Lisée open to changes on the language

The leader of the Parti québécois, Jean-François Lisée

Patrick Bellerose

Thursday, 31 August, 2017 15:23

UPDATE
Thursday, 31 August, 2017 15:30

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One week before the congress of the Parti québécois, Jean-François Lisée loose the sinker on his main proposal for the defence of the French language.

The leader of the parti québecois maintains its opposition to the application of bill 101 to cegeps, but is said to be “open to other things”. He invited the activists to propose amendments. “The list is not closed,” he says.

Jean-François Lisée wants to withdraw from the program of his party, the prohibition for a francophone to attend an English speaking college, but the proposal is meeting resistance from some activists.

In return, Jean-François Lisée, in particular, offers that a pq government should submit the firms with 25 to 49 employees to the Charter of the French language. Immigrants should also be fluent in French before their arrival in Quebec.

“Way to go”

“I know that if we were going to vote [to impose] bill 101 in cegep, would be defeated. Because 75 % of the counties have supported the position of the executive of the party and 75 % of the regional conventions were adopted, ” he stressed. So, we already know the score. But rather than do that, is it possible to find a point of balance?”

The outstretched hand of Lisée seems to be well-received among critics. Last winter, the president of the electoral district of Beauharnois, Marc Laviolette, was among those who were dissatisfied with the attitude of “good-ententiste” of its new chief on the issue of language.

Today, the hot activist seems a lot more serene, and says working with her manager to find a “path of passage” in order to retain young people in the French-language network.

Referendum

If he anticipates a debate on the language, Jean-François Lisée believes that activists accept his proposal to postpone a referendum on sovereignty for a second term. “People have really integrated that the best way to make the independence of Quebec, it is first of all to hunt the liberals and then pass the independence”, he says.

“I thought that this would be more difficult to” convince the activists, he entrusted in English.

The congress of the Parti québécois, which took place from 8 to 10 September in Montreal, will also be the occasion for Jean-François Lisée to submit to a vote of confidence of activists, less than a year after his election as leader of the formation.

While Bernard Landry resigned after having secured 76 % in 2005, Jean-François Lisée refused to do the “numerology” in establishing a minimum threshold.