this riding?
Claude Bertrand, Green party
Because of its language, culture and unique history within the Canadian federation, Quebec has a special status within Canada. On Nov. 22, 2006, a “Québécois nation” motion was tabled in Parliament by Stephen Harper, then prime minister of Canada. Five days later, on Nov. 27, the motion was approved, 265–16, with support from every party in the House of Commons. Living in a predominantly French-speaking “island” in an otherwise predominantly English-speaking North America (excluding Mexico), Quebecers have managed to this day to preserve their distinct character, language and culture. Like the Green party, Quebecers value inclusion, diversity and social democracy. The Green Party of Canada fully recognizes Quebec’s status as a distinct nation within Canada. We thus recognize the right of Quebecers to decide together their political and constitutional future, including the decision, manifested through their democratically-elected national assembly, to make French the only official language in Quebec.
Brian Nolan, Conservative party
The Conservative Party of Canada is deeply concerned about the use of the notwithstanding clause to override Charter rights. Bill 96 has created real challenges for English-speaking Quebecers, especially in regions like Pontiac–Kitigan Zibi, where bilingualism is a way of life. A Conservative government would work constructively with Quebec to ensure that essential services such as healthcare, education and justice remain accessible in both official languages. We believe in protecting minority rights, supporting language duality and ensuring no one is left behind because of the language they speak. As your local Conservative candidate, I will be a strong voice for all residents of the Pontiac–Kitigan Zibi riding. I will always defend the rights of English-speaking communities and work to ensure they are treated with fairness, respect and equality, because language should never be a barrier to accessing services or opportunities.
Todd Hoffman, People’s Party of Canada (PPC)
The PPC is the best federal party to tackle the question of English minority rights within Quebec. We are the party of freedom of expression, protecting Canadians from censorship and discrimination. The PPC would repeal bad legislation on the federal level. For Bill 96 and the notwithstanding clause, we would review Bill C-13 “Act to amend the Official Languages Act” that our MP, Ms. [Sophie] Chatel, voted in favour of in 2023. This amendment tied a federal act to a discriminatory provincial act, bypassing the Canadian Charter of Rights. A very disappointing vote on her part. My record in advocating language rights is well documented. Like many other local businesses, I have in the past been served with papers from the Office québécois de la langue française (OLF) for a perceived social media violation. My resistance to being put on notice by the OLF was featured in a National Post article in 2024.
Sophie Chatel, Liberal party (Incumbent)
Bill 96 has created challenges for anglophones in Quebec, including in Pontiac–Kitigan Zibi. The Quebec government pre-emptively invoked the notwithstanding clause to shield the law from Charter challenges, raising significant concerns about its impact on fundamental rights. This use of the clause prevents courts from reviewing whether the law respects the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Liberal party believes in protecting both of Canada’s official languages and supports efforts to promote French in Quebec. But that must never come at the expense of people’s rights. No government should be able to bypass the Charter without accountability. A Liberal government will intervene in any Supreme Court challenge of a government’s pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause, as such use would effectively make the Charter of Rights optional. Defending the Charter is how we protect the rights of minority language communities, including in Pontiac–Kitigan Zibi, and ensure their voices are heard.
Gilbert Whiteduck, New Democratic Party (NDP)
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has recently stated that, if elected government, the NDP would not intervene if a challenge to Bill 96 reached the Supreme Court. I completely sympathize with those, including francophones and anglophones, who feel their native language is under threat. Through colonization, the Algonquin Anishininabeg language, Anishinaabwemowin, was negatively impacted. We collectively continue to work hard to preserve it, but it is still less well-known among some of our members than English or French. I deeply object to those who opportunistically use language politics to divide us. I believe the preservation and growth of our rich and diverse cultural heritages makes us stronger. Knowledge and appreciation of different languages and cultures enriches us and shouldn’t come at the expense of our native languages. I support all minority language rights and would do whatever I can to protect and support them through federal legislation and financial support.
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