During the first debate in the federal electoral campaign, the chiefs spoke about their position in French. Several issues discussed during this debate echoed in the west of the country and with French speakers in Alberta.
Immigration francophone hors Québec
Nathalie Lachance, president of the French Canadian Association of Alberta, was delighted that the question of French-speaking immigration outside Quebec was invited to the debate.
It’s been a long time since we’ve been talking about the importance of immigration for the Alberta Francophonie, 32 % of the French -speaking community in Alberta was born outside the country
she said.
To reverse the trend in the decline of the weight of Francophones outside Quebec, the leader of the Liberal Party, Mark Carney said that he would increase the rate of immigrants outside Quebec whose mother tongue is 12 %.
It’s been a long time since we ask that we reach 12 % to be able to help us come back around the French -speaking population that we had in 1971, which was the commitment that had been made during the modernization of the new law under official languages
says Nathalie Lachance.
The leader of the Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre said he was in agreement with the target of 12% of Mark Carney, calling it reasonable.
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Nathalie Lachance stresses that immigration is necessary to increase the weight of the Francophonie in a minority environment. (Archive photo)
Photo: Radio-channel / Maxime Lamache
The association of academics of the Saint-Jean faculty (Aufsj), is also delighted with this discussion.
We have a large immigrant population that comes here to Saint-Jean campus, so these are subjects that affect a large majority of students
says Louis Prince, the vice-president of external relations of the student Union of theAufsj.
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Louis Prince, the vice-president of external relations of the Student Union of the Association of University of the Saint-Jean faculty, is delighted that the question of French-speaking immigration in a minority environment has been addressed to the debate.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Caleb Perreaux
The president of Francophonie Jeunesse de l’Alberta, Isabelle Normandeau, was pleasantly surprised to hear the chiefs talking about La Francophonie outside Quebec during the debate. It’s good to be recognized
says Franco-Alberta, from Manitoba.
However, she would have liked to know more. I would have liked to know a little more about the positions of politicians towards Francophones outside Quebec and their solution for [augmenter] The rate of Francophones in Canada.
Young Franco-Albertans and education
Isabelle Normandeau said she was happy to have felt that youth have slipped into the debate on Wednesday. Young people, we are the next generation
she points out. It starts with us, it continues with us.
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The president of Francophonie Jeunesse de l’Alberta, Isabelle Normandeau.
Photo : Source : Isabelle Normandeau
I think it’s important to understand that [nous] Young people, we want La Francophonie to increase in Canada, we want to find solutions, we want La Francophonie to be more, especially out of Quebec, appreciated that she is at the moment
she said.
However, Isabelle Normandeau would have liked the conversation to go further. She underlines that French -speaking youth must face several challenges, including in particular that of the lack of French -speaking French -speaking institution outside Quebec, whose supply of programs is often limited.
I would have liked to hear about it a little more about this and what politicians will do to help youth, help French speakers.
Wednesday evening, the chefs will compete in a second debate, in English this time.
With the information of Caleb Perreaux.
