One-on-one with Lego: I will protect UK rights, says Prime Minister

tomtidgewellNovember 28, 2022

Extensive interviews with the Montreal Gazette touch on everything from Bills 96 and 21 to France’s status and, of course, Hubs’ status.

“The English-speaking world has been very important in the history of Montreal and Quebec,” he said. Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

Prime Minister François Legault has reached out to English-speaking Quebec citizens to tell them that Quebec is a great place to live, that French is a positive part of their lives, and that they will protect their rights to English-speaking services.

But Legault said as prime minister he had a responsibility to protect the French language. French is “always fragile in North America,” and a compromise must be found between both sides of the language divide so that everyone can thrive in peace.

Today, as his Union Avenir Quebec government embarks on its second mission, Legault has set himself the goal of not only halting, but also reversing, the decline of the French on the island of Montreal. said he would like to ride

“I think most English-speaking people want to protect the long-term presence of the French in North America,” said Rego in an extensive interview with the Montreal Gazette on Monday. at his office in New York, the day before parliamentary work resumed.

“We want to reverse the trend and get the majority of French-speakers in Montreal.”

He cited recent data showing that the number of French-speaking households on the island of Montreal has fallen from 60% 40 years ago to 48% today.

He added that only 55% of companies have French as their primary working language.

He argued that the government’s Bill 96, a review of the French Charter, was part of the solution. Despite the lingering outrage in the English-speaking community, Lego feels the law is reasonable compared to what some nationalists are seeking.

Legault said if there’s any concern about the law today, it’s because it’s misunderstood, especially by the media outside Quebec.

At the Sommet de la Francophonie in Tunisia this month, Lego acknowledged “perception” that the bill could hurt businesses in Quebec. In order to do so, he said he was considering buying advertising in international and English-language Canadian media.

“Bill 96 is a balanced bill,” Lego said on Monday.

He said the nationalists would have wanted him to extend the provisions of the French Charter to the CEGEP system, which would eliminate freedom of choice for many French-speaking and allophonic languages.

“Some people have misinterpreted the law,” Lego said. “For example, English speakers can still have all healthcare services done in English. Bill 96 won’t change anything.”

One of the bill’s provisions states that immigrants can only receive documents and services in their native language for six months after arrival. But Legault said this does not mean that the government expects everyone to learn French during that period.

“They say they’re giving them six months to find someone to help them read the document in French,” says Legault.

Beyond Bill 96, Legault said the next step in protecting French is to ensure more new arrivals live and work in the language.

“It’s a question of language longevity,” says Legault. “We will continue to increase the proportion of French-speaking new entrants.

“For example, it is unacceptable to see thousands of people coming in from Roxham Rd. It will be two years before the federal government decides whether they are really refugees.”

Quebec has already asked Ottawa to close its “irregular” border crossings because it cannot handle the number of asylum seekers taking the route.

Rego, who insisted on conducting the entire interview in English, for the first time in the newspaper since 2018, said much about the English-speaking community’s current anxieties about laws like Bill 21 and Bill 96 on state secularism. rice field.

Regarding Bill 21, which has been challenged in court by banning certain civil servants from wearing religious symbols while on the job, Legoe said the issue has been resolved.

“I hope this compromise continues,” he said. “Some people like more[restrictions on religious symbols]some people don’t. I think we’re right in the middle.”

Asked about a recent Gazette article in which Lori Weber, a retired CEGEP teacher, said she was leaving Quebec for Bills 21 and 96, Rego said the English community need not fear its future. .

“I think the English-speaking world has been very important in the history of Montreal and Quebec,” Legault said. “They have all rights and I will ensure that they have access to all services in English, education, health care, all services.

“If we want to continue speaking French in 50 years, we need to take steps to protect it. I think Montreal and Quebec are different.

“People appreciate this French vibe in North America. “They love Montreal because it’s a fun city with a high quality of life. Unlike Toronto, we have to see French as a positive for everyone.”

He added that the economy is another good reason to stay in Quebec. Quebec’s current economic growth surpasses that of Ontario while also having the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions in North America, he said.

Downtown Montreal is still suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, but Montreal resident Legault said it’s not just Montreal that’s in this situation.

“Unfortunately, I think we have to get used to some offices turning into residences,” he said. “People will continue to work from home and I think there are some advantages.”

Legault said he intends to honor his election promise to cut income taxes for Quebec citizens, one of the highest-taxed citizens in North America.

“In 2023, we will cut taxes,” said Legault. “This means the spring 2023 budget will be more competitive on income taxes if he wants to continue narrowing the per capita GDP gap between Quebec and the rest of Canada. that is important.”

He pointed out that the province of Quebec is already moving on another promise to help Quebec citizens with their living expenses: checks for between $400 and $600 will be sent out next week in time for Christmas.

Relaxed and apparently in a good mood — he was in the process of drafting his inaugural address Wednesday — Lego asked about other issues. He said he had not changed his view that electoral reform was not a priority for Quebecers, despite renewed calls for change in the wake of the election.

He said people were accustomed to voting one-way, and moving to proportional representation, for example, would lead to upheaval.

“It’s not Quebecer’s number one priority,” says Legault. “So we won’t change it.”

On a lighter note, Lego, a lifelong fan of the Montreal Canadiens, said he liked what he’s been seeing on the ice lately. He has revealed that he is number 1 in his hockey pool.

“They have a good team,” Legato said. “I don’t think they will win the Stanley Cup this year, but they are promising in a few years. They have a good foundation with (Cole) Corfield and (Nick) Suzuki.

“Caufield is spectacular. Suzuki too. It’s fun to watch and even if you’re down by two points, you never know what the end will be. It’s unbelievable.”

Legault, who turned 65 this year and is now an elder in Congress, said he has no plans to retire.

pauthier@postmedia.com

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