CAQ commitments on French-language CEGEP courses for anglophones

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QUEBEC — Anglophone students attending English CEGEPs will have the option of taking three of their courses in French or increasing the number of compulsory second-language French courses needed to graduate, the minister responsible for the French language announced Tuesday evening.

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After saying a week ago he needed more time to study and voting against a Liberal sub-amendment to Bill 96 designed to patch up their admitted mistake in forcing anglophones to take three core courses in French, Jolin-Barrette came full circle and now says he is in full agreement with the Liberals.

He said he heard the concerns of the English-speaking community and decided the Liberal plan, which will give students the option of taking three core courses in French or boosting their second-language courses from the current two to five, achieves the same objective, which is better equip anglophones to live and work in Quebec.

It will also avoid the predicted failure rate of English-speaking students who arrive in CEGEP with an insufficient mastery of French and yet are obliged to pass core courses in their second language.

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But I have expressed serious concerns about the level of French young Anglophones possess.

“We realized students with English-schooling rights had shortcomings in their mastery of French,” Jolin-Barrette said in an interview with the Montreal Gazette. “The Liberal Party demonstrated this with the tabling of their sub-amendment; that there was an issue with the anglophone community.

“What we want to do is give them all the tools for them to improve, and work in French and improve their French. The amendment we propose respects our objectives 100 per cent. The Liberal Party highlighted the unacceptable level of the mastery of French youth in the English system.

“We thank them for their amendments. Whether it is three courses in French or three courses of French, it attains the objective.”

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A version similar to the Liberal sub-amendment of April 14 that failed was filed late Tuesday by Jolin-Barrette with the secretariat of the legislature. The government will use its majority to ensure the amendment becomes part of the core of the bill at the next opportunity, which is May 10.

The final vote on Bill 96, which overhauls the Charter of the French Language, will take place later in the session that wraps up June 10. The Liberals have already announced plans to vote against the final version of the bill, but the government has sufficient MNAs to ensure it becomes law.

The three courses in French, however, will remain mandatory for allophones and francophones attending English CEGEPs. Anglophones will have the option. The new rules will apply to all categories of students starting in the 2024 academic year.

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The development followed another pitch by the Liberal point person on the committee studying the bill, Hélène David, who has repeatedly warned the government that the courses were a recipe for disaster and the Liberals made a mistake in proposing them.

“I think our visions are not that far apart,” David said during a committee hearing earlier in the day. “I say, shall we think of the students first, and maybe we (at the committee) went too far?”

Reached Tuesday evening, David expressed relief the minister has seen the light.

“I am very happy the minister came around to my arguments,” David said in an interview. “Students are the first winners in this amendment. By the end of their college studies, their mastery of French will be improved and that will allow them to contribute to the progress of Quebec and this, in all walks of life.”

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Also active in pushing the minister behind the scenes was Premier François Legault’s parliamentary assistant responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers, Christopher Skeete.

“My consultations made it clear that English-speaking Quebecers want to learn French,” Skeete said in an interview Tuesday evening.

“It’s the key to success in Québec. Therefore English speakers who are comfortable will be able to take core classes in French, while those who feel the need to improve their French will have a choice.”

Not mentioned by anyone in the Coalition Avenir Québec government Tuesday was a looming protest rally against Bill 96 being organized for May 14.

Coincidently, on Wednesday Legault will face a legislative committee for his once-a-year appearance to defend and explain government policy toward English-speaking Quebecers.

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