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CAQ government to create action group on future of French in Quebec

Even if many of the regulations in Bill 96 have yet to be enacted, Jean-François Roberge insists the bill remains a "pillar" Quebec can build on.

Jean-François Roberge's goal is to draft a new "action plan" on protecting French, to be presented in the fall.
Jean-François Roberge's goal is to draft a new "action plan" on protecting French, to be presented in the fall. Photo by John Mahoney /Montreal Gazette

The Coalition Avenir Québec government has announced the creation of an action group on the future of French that will include consultations with civil society and experts.

Eight months since the government adopted Bill 96 overhauling the French Language Charter, the minister responsible for the status of French, Jean-François Roberge, announced he intends to take further steps to awaken Quebecers to do more to stop the decline of French.

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A massive advertising campaign on promoting French is also in the works.

“We are going on the offensive,” Roberge said at a news conference at a party caucus meeting in Laval. “The situation of French is worrisome. Our language is losing ground.

“We, Quebecers, are at a crossroads and action is urgent. I am not defeatist. I am in action. I am not resigned to decline of French.”

Even if many of the regulations stemming from Bill 96 have yet to be enacted, Roberge insisted the bill remains a “pillar” the government can build on.

His goal is to draft a new “action plan” on protecting French, to be presented in the fall.

Roberge has already made it clear he has no plans to soften application of the law despite calls for a go-slow approach by minority and business groups.

He is pushing to make the future of French more than just the responsibility of one minister. His action group will include five other ministers.

Once rolling, Roberge said the action group will consult with citizens.

pauthier@postmedia.com

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