Politics · Canada · 8 hrs ago
Quebec plans limits on access to English-language colleges
Quebec plans to introduce a bill in 2027 to strengthen protections for French as the province’s French Language Charter reaches its 50th anniversary.
The proposal would limit English-language CEGEPs to students legally eligible to study in English.
CEGEPs are Quebec colleges that students usually attend after high school, for pre-university or technical programs.
Existing rules already require many francophone and allophone children in public schools to study in French, while allowing eligible students to attend English schools.
The Parti Québécois government is a minority government, so it needs support from at least one opposition party to pass the bill.
The government also plans to renew a legal measure protecting Quebec’s language law from some court challenges, but that measure is due to expire next June.
Quebec’s Parti Québécois government plans to introduce a bill in 2027 that would restrict access to English-language CEGEPs.
The proposed restriction would limit places to students legally eligible to study in English.
French Language Minister Pascal Bérubé said the bill would include strong measures to further protect French.
The government also intends to renew the notwithstanding clause protecting Quebec’s language law from some court challenges.
Quebec Conservative and Liberal representatives oppose restricting adults’ choice of language of study.
- Who
- Quebec’s Parti Québécois government, led on language policy by Minister Pascal Bérubé.
- What
- The government plans a bill restricting access to English-language CEGEPs to students legally eligible to study in English.
- When
- The bill is planned for 2027. The government also intends to renew the notwithstanding clause, which is set to expire next June.
- Where
- Quebec.
- Why
- The government says the measures would further protect French and help ensure the language retains its vitality.
Quebec Parti Québécois government
Quebec Conservatives and Liberals
Access to English-language CEGEPs
Quebec Parti Québécois government
The government plans to restrict access to students legally eligible to study in English as part of measures to protect French.
Quebec Conservatives and Liberals
The Conservatives oppose requiring adults to study in a specific language, while the Liberals say the restriction would not increase the number of French speakers or help French flourish.
Language choice
Quebec Parti Québécois government
The government supports extending eligibility restrictions to the English-language CEGEP network.
Quebec Conservatives and Liberals
The Conservatives say adults should make their own decisions, and the Liberals say people should be able to study in the language of their choice.
Pascal Bérubé told reporters the government intends to table a bill in 2027.
The notwithstanding clause on Bill 96 is set to expire.
The Parti Québécois government plans to table a bill to further protect French, including restrictions on access to English-language CEGEPs.
- Planned bill
- 2027
- English-language CEGEP eligibility
- Limited to students legally eligible to study in English under the proposal
- French Language Minister
- Pascal Bérubé
- Quebec Conservative Leader
- Éric Duhaime
- Quebec Liberal critic
- Madwa-Nika Cadet
What people are saying
We are counting on everybody to make sure that the French language still has vitality and is there forever.
Adults should make their own decisions.
We do believe that you cannot oblige adults to go to an institution in the language of the choice of the government.
What it does is prevent francophones and allophones from frequenting higher-learning institutions in the language of their choice at a moment when they are already French speakers,