The demonstrators of different origins denounce nature divisive of the bill and hope that changes will be made to it.

One of the protesters’ main complaints concerns a provision that would require English-speaking students to take three college-level French courses.

Although the government has already changed this provision (which initially included three courses in French), it continues to arouse grumbling.

It’s not fair that English speaking students have to take courses in French if they don’t want to.said one protester.

The First Nations also reject this requirement.

They are requesting an exemption because they fear it will lead to the exodus of native English-speaking students for historical reasons.

Bill 96 is another burden on our communitysays Mohawk Nation of Kahnawake Secretary Kenneth Deer, who attended the demonstration. Our priority is for our community to learn Mohawk. And since we’re an English-speaking community, we speak Mohawk and English.

Dominique Anglade denounces

For her part, PLQ leader Dominique Anglade, who attended the demonstration accompanied by members of her group, condemned the Legault government’s desire to permanently freeze the number of places in the English-language CEGEPs: The fact of the matter is that we are limiting future opportunities for young Quebecers. Young Francophones from Québec are particularly affected.

While acknowledging the importance of protecting the French language – citing her party’s 27 proposals on the matter – the leader of the PLQ believes it must be done inclusive waya request to the the bill do not answer.

Rather, she believes that the Legault government is not listening and is trying to divide, citing as evidence its decision not to participate in an election debate in English, a decision that contributed to the cancellation of the debate.

Liberal MP Frantz Benjamin, of Haitian origin, also opposed a provision that would require the government to communicate in French with immigrants if six months had passed since they arrived in Quebec.

” The idea that in Quebec in 2022 a person might not be able to access the services to which they are entitled because they have not learned French within six months is troubling to me. »

In the afternoon, the demonstrators were supposed to end their march at the office of Prime Minister François Legault.