The French language commissioner calls for a complete review of the Quebec government’s economic development strategy. It recommends supporting the sectors of activity most likely to advance the use of the language of Joseph-Armand Bombardier.
Posted at 12:16 p.m.
Benoit Dubreuil proposes this paradigm shift as part of a highly anticipated new report, tabled Wednesday in the National Assembly, which suggests different avenues for reversing the decline of French in the province.
Among these, the commissioner invites Quebec to use its economic levers to give a boost to the language of Molière. Including the distribution of its tax credits and even energy blocks from Hydro-Québec, a commodity that has become rare and sought after in a context of electricity shortage
This distribution would benefit from being examined using a “linguistic lens”, believes the commissioner.
« […] The government regularly makes strategic choices that guide the economic development of Quebec. It favors the establishment of certain industries rather than others. It thus determines, indirectly, the ease with which Quebecers will be able to use French at work or not. »
Because not all industries give French an equal chance to flourish, revealed the Commissioner in a more detailed analysis published earlier this fall.
“The situation is more difficult in sectors where Quebec workers collaborate daily with people located in Ottawa, Toronto, New York or London,” he recalled on Wednesday.
This is particularly the case in the finance, professional services, wholesale trade, software publishing and federal public administration sectors. According to the commissioner’s logic, Quebec should therefore avoid paying them aid.
He is expected to detail his recommendations later this afternoon.
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