Le français langue

Le français langue commune

This publication was produced by the Direction des communications of the ministère de la Culture et des Communications. Cover page design: Cogito Ergo Sum Page layout: Composition Orléans inc. Legal deposit: 1996 Bibliothèque nationale du Québec National Library of Canada ISBN: 2-550-30493-4 © Gouvernement du Québec, 1996

Achevé d’imprimer sur les presses de l’imprimerie Bergemont le 3 juin 1996

FOREWORD The French language has always been and always will be at the heart of Québec’s identity. At all times, by all sorts of strategies and tactics, advances and alliances, Quebecers have sought, with determination and perseverance, not only to safeguard the use of the French language but also, and above all, to extend its use to all fields of community life in order to make French the official language and the common language of all citizens of Québec. The present generation of Quebecers are the heirs to this determination. They have inherited this duty to defend and promote the French language, an obligation which they have to the past and to the future. Indeed, our status in North America requires a high level of vigilance and an unconditional commitment to the French language, the basic element that unites and drives us. This task is not an easy one. In this century Québec has experienced and continues to experience a historical precedent. Two empires have succeeded one another, using and spreading the same language, namely the British Empire followed by the American Empire. History would have it that Québec would first be incorporated in the British Empire and that Québec would have to resist the many attempts at assimilation. History would also have it that Québec would live next door to the American Empire and that Québec would find itself on the front line of this Empire’s vast cultural, computer and technological production. Upon coming to power, the government of the Parti Québécois, under the leadership of Mr. René Lévesque, devised and enacted the Charter of the French Language. The objective was clear: “to make French the language of Government and the Law as well as the normal and everyday language of work, instruction, communications, commerce and business1”. 1 Preamble to the Charter of the French Language, original text of August 26, 1977, reiterated in successive versions of the Charter.

Shortly after its formation in 1994, the government of Mr. Jacques Parizeau promised to re-examine the language policy question. The government wanted to begin by taking stock of the situation of the French language in Québec in order to better decide what measures should be taken to breathe new life into the language policy. Today, the Government, under the leadership of Mr. Lucien Bouchard, is continuing with this initiative. The Government has reaffirmed its determination to pursue the basic objective of 1977 and intends to once again give the Charter of the French language and Québec’s French language policy the full backing of the Government, something they need to produce the desired effects in all fields.

Upon addressing the language issue, the Government realized that the Administration’s preoccupation with the language question had faded. The Government intends to react vigorously. French is the official language of Québec: this must be clearly reflected in all activities of the Administration (understood within the meaning given to it by the Charter of the French language) and in all sectors of public life. French is the common language of Quebecers: this must become increasingly true. The Charter of the French language exists and must be enforced, not shamefully or apologetically, but proudly, as the general rule for using French and other languages on Québec’s territory. As a result, the Government is submitting to the Québec public, for consultation purposes, a new language policy proposal. The cornerstone of this policy is the Charter of the French language, which the Government intends to enforce, like every other statute of the National Assembly. However, it is important to bear in mind that the Charter, as was the case in 1977, does not cover all issues related to Québec’s French language policy. The Government intends to complement the Charter of the French language with a global approach of affirming the French language. As a society, we must once again feel an individual sense of responsibility respecting French, the official language and the common language of Quebecers. This is a responsibility of the Administration, business firms, unions, merchants and professional corporations. It is a responsibility of citizens in the application of the law, in their personal use of language and in the use of French in their relationships, regardless of differences of language, culture and origin. The Government plans to use indicators that will allow it to evaluate very closely the impact of the language policy measures which will be adopted after the consultation. Using these indicators, the Government intends to quickly adapt the language policy to the evolution of the situation of the French language.

La ministre de la Culture et des Communications et ministre responsable de l’application de la Charte de la langue française

Louise Beaudoin

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD

5

INTRODUCTION 11 The future of the French language has been a constant concern in the history of Québec 12 The fate of the French language will always be precarious in Québec 15 The language policy concerns all of Québec 16 I

ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE The language of public signs and posters The language of initial contact and of service The language of instruction The language of work The francization of business firms Consumer protection The Administration The integration of immigrants The quality of the French language In summary... An updating of priorities is in order

II PRINCIPLES OF THE LANGUAGE POLICY PROPOSAL FIRST PRINCIPLE : The French language is at the heart of Québec’s identity SECOND PRINCIPLE : The French language is the foundation of the cohesion of Québec society THIRD PRINCIPLE : The contributions of all minorities to Québec society are a major asset and an advantage FOURTH PRINCIPLE : The knowledge of other languages is a source of personal and social enrichment

19 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 28 29 30 33

33

34

36

39

FIFTH PRINCIPLE : The legislative approach must have as a complement a social approach and an international cooperation approach III A REVITALIZED LEGISLATIVE APPROACH 1. Re-establish the Commission de protection de la langue française 2. Strengthen consumer protection 3. Ensure that public signs and posters are in French 4. Revitalize the business firm francization process 5. Associate firms employing fewer than 50 persons 6. Guarantee the right to work in French IV A GLOBAL SOCIAL APPROACH 1. Consolidate the trends noted in the integration of immigrants in Québec society 2. Have the Administration play an exemplary role and be a driving force 3. Protect individual language rights 4. Put language at the heart of education 5. Stress the importance of the quality of the French language V AN INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION AND COOPERATION APPROACH 1. Master new technologies in French 2. Take the initiative in an international strategy in favour of plurilingualism 3. Make Québec’s language policy known abroad

42 47 47 48 49 49 50 51 53 53 55 61 61 67 73 73 75 77

INTRODUCTION On June 2, 1995 Prime Minister Jacques Parizeau announced in the National Assembly his government’s intention to entrust the agencies responsible for the Charter with the mandate of making a global assessment of the situation of the French language in Québec. The aim of this assessment was to “determine the orientations that must be taken to ensure that the Charter of the French language increasingly responds to the needs and aspirations of all Quebecers.” On September 7th of the same year the Minister responsible for the Charter of the French language entrusted an interdepartmental committee with the task of making an assessment of the situation of the French language. The results of the work of this committee were made public in March 1996 in a document entitled “Le français, langue commune — Enjeu de la société québécoise.” This language policy proposal describes the measures and the actions that the Government intends to take to breathe new life into Québec’s French language policy. The proposed language policy is comprehensive. It seeks to vigorously enforce the Charter of the French language, which has not produced all its intended effects. The policy seeks to ensure that the entire Administration contributes to the promotion of the French language. It also seeks to combat the spirit of linguistic resignation and the move towards institutional bilingualism, of which the assessment gives numerous examples. The citizens of Québec, through those groups that are most representative, will be invited to give their opinion on this proposal by the Government before a parliamentary committee. Once this consultation has come to an end, the Government will give tangible form to its language policy through appropriate actions. The Government reaffirms the fact that the language policy is basically made up of a series of intervention choices in fields likely to influence the use and the status of the French language in Québec. These choices take the form of measures of various orders, which are all nonetheless important in relation to the general objective, namely to affirm that French is the official language of Québec and the common language of all Quebecers. The language legislation is the cornerstone but the language policy must not be limited solely to this component. The French language policy proposal that the Government is presenting today is in keeping with the spirit of the Charter of the French language of 1977, by taking into account the constraints ensuing from the judgments of the courts, by adapting the language policy to the current situation of the French language in Québec and by assuming the consequences of the changes that the workplace has undergone in response to the globalization of communications and markets. This policy is in line with the profound historical trend in which one finds affirmed the constant and unwavering desire of Quebecers to live in French. The aim of the policy is to compensate for the precarious situation of French in North America in the face of the hegemony of the English language, the dominant language in Canada and the language of the United States.

The competition between French and English is particularly evident in the Greater Montréal area. But it also affects all regions of Québec and will increasingly reach them as new information and communication technologies become generalized.

The future of the French language has been a constant concern in the history of Québec

The French language question has been an issue in Québec since the Treaty of Paris (1763), which put an end to the New France era and confirmed the legitimacy of the British authority over French possessions in America. From that point in time on, the French population of Canada claimed the right to continue to use the French language, the right to retain French Civil Law in the place of Common Law which was imposed immediately after the Conquest and the right to practise Catholicism instead of Protestantism, the official religion of the British people. These rights were granted to the “Canadiens” under the Québec Act in 1774 and confirmed by the Constitutional Act of 1791. Since then, the French language has been the central element in the definition of Québec as a people and as a society open to minorities speaking other languages, despite the ever-present temptation on the part of a segment of the population to implement a form of bilingualism which would only reduce the fields in which French is used. Today, the English community, whose historical rights have been recognized, must grasp the importance of making French the common language in order to allow all Quebecers to live in a French-language environment. Newcomers will be expected to understand the importance of this issue and to help make it a reality. Moreover, Québec’s policy recognizes the right of the Amerinds and the Inuit of Québec to preserve and develop their language and culture of origin. Beginning with the Quiet Revolution, public opinion focused on the language question. This led the political parties to define their positions on the French language and to propose consistent measures once in power. The language question has been a topic of debate in Québec for close to thirty years. It is possible to distinguish two phases according to whether the dominant feature is mainly political or mainly legal. During the political phase the successive governments formulated in the form of laws, their own strategy in favour of the French language based on their party ideology, the pressures of the electorate and their perception of the public’s aspirations. Three language laws quickly followed one another: on November 20, 1969, Bill 63, an Act to promote the French language in Québec; on July 31, 1974, Bill 22, the Official Language Act (of Québec); and on August 26, 1977, Bill 101, the Charter of the French language, which is accepted by the Frenchspeaking majority as the fullest expression of their wishes respecting the use of French and other languages on Québec’s territory and as the guarantee that these wishes will henceforth be respected.

The legal phase is a long series of cases in which certain provisions of the Charter of the French language have been challenged, most often on the basis of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, except with respect to the language of the legislature and the courts which have been challenged under section 133 of the Constitutional Act of 1867, which imposes the use of French and English in the National Assembly and in the courts. An important series of judgments were handed down, some of which necessitated amendments to the initial provisions of the Charter and marked the limits on the Government of Québec’s power to enact legislation in matters pertaining to language. The initial text of the Charter of the French language was amended on several occasions to take into account these judgments. From this legal phase one may conclude that the constitutional framework has left its mark on the language policy which the Québec legislator had initially defined when the Charter of the French language was enacted. In this sense, the legal phase has reduced the latitude that Québec has to ensure the quality and the influence of the French language in Québec. One is forced to note that without constitutional amendments or without sovereignty, Québec will never totally be the master of its language policy. Today the Government intends to embark upon a new path by implementing a multi-component strategy that draws inspiration from the conclusions of the assessment of the situation of the French language in Québec. Moreover, the Government notes that, in spite of everything, the Charter has been effective and it still offers the means to increase the use of French, provided that its application is revitalized. This effectiveness ensues from the status of French, the official language of Québec, and from rules that generalize its use in all sectors of community life where this status can best manifest itself and be fulfilled. But it is hard for the Charter to achieve social objectives in those fields that fall within the realm of personal freedom of choice. To be successful in these fields, the Charter must have as a complement a different strategy that is better adapted to the pursuit of objectives such as the quality of the French language, the integration of immigrants, and international competition between English, French and all the other national languages.

The fate of the French language will always be precarious in Québec

The French language will always find itself in a delicate position in Québec, in the vast English environment that North America represents. In the competition between French and English major trends work in favour of the English language. • English predominates the North American continent as a whole. Québec and Acadia are the only territories that make official and intensive use of French. • English currently predominates in the computer field and in new information and communication technologies. The massive introduction of computers in everyday life and in the workplace spreads the use of English, compromises the use of French as the language of work and is leading to a new phase of anglicization similar to the one that marked the industrialization (in English) of Québec. • Foreign trade relations have intensified in Québec due to the dynamic nature of business firms in search of new markets for their products and services. The English language generally serves as the means of communication in such relations. That explains the increase in the use of English in business firms for the purpose of communicating with firms outside Québec, and this in compliance with the law. The generalized use of fax machines and E-mail has confirmed this trend and has increased the use of English among a larger number of workers. • The power of attraction of English is still intact, to a lesser extent among French-speaking Quebecers and to a greater extent among Quebecers who use a language other than French. However, the assessment reveals that the appeal of French is stronger among those immigrants who arrived after 1976 and especially among young people. Under these circumstances, the language policy is necessary to counteract these major trends and to promote French, the survival and integrity of which are still objectively threatened. It is also the only means of ensuring an acceptable balance for everyone between the use of French as a language of identity and as the common language, and the use of English in communications with the outside world. If other countries succeed in using English without calling into question their loyalty to the national language and its use in the everyday life of citizens, why couldn’t Québec do likewise, with just as unquestionable a legitimacy?

The language policy concerns all of Québec

The language policy affects all Quebecers of every language and of every region, nowadays just as in the past. The francization of the language of work applies to all business firms of Québec, whether they are in Rouyn-Noranda, Trois-Rivières, Rimouski, Sherbrooke or Montréal. Workers have the fundamental right to work in French everywhere.

All consumers have the right to be served in French, to purchase products whose presentation is in French, as are the warranty and the directions for use. The English language predominates in electronic games. It also predominates in specialized software and computer applications which are incorporated in the basic systems of computers to allow for the addition of other functions. English is by far the main language used on the Internet and this will continue to be the case for other information highways if nothing is done to change the current trend. All these facts and many others force all Quebecers to face the same dilemmas and result in the same frustrations. The Greater Montréal area provides a good indication of the problems that Québec is experiencing. In Montréal we find concentrated the main factors that inhibit the generalized use of French: concentration of the anglophone population, concentration of recent landed immigrants, often in specific neighbourhoods, concentration of industries, in particular leading-edge industries, concentration of head offices and research laboratories, migration of francophone Quebecers to the suburbs. The overall picture gives the impression that the fate of the French language is mainly being played out in the Montréal area at the present time. While it is true that the challenges are greater in Montréal, as they are in the other regions where French comes into daily contact with English, in the Outaouais region in particular, the fact remains that the future of the French language in Québec depends on the solidarity of all Quebecers, of every region and of every mother tongue.

I

ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE Before taking any action in the language policy field, the Government wanted to determine and make known to all citizens all the information and data currently available to assess the situation of the French language in Québec. This information was often known to specialists, but was spread out, hard to gain access to and little known to the general public. The report of the interdepartmental committee provides a detailed and comprehensive portrait of the situation based on reliable data. The document is public and anyone may consult it. The report explores all the key fields and does not limit itself solely to those that are the focus of provisions found in the Charter of the French language. The report’s conclusions go far beyond a mere evaluation of the efficiency of the language legislation; the conclusions deal with all aspects of Québec’s language policy, namely all of the choices, the measures and the actions of the Government which have influenced or which continue to influence the situation and the use of French in Québec. This policy proposal is based on the data and conclusions of the report. The report provides data on those questions most debated by the Québec public and that continue to be at the heart of citizens’ concerns. A summary of these data is in order. The language of public signs and posters To compensate for the fact that few data were available on the language of signs and posters throughout Québec, an evaluation of the situation of the languages used on commercial signs and posters on the Island of Montréal was carried out by the Conseil and the Office de la langue française. This evaluation dealt with 26,000 commercial messages surveyed in a sample of 3,000 stores. The conclusions of the study are as follows: French clearly dominates on public signs and posters in stores: 39 % offer a language image that is exclusively French (50 % in the eastern zone and 27 % in the western zone of the island); in those stores where signs and posters are bilingual in accordance with the current provisions of the act, 71 % of the stores give a language image where French is clearly predominant, namely at least 66 % of the storefront messages are solely in French. This image is more pronounced in the eastern zone (84 % of the businesses) than in the western zone (55 %). As for the language of the messages themselves, on the Island of Montréal as a whole, 80 % are solely in French, 7 % are bilingual, 8 % are solely in English, whereas 5 % are in other languages. The failure to comply with the act, in 42 % of the stores, is mainly the result of messages drafted solely in English (in 48 % of the cases of non-compliance) or bilingual messages (in 39 % of the cases) where French is not clearly predominant. Based on the results of the study, a visitor walking along the streets of Montréal will note the predominant place given to French on signs and posters.

The posting of names of business firms is a special and complicated aspect of public signs and posters. These names are often the subject of complaints about non-compliance with the Charter. Currently, there is a proliferation of establishment names in English. While it is true that these cases are limited in number (2 % of all business firm names), they are very visible and result from the use of a brand name as the name of a business firm. This is a problem that is related to the application of the various statutes that apply to the names of business firms, and its solution may depend on better cooperation between the various agencies responsible for the names of business firms, namely the Office de la langue française, the Commission de protection de la langue française (once re-established), the Inspector General of Financial Institutions and the clerks of the Superiour Court of Québec. The language of initial contact and of service A survey by direct observation was carried out on this subject in 1995 in the Montréal area. The results show the clear progress made in this field in comparison with the situation that prevailed some thirty years ago. The first contact is mainly made in French in all types of businesses and in all the zones where the survey was carried out. The first contact is not automatically made in French. It is often made in the language which the customer is thought to speak. There is a tendency to make the first contact in English with those persons who do not seem to have French as their mother tongue. It is possible to be served in French in 95 % to 100 % of the stores visited. The language of instruction The objective of the Charter in this area is to ensure that all young people receive their education in French, be it in kindergarten or at the elementary and secondary levels, except for those students who are entitled to receive instruction in English. The obligation placed on the children of immigrants to attend French school has substantially altered Québec’s school landscape: in 1994-1995, 79 % of these children studied in French (as compared to 15 % in 1971-1972 for all of Québec and 10 % for the Island of Montréal). The proportion of students who choose to study in French even though they are eligible to attend English schools is 9 %. More than one-third of the students who study in English take part in French immersion programs. In the case of college-level studies, one notes that in 1994 70.3 % of the allophone students who had done their secondary studies in French in a school run by the school boards for Catholics chose to continue their education at a French-language college, whereas 61.5 % of those coming from school boards for Protestants chose an English-language college. As for those students who had studied in French at the secondary level in a private or a public school, 55.3 % of the new enrollments at the college level were in French. For all of the Allophones

who had studied in French at the secondary level, 63.9 % chose French as the language of instruction at the time of their initial enrollment at the college level in the fall of 1994. Since 1989 the number of students attending English schools has stabilized at about 10% of the total number of students, as compared to 17 % in 1976-1977. Half of the decline in the number of students attending English schools is attributable to the Charter of the French language, the other half to demographic reasons with no direct relation to the Charter: drop in the number of births, migration outside Québec, voluntary choice to attend school in French with the intention of learning the common language better. In 1994-1995 the number of students who were declared eligible for English school under the exceptions provided for in the act regarding the obligation to attend school in French was 14,134, namely 12.7 % of the 111,238 new students enrolled in the schools of Québec. Of that number, 12,190, or 11 % of the total, enrolled in English schools. The language of work The wage gap that was unfavourable to francophone Quebecers, which the Gendron Commission noted at the end of the sixties, has almost been completely corrected. A knowledge of French has become profitable in Québec, more so in the regions than in Montréal. In the Greater Montréal area, unilingual or bilingual Anglophones earned 3 % more than did unilingual Francophones in 1990, whereas bilingual Francophones earned 4% more than did this latter group. The bonus paid for knowing English has dropped: it was 16 % in 1970, 6 % in 1980 and 3 % in 1990. Between 1977 and 1988 the percentage of senior management positions (directors, managers, members of boards of directors) held by Francophones in all of Québec rose from 38 % to 58 %. However, 87 % of the senior management positions held by Francophones are concentrated in those firms which these Francophones control. Few senior management positions (only 15 %) are entrusted to Francophones in Englishowned businesses. It is as if two business networks were developing, one generally and mainly in French, the other mainly in English. In all of the regions of Québec with the exception of Montréal, the percentage of total manpower working generally in French (90 % of the time or more) increased by 4 points, climbing from 84 % to 88 % between 1971 and 1989. The progress is even more striking in the Montréal area where this percentage rose by 14 points, climbing from 42 % to 56 %; however, the increase varies according to the language groups: it is by 11 points (from 52 % to 63 %) among workers whose mother tongue is French, by 6 points (from 2 % to 8 %) among workers whose mother tongue is English and by 7 points (from 17 % to 24 %) among workers with another mother tongue. In 1989, 55 % of the Anglophones mainly used English (49 % of the time or less in French),

when communicating among themselves, but also with their French-speaking colleagues; 24 % of the Allophones generally worked in French, 39 % mainly in French (50 % to 89 % of the time) and 37 % mainly in English. As a result, we still cannot say that French has become the normal and everyday language of work. The computerization of business firms, namely the use of software for management and production, promotes the use of the English language. Moreover, the customers and suppliers of Québec business firms increasingly reside outside Québec, and the evolution of communication techniques makes direct communication between them easier and more efficient. These two phenomena increase the number of persons who, in the business firm, communicate with people outside Québec: as a result, the frequency of the use of English as a commercial and technical lingua franca is increasing. The francization of business firms As of March 31, 1995, eighteen years after the enactment of the Charter of the French language, 26.5% of the major business firms (100 persons or more) and 18.5% of the business firms employing 50 to 99 persons had not yet obtained their francization certificate. However, it is important to note that the register of companies varies constantly from one year to the next due to the fact that new companies are constantly being added and must be incorporated in the francization programs. The business firm certification program is at the point of achieving its maximum effect or has even begun to slow down, mainly in businesses employing from 50 to 99 persons. No penalty has ever been imposed on business firms that contravened the provisions of the Charter respecting the francization of work. No certificate has been suspended or withdrawn from a business firm that no longer respected the obligations of the act or its francization program, even when the facts were duly attested to. Certification is an approach whose scope is limited, at least according to the manner used to put it in place. Efforts have mainly focused on the institutional francization of business firms (signs and posters, printing of forms, internal manuals, notices and memoranda, etc.), without reaching workers in all aspects of communication at work. Obtaining the francization certificate does not guarantee that the business firm will henceforth function normally in French. However, one notes that the use of French is generally greater in certified business firms than in those that are not, both in the written environment and in written or oral communications. In principle, obtaining the certificate should mark for the business firm the end of the certification process but not that of the francization process which is on-going. It should mark the beginning of the normal life of the business firm in French, a responsibility that is assumed by the company’s senior management, by unions and by workers, with or without the support of the Office de la langue française. A change in direction is now in order: to go from a catching-up strategy to a strategy that seeks to consolidate the normal use of French as the language of work.

Consumer protection In the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and at the international level, Québec is often not considered a French-language market, be it by foreign manufacturers or Canadian or Québec importers. The rule is that of an open market where competition alone guides marketing choices. A growing number of complaints from consumers concern products distributed in Québec, labeled and accompanied with directions for use and warranties that are only in English. The distribution of products in English is very commonplace in the software field. Although French versions of software products intended for the general public exist, only 32 % of the businesses had them in store in 1995 at the time of the survey of the Office de la langue française. As a result, francophone consumers must make more inquiries and wait for the delivery of the French version if they order it. Such a commercial practice penalizes both the manufacturer who has gone to the trouble of making a French version of his software and the consumer who has difficulty obtaining it. The supply of electronic games in French is even more limited: a file prepared in 1994 revealed that, in eleven department stores of Montréal, 92 % of the console video games were only in English. The current provisions of the Charter do not make it possible to intervene effectively to rectify this situation. Finally, it would be in Québec’s interest to work with other francophone countries to obtain the use of the French language in the computer field, in electronic games, on the Internet and, soon, on the information highways. The Administration The terms of application of the Charter of the French language in the Administration (as it is defined in the schedule of the Charter) were made more explicit in October 1977 by a decision of the Conseil des ministres which gave an enforceable value to the orientations found in the Brief to the Conseil des ministres on the application of the Charter of the French language in Québec’s Administration. This decision is still in effect; however, it has not been amended to adapt it to the successive amendments made to the Charter. The Charter requires that agencies of Québec’s Administration adopt a language policy in keeping with the orientations and the content of this brief. In 1995 less than one-third of the departments or administrative agencies had adopted such a policy: eighteen policies have been approved and thirty are being prepared. In fact, each department and agency has defined, at its convenience, a rule for using French, the official language, and other languages. In practice, the use of French and English according to the language of the person being addressed has become generalized, often without making a distinction between citizens and artificial persons, especially in oral communications. The Administration often gives the impression that English is just as official as French, as persons may communicate with the Administration in English if they so desire. Hence, it is English that appears to be the common language of non-Francophones.

In a working paper tabled in 1993, an interdepartmental committee, noting the “absence of uniformity in the policy and daily practice” of the departments in their communications “with Quebecers belonging to the cultural communities”, concluded that as French is the official language of Québec, “everything must be done to avoid French being perceived as one language choice among others”. No follow-up was given to this report. The problem remains unsolved. As for the use of French in information technologies, the Government of Québec adopted in November 1992 a policy seeking to “require that each department and each government agency prepare a plan to francize its information technologies and to implement the plan within a five-year period.” Of the 150 departments and agencies or so concerned by this policy, 43 had in October 1995 submitted an initial assessment and adopted a francization plan. Since then, 63 departments and agencies have begun to take steps in this direction. The government is still waiting for the francization plans of those departments and agencies that have yet to file their plan. The application of these plans to francize information technologies must now be monitored and the tangible results, evaluated. The Government also added in March 1992 a rule concerning the use of French in its purchasing policy which today only applies to departments and government agencies. The assessment examines the nature and limitations of this rule. It stipulates that the entire government purchasing process must take place in French and that the delivered goods must allow for the use of French. The purchaser must draft in French the notice of the call for tenders, the call for tenders and the accompanying documents, the specifications, the contracts including subcontracts, the work order and the related correspondence. The supplier must send in French the correspondence, the tender and its schedules, the invoice and the statements of account, the receipt, the bill of lading, the delivery sheet, the warranty certificate and the directions for use. The language rule is generally taken into account by the civil servants who are responsible for the purchase of goods and services, and current practice favours the use of French. However, the present circumstances are such that caution is in order. It is not known how the liberalization and globalization of markets will impact on the rules governing the use of national languages. The language rule applicable to public purchases could be extended to the Administration as a whole, which would considerably increase the purchasing power in French. The integration of immigrants The knowledge of French is increasing slowly among immigrants, more significantly among those who arrived after the enactment of the Charter of the French language. It would increase more rapidly if certain shortcomings were corrected: business firms show little concern about the integration, in French, of immigrant workers; courses to learn to read and write intended for adult Allophones are often given in English (in 40 % of the cases); the language training given to adult immigrants is not as efficient as one could hope for. Language transfers in favor of French are still low (33 % in 1991), but they are increasing; here once again, more so among those immigrants who arrived after 1976 (67 % rate towards French). Language transfers to French are greater among

those immigrants who know French when they arrive in Québec. That explains the importance of Québec’s participation in the selection of immigration candidates. However, under the current agreement between Canada and Québec, Québec’s ability to select its immigrants excludes refugees and those persons allowed in under the family reunification program and only concerns independent immigrants, namely 40 % of the immigrants that Québec welcomed between 1985 and 1994. In 1991 the Government adopted an action plan that provided for some 300 language integration measures and that involved some 43 different departments and agencies. The analysis of this vast action plan reveals that the coordination and harmonization problems, in particular between the various francization activities, have not all been solved and that the department in question is trying to remedy them. The proposed moral contract, which concerns both the host society and the immigrant, is still an objective to be achieved. The quality of the French language The relationship between the Charter of the French language and the quality of the French language is very close: when the legislator states that a given activity must take place in French, the legislator means in a good-quality French in keeping with standard French as it is used in Québec. The quality of the French language is not foreign to the language legislation, even if legislation cannot be passed on the subject of language quality. The ministère de l’Éducation has the prime responsibility concerning the knowledge and mastery of good-quality French, both as a mother tongue and a second language. French is more than just a mere communication tool. The learning of French is also the avenue for embracing Québec’s reality, its history and its cultural development. It is important to be aware that there is a close relationship at all levels of education between vocational education and the language of work. Yet one notes that a significant portion of the vocational and technical training in francophone establishments makes use of educational material and terminologies that are in English. Aside from the problem of teaching French which has been discussed at great length, several factors compromise the use of good-quality French: the standard of reference is not well defined; major organizations have reduced or done away with their language and terminology departments due to budget cutbacks; departments did not consider that it was necessary to set up terminology commissions or did away with them to save money; there is a lack of tools to help institutions or citizens to use a good-quality French. However, a mastery of the French language is increasingly becoming a hiring criterion in the work market, which should motivate everyone to acquire and to use a good-quality French naturally. In summary...

One may rightfully say that the language rights (rights of workers, of consumers and the right to instruction in French) set out in 1977 have generally been respected outside Montréal. In Montréal, the rights of workers and consumers are still not always respected. The progress that has been achieved has made Quebecers feel more secure vis-à-vis their language. This progress encourages Quebecers to maintain the objectives of the Charter of the French language. However, all this progress hides the fact that French is still not the common language of all Quebecers, in particular in Montréal. • The language image found on signs and posters on the Island of Montréal gives French a marked predominance; however one notes that in the case where a language other than French appears on the sign, the rule of the marked predominance of French is often not respected. • Montréal Francophones who work in both languages still use English to address their anglophone superiors in 57 % of the cases. This is also true when they address their colleagues and subordinates in about 50 % of the cases. • As for the francization of small business firms employing fewer than 50 persons, French is used more in these businesses than it is in large firms. Nevertheless, it would seem appropriate to make certain categories of small businesses more aware of their responsibilities, while not subjecting them to an overly bureaucratic francization process. • There are positive trends in the linguistic integration of immigrants, but the foundations of this progress are still fragile. • The tendency to leave the Island of Montréal for the suburbs or for another region is much more pronounced among Francophones (16.7 %) than it is among Anglophones (5.3 %) and Allophones (4.9 %). Between 1986 and 1991, 160,000 Francophones left the Island; their departure was partially offset by the arrival of 92,000 Francophones. As a result, urban dispersion prevents the Francophones of the Island of Montréal from having the major weight they should normally have on the Island, given their representation in Québec’s population as a whole. • Even if French is clearly the language of work of the Administration, a certain incoherence remains regarding the language of service for the non-francophone public. The Administration, given its strategic and symbolic importance, needs to play a greater role in setting an example and acting as a driving force. • Finally, new technologies are posing the same challenge today as radio and television once did in the past. Each wave of new developments from the United States forces Québec to find responses in the French language. French still has a very marginal presence in digitized information bases and in common consumer products, such as compact discs and video games. Business firms clearly make greater use of software programs in English. The interfaces currently used to gain access to the Internet function, for the most part, in English.

These various observations clearly show that the objective of living in a Frenchlanguage environment has not yet been fully achieved. An updating of priorities is in order The actions to be carried out must center on the objective of making French the official language and the common language of Québec. In concrete terms this means re-affirming the desire to live in French, namely making French the common language of public life. Quebecers of every origin will thus be able to communicate with one another more easily and to better understand one another. Moreover, they will be able to work together on a daily basis to shape the future of Québec society by pooling their talents, energies and resources. One conclusion stands out at the end of the assessment: the sociolinguistic contract must be redefined in such a way as to ensure that there is a broad social consensus regarding individual support for the basic objectives of the Charter of the French language. The actions to be carried out must be envisaged in a new perspective. Insofar as the role of the State is being redefined, with emphasis being placed on a supervisory role, a role where powers are delegated and where citizens are given greater responsibility, the government’s action in the language field is also evolving. The legislative framework of the language policy must remain. However, the legal obligation approach must have as a complement a civic responsibility approach. In this perspective, it is possible to discern two main axes that will serve as a basis for future actions. On the one hand, the responsibility of the Administration must be reaffirmed and, on the other, the responsibility of artificial persons and citizens must be re-negotiated. In the case of the Administration, its action must be made more coherent in all the fields of language policy that contribute to the promotion and development of the French language, in particular: the language training given to immigrants, consumer protection, the language of public services provided to citizens, new information technologies, the mastery of French both as a general language and a technical language. As for the civic responsibility approach, steps must be taken to ensure that both artificial persons and citizens make French their language of communication in all public activities.

II PRINCIPLES OF THE LANGUAGE POLICY PROPOSAL

FIRST PRINCIPLE The French language is at the heart of Québec’s identity

The French language has been spoken on the shores of the St. Lawrence River since the founding of New France. This persistence of the French language, despite the pressures exerted by the English language since the Conquest, cannot be explained solely by the habit of speaking a language. It is attributable to much deeper and much more vital reasons, reasons which must be analyzed and understood because they form the basis of the attachment that Quebecers feel to the Charter of the French language. In the first place, the French language, like every other language, appears as a social convention, a contract reached between all speakers, from one generation to the next, a heritage that one receives at birth and passes on to one’s children, with the changes that time brings. Hence, the individual speaker is born into the language. From the time of one’s birth, the language imposes itself as the privileged code of communication with the family circle, and it will retain this function throughout one’s lifetime, in all the acts of personal and social life. More fundamentally, the French language is the cement that holds Québec society together. By using this language instead of another one, Quebecers demonstrate the deep-seated feeling of belonging that they have to their family and community environment first, and to society as a whole. This feeling of belonging manifests itself by a certain way of using the language, in keeping with the norm of that person’s environment, and by the choice of the French language as the common language, preferred over all others. Quebecers find in this language the freedom and spontaneity of expression, the full mastery of the most efficient means for conveying their thoughts in all their nuances. In the final analysis, the French language is the foundation of the cultural and national identity of Québec. However, it is important to agree on what one understands by the word “identity”. Within a very narrow and often pejorative meaning, “identity” may refer solely to the common cultural heritage that is specific to a group, thus to the past history of the culture which must be protected and passed on to future generations. When a spirit of defence dominates, one quickly ends up with cultural and political conservatism. However, in a much more dynamic sense, which is well suited to Québec society since the Quiet Revolution, “identity” refers to a culture in transformation and in action, to the idea of a present linked to the past, but open to the future, which is being shaped gradually, according to the evolution of the world. This term then designates the legitimate intention of evolving in continuity with the main themes of Québec culture, while incorporating therein, in its own way, the contributions of other cultures in a spirit of openness and brotherhood. Unfortunately, the two meanings are very close, and few people bother specifying the meaning they give to the expression “cultural identity”.

SECOND PRINCIPLE The French language is the foundation of the cohesion of Québec society

Every language plays an important social cohesion role. A person’s mother tongue demonstrates his or her belonging to an original community and an original culture which are different from others, but which are just as rich and worthy of respect. The fact that this community is in the majority or in the minority is important in many respects, but it in no way changes the deep-seated feeling of belonging and loyalty that each person feels towards his or her own mother tongue. It is therefore understandable that Quebecers, throughout their history and despite often unfavourable circumstances, have remained loyal to their mother tongue and have persisted not only in maintaining its use but also in affirming it as the language that is characteristic of their “part of America”. Quebecers, through their own experience, instinctively understand and deeply respect the intention of the other language communities to want to preserve their knowledge of their mother tongue and to ensure that it is passed on to their children. When several language groups coexist on the same territory, the common language of all the groups — in Québec, French as the official language — serves to promote the social cohesion of all citizens, regardless of differences in their mother tongues. The common language has the following characteristics: • it is used by all Quebecers in circumstances related to public communication; • it is the language used by speakers when they are not of the same mother tongue; • it marks a belonging to the same culture of convergence based on the sharing of the same political and legal institutions, the sharing of a common future, the awareness of sharing behaviours and concerns, and finally on the integration and sharing of contributions from other cultures with the passage of time, through casual acquaintances and relationships of friendship and love between francophone Quebecers and Quebecers of other origins. The notion of common language must not be confused with that of mother tongue. Speaking French, our common language, is not exclusive to Quebecers who have French as their mother tongue; it also extends to all those persons who know French and who use it in their daily life. It is in no way incompatible with the use of a mother tongue other than French in family relationships or among people of the same language community. This is in keeping with one of the principle concerns of the Politique québécoise de la langue française (Québec’s French language policy) (published in 1977 prior to the enactment of the Charter of the French language): “By affirming that in a society like Québec, everyone must know the French language, the Government does not intend to prevent people from learning or speaking other languages. It simply wants to ensure a basic language community, similar to that

found elsewhere in all normal societies, including in the rest of Canada where English serves as the basis for exchanges and communications.” Finally, the generalized use of the French language symbolizes the fact that all the citizens of Québec share the same destiny, without distinction of place or distinction of mother tongue, while respecting the rights of the English-speaking community and the aboriginal nations.

THIRD PRINCIPLE The contributions made by all minorities to Québec society are a major asset and an advantage

From the time Québec’s French language policy was conceived and drawn up, the government of Québec made clear its intention to make in-depth changes to the dynamics of the relations between the various components of Québec society. In reaction to confrontation and exclusion, to the logic of the balance of power, especially economic power, to the division of languages by hermetic sectors of use, the language policy wanted to provide language security for the majority and to promote the preservation and development of other languages, while specifically recognizing the existence of an English-language community and culture, as well as the existence of aboriginal nations and cultures; moreover, the policy wanted to create a climate of harmonious coexistence between all components of Québec society and to make French the common language of all citizens. In this spirit, Québec’s language policy made provision for a series of measures in favour of French and other languages. The most important measures appear in the Charter of the French language. They are complemented by measures taken by various departments: the ministère de l’Éducation in favour of teaching French, both as a mother tongue and a second language, and in favour of the native languages of immigrant students; the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux to ensure social and health services in French everywhere, including in the Outaouais region, and in English for Anglophones; the ministère de la Justice to guarantee the use of French and English in the courts. The cornerstone of this policy, namely the Charter, sought to affirm French as the official language in all fields of public life as well as to define the fields of use for English and all other languages. The future of the English-language community is guaranteed both as a historical component of Québec society and as a partner in the creation of modern Québec. Québec’s language policy maintains a publicly funded, comprehensive Englishlanguage education system from kindergarten through to university, social and health institutions where English may be used as the language of work and the language of service for the English-speaking clientele, as well as an English language news media network (press, radio, television). The policy also makes provision for the existence of bilingual municipal administrations where Englishspeaking citizens can, in their language, take part in the political life of their community and receive services. Finally, the policy guarantees the use of English

in the cultural, religious and social institutions that preserve and testify to the vitality of the English-language culture. Québec’s language policy also permits the use of other languages on public signs and posters and in the operation of establishments with a cultural component (restaurants, cultural, religious and social institutions, specialty commercial establishments). Finally, the government of Québec promotes the preservation and use of Amerind languages and Inuktitut. At the present time the languages of the Crees, the Inuit and the Naskapis are the ones whose future is best assured due to their concentration on an ancestral territory that is relatively protected from the competition of other languages and to certain provisions of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement and of the Charter of the French language which authorize, as a complement to French, the common language of Québec, the use of the mother tongue in the local and regional administration, in instruction and in the administration of justice. More generally, the Charter of the French language recognizes the right of the Amerinds and the Inuit of Québec to preserve and develop their native language and culture, and to use their language as the language of instruction. But the application of this principle through the design and implementation of measures in favour of ancestral languages has met with various problems, both sociolinguistic and political, for which solutions must still be found in cooperation with the interested populations. It is unfortunate that it is difficult to rally around the same language of convergence the various language communities that have recently arrived in Québec. The political messages transmitted by the Government of Québec and the Government of Canada are basically contradictory, one proposing integration in community life in a French-language cultural environment, the other advocating multilingualism and multiculturalism, thus a type of cultural and linguistic mosaic. The Government is proposing a redefinition of the major social contracts: the economic contract following the meetings begun last March by the Prime Minister, the educational contract following the work of the Estates General on Education, the “moral contract” between immigrants and Québec society discussed within the framework of the consultation of the ministère des Relations avec les citoyens. Québec’s language policy must now lead to the definition of the sociolinguistic contract. Indeed, the time has come to put an end to isolation, to replace this parallel existence of the various language groups with a feeling of solidarity as part of the same collective destiny. The time has come to become partners in a new language contract centering on the following basic axes: a) the acceptance and recognition of French as the common language, the communication tool that will allow everyone to work together in building the future of Québec; b) the responsibility of artificial persons and citizens respecting the common language and respecting the application of the Charter of the French language;

c) mutual respect for the culture of each citizen, as an integral part of being a Quebecer and of participating in the common culture; d) the combining of contact networks and language skills to stimulate the cultural and economic activity of Québec as a whole at a time when the globalization of trade and the growing importance of exports are changing the traditional rules and increasing the level of competition between all countries. Québec, through the cultural and language diversity of its population, masters all the major languages and reaches, through its business people, all the economic partnership zones. This is an obvious competitive advantage if we only know how to make the most of it. In the current situation, Québec is at a stage where the francophone majority on the one hand, and the anglophone and allophone minorities on the other, share a common interest, namely that of preserving and promoting the vitality of Québec as a whole. The language policy that the government is proposing will create a context that is favorable to a new advancement of Québec society: • a francophone majority that enjoys language security and that assumes its destiny fully; • an English-speaking community whose identity and vitality will be preserved, in a spirit of cooperation between this community and the francophone majority; • a gradual integration of immigrants in Québec society and their adoption of the common language.

FOURTH PRINCIPLE The knowledge of other languages is a source of personal and social enrichment

There is no contradiction between the affirmation of French as the official language of Québec and the common language of all Quebecers and the interest and the need to learn other languages. On the contrary, in the spirit of the language policy that the Government is proposing, the study and/or knowledge of languages is the best means of arriving at a clear agreement and for promoting harmonious cooperation between Quebecers of different languages and cultures. The generalized use of French and the need to know the English language at various levels of proficiency have always been the focus of concern and the theme of discussions for both francophone Quebecers and the immigrants of other languages, with some people believing that there is a contradiction between these two social phenomena. The English language is considered by all to be the dominant language elsewhere in Canada, the language of our American neighbours, the modern-day lingua franca for economic and technical activities around the world. Some people maintain, for these very reasons and sometimes mistakenly, that English is indispensable and will assure them a better future.

Others, citing the same reasons, fear that a knowledge of English increases its appeal, which is already immense, and compromises the use and ultimately the survival of the French language in Québec. Both groups use the notion of bilingualism as the supreme argument, giving what are often totally opposite opinions. The term “bilingualism” when employed alone is often ambiguous and covers very different situations according to the balance of power between the languages in question. Regarding this specific point, Québec’s language policy proposes an original solution by distinguishing between individual bilingualism and functional bilingualism. Individual bilingualism is based on the knowledge of another language learned at home or at school in the normal course of education in the case of a second language, or learned out of personal interest in the case of a third language for reasons that may differ greatly from one person to another. Hence, it is often a case of plurilingualism, through the addition of a language other than the second language taught in the school system. The Government has affirmed the importance of individual bilingualism and has entrusted the ministère de l’Éducation with the responsibility of teaching French or English as second languages in the establishments under its authority. One might even envisage teaching a third language in secondary schools, just as is currently the case in many European countries, including France, in the spirit of the resolution of the Council of the European Union to promote plurilingualism. Individual bilingualism falls under personal occupational skills and varies in intensity according to the ambitions and aspirations of each person. Bilingualism is functional when the knowledge of another language, most often English, but also Spanish due to the closer economic ties with Mexico and the other countries of Latin America, is deemed necessary in the normal performance of the duties associated with a position in a business firm whose everyday language of work is French. In the case of English, this knowledge of the language is initially the result of school instruction; it may be complemented, if necessary, by the learning of the terminology and phraseology of specialized English inside the business firm; the degree of proficiency in the second or foreign language required by the business firm varies according to the language requirements of each position as specified by the business firm to the Office de la langue française and duly accepted in the francization program. This ability may range from being able to read the language to a complete mastery of the professional written language. This approach adapts itself to all situations. It allows the business firm to generally work in French and it authorizes the business firm to recruit and train its staff without generally requiring a knowledge of English or of another language as a hiring condition. The teaching of French as a second language, both spoken and written, seeks to facilitate the participation of future anglophone citizens in Québec society. The objective here is not to teach French solely as the language of communication but also as an element of a culture marked by a history and embodied in a way of life and a way of thinking. This teaching must also prepare English-language students to enter the French-language labour market. Finally, it must also, for some of these students, prepare them to render their professional services in French to

their French-speaking clientele. In both these cases, there is an assumption that a portion of the professional education is given in French to permit the normal learning of a specialized terminology. The teaching of English as a second language must take place on the basis of a good knowledge of written and spoken French. It seeks to ensure an effective proficiency in spoken and written English, sufficient for day-to-day communication needs and which may be complemented by a knowledge of specialized English as the professional needs of each person become more apparent during one’s career. However, the knowledge of English, acquired at the secondary school level, must never legitimize the teaching, in English, of certain subjects of a vocational nature during the initial training, in particular at the CÉGEP level and during the first years of a person’s university education. This teaching must always be done in French in order to support the use of French as the language of work.

FIFTH PRINCIPLE The legislative approach must have as a complement a social approach and an international cooperation approach

From the initial drafting of Québec’s French language policy, the Government was aware that “the language policy is more than just a law.” The legislative approach is the main foundation of the language policy and is of decisive importance. It defines the status of the French language in relation to other languages by stating that “French is the official language of Québec.” It proclaims the fundamental language rights respecting the use of French, a declaration which, in the mind of the legislator, serves as a reference when interpreting other sections of the act. It explains this status and these rights by defining the rules governing the use of the French language (and, incidentally, that of the other languages) in all public fields likely to influence the situation of French and its use: the legislature and the courts, the Administration and the semipublic agencies, the language of work, trade and commerce, and instruction. The time has come to change directions, to put an end to a period of laxness that has lasted far too long and to ensure that henceforth, the Charter of the French language will be enforced, just like every other law, with firmness and consistency. The legislative approach, despite its strategic importance, cannot by itself solve the whole problem. All the other policies adopted by the Government must take into account, support and confirm the language policy, in particular regarding the teaching of French as a mother tongue, as a second language and as the language of reading and writing, in the field of immigration and the integration of immigrants in a French-language society, as well as in social and health services. Similarly, the behaviour of the Administration as a whole must illustrate, in the eyes of all citizens, that French is the official language of the State. In a democracy like ours, the personal use of the language of one’s choice is a basic right guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In keeping with

this principle, the legislative approach only deals with the public uses of language. It is based on the distinction between two types of communications: on the one hand, communications between individuals who are entirely free to choose the language that they will use and to use it, each in their own way; on the other hand, communications, most often anonymous or impersonal, between an institution and the persons who are members thereof, who work for the institution or who are its clients. In the matter of language, this distinction makes it possible to draw a line between the field of authority of the law, namely institutional communications and the field of individual freedom, namely private communications. Finally, the legislative approach cannot ensure the quality of the French language in Québec, just as it cannot do so in other countries. When the Charter of the French language states that a given thing must be done in French, a good-quality French is understood. However, there is no definition of what constitutes a goodquality French, simply because this definition does not fall under the jurisdiction of the law. At the same time one notes that there is a close interaction between the action of the State and the language behaviour of individual citizens. Through its laws, regulations and publications, the State influences the idea that citizens have of a good-quality French. Moreover, the State, by way of the ministère de l’Éducation, plays a decisive role in the learning and the knowledge of a goodquality French, both written and spoken. However, the fact remains that each user of French employs the language with a spontaneity that depends on one’s knowledge of the language and on the choice one makes of one’s means of expression. Here, there are no constraints on the quality of the language. The social approach takes up where the legislative approach leaves off, without however reducing the importance of the latter. The aim of the social approach is to create a French-language environment that is dynamic, open and appealing, that can influence the language choices and behaviours of all citizens of Québec. Indeed, the promotion of French is linked to the image that Québec projects of itself, its language and culture. This image should be that of a society whose cultural, scientific and economic performance expresses itself in French and is characterized by a high level of excellence. It is this aspect of Québec which can attract immigrants to a Québec society that offers them the best chances of developing, of realizing their dreams, to a society that will ensure prosperity for both them and their children. In summary, through a diversified social approach, the Government wants to put in place a policy where all Quebecers will demonstrate solidarity in the public use of the same language and the sharing of the same basic values. The international cooperation approach is the most effective means of countering the tendency on the part of the English language to impose itself as the sole language of international trade and of new information technologies. The world that is being built around us is characterized by the globalization of the economy and of the markets, which influences the state of the finances of every country and promotes exporting, hence greater competition between all producers. The world is also characterized by the global dissemination of

information and the advent of personal communications, which both use new computer technologies functioning, more often than not, only in English. By itself, Québec is unable to establish a framework for the use of English in these fields, even through appropriate legislative measures. The Government intends, with the help of partners, to implement an international cooperation strategy to promote the use of other languages in new information technologies and in world trade. French first, in keeping with Québec’s language policy in favour of the use of French, by working with our partners of the Frenchspeaking world, in particular France as part of Québec-France cooperation and Belgium as part of the cooperation with the French-speaking community of Belgium. Major world languages would follow: Spanish first, as a partner language of Québec in NAFTA, and then German, Italian, Portuguese. Finally, the other national languages would eventually be used in new technologies in keeping with the wishes of the people who speak these languages. The prime goal of this international cooperation policy is to promote plurilingualism in the place of English unilingualism in all the agencies that develop the rules of the world market and the standards and processes of information technologies, of which the Internet is the prototype.

III

A REVITALIZED LEGISLATIVE APPROACH

The Government intends to re-establish the Commission de protection de la langue française and to make certain amendments to the current text of the Charter of the French language, in particular to protect more efficiently the right of consumers to be served in French. The Government is considering amending the Charter in other respects if the consultation that is about to begin convinces the Government that the promotion of the French language cannot be ensured otherwise. But above all, the Government intends to see to it that the Charter is enforced like every other law, with firmness. Special attention will be paid to those chapters of the act whose initial objectives have not yet been achieved or the achievement of which is compromised following amendments ensuing from the decisions of the courts. 1. Re-establish the Commission de protection de la langue française Through Bill 86 of 1993, the government of the time abolished the Commission de protection de la langue française whose modified mandate was entrusted to the Office de la langue française. Hence, the Office was entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the application of the act, but with fewer means than those of the Commission. As a result, the Office found itself in the delicate situation of being an advisory agency and a supervisory agency at the same time. The Government plans to re-establish the Commission de protection de la langue française. The re-establishment of the Commission de protection de la langue française appears to be an efficient means for verifying compliance with the act and, in those cases where an offence is noted, for taking measures to correct the situation. The Commission will receive complaints from citizens and, following examination, will follow up on such complaints, where applicable. The Commission will have to work in close cooperation with the Office de la langue française. On the subject of public signs and posters in particular, the Commission will be mandated to intervene systematically and quickly in cases involving noncompliance with the act, half of which cases concern unilingual English signs and posters. The aim of this new intervention is to ensure that, within one year’s time, French will be the only language or will have greater prominence in at least 85% of store windows (as opposed to 77 % currently) and that, the following year, this will be true in over 90 % of the cases. Stronger action will also be taken, within the limits of Québec law, to counter the new wave of business firm names in English. 2. Strengthen consumer protection It is becoming increasingly hard to ensure respect for the language rights of consumers, in particular due to the free circulation of products and services, the

failure to recognize the Québec market as a French-language market, or even indifference towards the consumer. The Government intends to amend certain sections of the Charter of the French language dealing with consumer protection, among others: • section 30.1, so that a person can ask at any time to have in French the documents drawn up as part of the services offered by members of professional corporations without having to make a request beforehand; • sections 51 and 52, which require the presence of French in the marketing of products, to extend the scope of these sections to computer products and to better identify all the persons and business firms that may be held responsible for ensuring compliance with these provisions; • section 54 on the presence of French in games and toys to explicitly include the full variety of electronic games. The Commission de protection de la langue française will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Charter of the French language concerning consumer protection. The Commission will be mandated to intervene, in response to a complaint or on its own initiative, among retailers themselves.

3.

Ensure that public signs and posters are in French

At the time of the enactment of Bill 86 which changed the rules governing public signs and posters, it was feared that there would be a brutal retreat in the place of French on public signs and posters. The assessment shows that this anticipated retreat did not occur. The Government intends to maintain the presence of French and generalize even further French unilingualism on public signs and posters. Indeed, it is possible to resolutely increase the place of French on signs and posters, mainly in Montréal, without resorting to the derogatory clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Conseil de la langue française will be mandated to monitor very closely the evaluation of the use of French on signs and posters and to keep the Minister responsible for the Charter of the French language informed. 4. Revitalize the business firm francization process The report of the interdepartmental committee on the situation of the French language underscored the need to continue francization efforts so that French increasingly becomes the normal language of work and the common language of interlanguage contacts between business firms. One also notes that the efficiency of the francization committees provided for in the Charter has been limited and that the process to certify business firms employing 50 persons or more has an increasingly limited reach and needs to be revitalized. The certification stage is not the end but rather the start of a constant desire to work in French and to adapt the business firm’s evolution to this objective. In addition to the provisions of the Charter, new means must be found to help make French the real language of work and to maintain this status after certification. Finally, the time has come to envisage francization measures that are specific to business firms having fewer than 50 employees when their situation or production requires such measures.

Business firms employing 50 persons or more In order to maintain the effects of the francization program, section 146 of the Charter has stipulated, since 1993, that every business firm holding a francization certificate must submit to the Office de la langue française, every three years, a report describing the evolution of French in the business firm. This measure will take effect in January 1997. Moreover, the Office de la langue française will examine the effect of specific agreements negotiated with head offices or research centres and which allow the latter to use a language other than French as their language of operations. The assessment reveals negative effects on the francization program and on the language of work of all the establishments associated with these head offices or research centres. Measures will have to be taken to rectify this situation. In addition, it is important to ensure that those business firms that have applied a francization program for several years without having fully completed the program comply, within one year’s time, to the objectives of the Charter either by complementing the elements of their francization program or by obtaining their francization certificate. The Economic Summit of the fall of 1996 The Government will take advantage of the Economic Summit to affirm the importance that it places on the issue of French as the language of work as well as on the issue of the permanent francization of business firms. It will underscore the responsibility that business firms have in maintaining conditions that are favorable to the use of French as the normal language of work. 5. Associate firms employing fewer than 50 persons The Government will set up a tripartite working group (businesses, workers, Government), mandated to define the orientations and means likely to generalize the use of French and to improve its quality in this segment of business firms, particularly in the Montréal area. The Minister responsible for the application of the Charter of the French language will be responsible for setting up the working group, which will have to submit its report in preparation for the works of the Economic Summit of the fall of 1996. 6. Guarantee the right to work in French The tripartite working group will also be mandated to examine three other points: the manner of enforcing the right of employees to work in French (examination of the difficulties and terms of application of sections 45 and 46 of the Charter), the possibility of providing, in the workplace, French-language training for immigrants, and the best strategy for implementing French terminology in the day-to-day activities of a business firm.

IV A GLOBAL SOCIAL APPROACH The social approach takes up where the Charter of the French language leaves off in all those fields where it is difficult, impossible or inappropriate to intervene by way of a legislative approach. The aim of the social approach is to create a French-language environment that is dynamic, open and appealing, that can influence the language choices and behaviours of all citizens of Québec. 1. Consolidate the trends noted in the integration of immigrants in Québec society The general objective is to consolidate the favourable trend respecting the integration of immigrants in Québec society, while ensuring a regular influx of newcomers. The Government intends to pay special attention to two points: select immigrants who are more ready and willing to participate in Québec life in French and improve language integration measures.

Maintain a high level of immigrants who are more ready and willing to participate in community life in French due, in particular, to their prior knowledge of the French language

The flow of immigrants must take into account Québec’s capacity to receive newcomers, in particular the resources that Québec can devote to the integration of immigrants and language training. In relation to the total immigrant population, Québec’s autonomy to select immigrants only concerns, as was mentioned earlier in this document, independent immigrants, namely about 40 % of the persons who have arrived in Québec in recent years.

Improve the availability of welcoming and language training services

Given the Government’s wish to strengthen and consolidate the use of French as the common language in Québec, the ministère des Relations avec les citoyens has prepared a series of concrete measures intended for recent immigrants, including: • Increase language training in business firms To reach workers of the smallest business firms, the budget and the teaching resources of the in-business training program will be doubled. • Diversify the training sites Subcontracting with school boards will be intensified. In addition to increasing accessibility to courses, such an approach will make it possible to achieve the objectives of regionalizing services and preparing regions to receive new immigrants and to help them settle. • Improve the quality of training A new program to teach French is in the process of being set up. This program will allow trainees to deal with real situations associated with everyday life and to interact both orally and in writing. • Adapt the courses to the clientele To meet the special needs of those clienteles that have not received much schooling or that have learning difficulties, the Department will continue to offer such students an additional 200 hours on a full-time basis. Although regular or advanced trainees have a success rate of over 70 %, this rate drops to 26 % for these special clienteles. • Vary course schedules and increase the number of training sites To better meet the needs of the clientele, varied course schedules will be adopted and the number of training sites will be increased.

• Harmonize the Department’s services with those of the ministère de l’Éducation The services proposed by the centres d’orientation et de formation des immigrants (immigrant orientation and training centres) (COFI) and by the school boards will be harmonized so that immigrants will be able to count on a period of advanced training in the written and spoken language, as a complement to their initial training in the French language.

Better reflect the pluralistic aspect of Québec society in cultural products

The cultural composition of Québec is made up of increasingly varied contributions, contributions which are still not adequately reflected in the production and dissemination of common cultural products mainly conveyed by cinema and television. It is important to foster, through the creation of original cultural products, the participation of Quebecers of every origin in the common French-language culture. Radio-Québec will take the initiative in its Frenchlanguage programs, reflecting the pluralism and dynamism of contemporary Québec society. 2. Have the Administration play an exemplary role and be a driving force The responsibility for the promotion of French is not limited solely to those agencies created by the Charter of the French language. The Departments and public or semi-public agencies have made and must continue to make French one of their constant priorities. Certain government or departmental policies have an impact on Québec’s language policy, for example policies in the field of immigration, culture, education, health services and social services. The coherence and effectiveness of these policies must be ensured. Since the enactment of the Charter of the French language, there has always been the problem of coordinating and harmonizing the actions of the Administration in order to achieve the objective of making French the common language of Quebecers. This problem still exists today, having become more evident and more urgent.

Entrust certain agencies with a language mandate

Insofar as their current mandate does not include a language component, certain agencies of the Administration could be entrusted with a new responsibility allowing them to cooperate more closely in achieving the objectives of the Charter of the French language. It is possible that legislative or regulatory amendments may have to be made to the provisions that currently govern these agencies in order to realize this goal. As examples of this orientation of the proposed language policy, mention may be made of the following cases.

The Office des professions du Québec

A provision could be included in the Professional Code to see to it that professional corporations make sure that their members comply with the Charter of the French language. Such a provision would reinforce two sections of the Charter concerning professional corporations: section 2: “Every person has the right to have (...) professional corporations (...) communicate with him in French.” and section 35: “The professional corporations shall not issue permits except to persons whose knowledge of the official language is appropriate to the practice of their profession.” The Inspector General of Financial Institutions and the offices of the clerks of the Superiour Court of Québec

When a firm name is examined or filed, or when a business corporation is formed, it is indispensable to take into account not only the provisions of the Charter of the French language and its regulations, but also the linguistic quality of the firm name and the language of the brand names used as establishment names. There should be close cooperation between these authorities, the Commission de protection de la langue française and the Office de la langue française. The Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail

The understanding of messages and hence the use of good-quality French are an important part of occupational safety. The Government intends to recommend to the board of directors of the Commission that it expressly direct its inspectors in the workplace to require the presence of directions in French for all the messages pertaining to occupational health and safety, including on equipment and vehicles used on work sites. The Société québécoise de développement de la main-d’œuvre

The Government intends to recommend to the board of directors of this agency that it propose new measures that would make it possible to increase the use of French in the training of workers and to promote recourse to the policy of devoting 1 % of the payroll to manpower training for the purpose of training workers in French and for the purpose of learning French in particular in the case of allophone workers. The Régie des rentes du Québec

The Government will make sure that all the documents tabled by unions and business firms (or their representatives) with the Régie des rentes pursuant to the act are drafted in French, in particular complementary retirement plans. The Commission des normes du travail

The Commission des normes du travail will intensify its efforts to promote awareness among its staff about the importance of French, and of a good-quality French, in the internal management of the organization. Moreover, considering that the policies of the Commission de toponymie respecting the officialization of place names have had a positive effect on the place given to French in Québec place names and street names, the Commission

will be asked to maintain and intensify its cooperation with the various authorities of the Administration, in particular with municipalities, to increase the presence and the quality of French in geographical names.

Maintaining and increasing the francophone population in Montréal

Steps must be taken to preserve a majority of francophone households on the Island of Montréal by increasing the number of new initiatives pertaining to the revitalization, renovation and construction of middle-class housing, in order to counter urban dispersion. The new ministère de la Métropole, which henceforth oversees all government action in the Greater Montréal area, is in charge of creating a unified program in this field and of implementing it, on a priority basis, with the new Commission de développement de la métropole which will be created this year to coordinate national, local and regional initiatives concerning Montréal and the surrounding areas.

Set up an interdepartmental coordination committee

To ensure the cohesion of the policies and decisions of the Administration pertaining to Québec’s French language policy and the Charter of the French language, the government has entrusted the Minister responsible for the application of the Charter of the French language with the mandate of setting up an interdepartmental committee. The mission of this committee is to coordinate the action of the Administration respecting the use and promotion of the French language and to ensure the appropriate follow-up. The Minister responsible for the Charter will send the results and recommendations of this committee to the Comité ministériel de l’éducation et de la culture. The committee will prepare its first report in October 1996. The committee is made up of deputy ministers, agency directors, or their representatives of the following departments and agencies: the Office de la langue française, the Secrétariat à l’autoroute de l’information, the ministère de la Justice, the ministère des Relations avec les citoyens, the ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité, the Conseil exécutif, the Conseil du trésor, the ministère de l’Éducation, the ministère de la Métropole, the ministère du Travail, the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, the ministère des Relations internationales, the ministère des Affaires municipales, the ministère de l’Industrie, du Commerce, de la Science et de la Technologie and the ministère de la Culture et des Communications. The coordination of this committee has been entrusted to the associate deputy minister responsible for the administration of the language policy. In the departments or agencies, the committee will rely on a working group reporting to the deputy minister or the president of the agency and made up of, among others, the person in charge of the application of the Charter in the department or the agency, the person in charge of purchasing, the person in charge of communications, and the person in charge of computers and information technologies. This working group will oversee the application of the

department’s or the agency’s language policy as well as the application of various policies with a language impact, enacted by the Government. The committee must first update the Brief to the Conseil des ministres on the application of the Charter of the French language in Québec’s Administration, adopted in 1977 and which has never been updated. Originally, this brief defined the terms of application of the provisions of the Charter of the French language in the Administration. Its goal was to consolidate the use of French and to provide a framework for the use of other languages. On the basis of the committee’s recommendations, the Government will specify the language that government services must use and will seek to reinforce the institutional unilingualism of Québec in keeping with the status of French, the official language. The committee will also examine the practice of incorporating in regulations technical standards drafted solely in English. This practice forces thousands of workers to consult and comply with mandatory standards in the English language, thereby weakening the use of French, as the everyday language of work. At the very least, Québec departments and agencies could make sure that these standards are translated into French when they are incorporated in a regulation. Subsequently, the committee will undertake an information campaign among all sectors of the Administration to make known the Government’s decisions concerning the application of the Charter and to remind these components that they have a role to play in the promotion and the influence of the French language in Québec. The committee will see to it that the policies already decided on by the Government are applied in the departments and will extend them to the entire Administration network. Indeed, there continues to be a certain ambiguity regarding the application of government policies having a language impact. This is the case of the government’s purchasing policy and the policy regarding the use of French in computers and in new technologies, both adopted in 1992. There is a need to reiterate the existence of these policies and to apply them in the central administration where Québec’s purchasing power totals 1.2 billion dollars. These policies must also be adapted for municipal and school organizations as well as for health service and social service organizations that are part of the Administration. The purchasing power would then be increased tenfold, reaching 14 billion dollars. Finally, the committee will work with the Minister of State for Montréal to find means to counter the dispersion of Francophones in the Montréal area, with a view to restoring the capacity of Francophones to integrate immigrants. Measures need to be devised and applied to revitalize the Greater Montréal area and to make it more appealing and more open to people of all incomes.

Develop a new indicator of the language used by the public

The Government intends to ask the Office and the Conseil de la langue française, in cooperation with the departments and agencies concerned, to regularly update

indicators that make it possible to assess the impact of the measures implemented to promote French, in particular in the field of signs and posters, the francization of business firms and the choice of the language of instruction at the college level. Moreover, the Government will ask these agencies to create an indicator of the use of French, as the common language. Indeed, the current statistics used to observe the breakdown of the population according to the mother tongue or the language used at home do not classify as Francophones a large number of immigrants who become integrated in community life in French, but who speak their mother tongue at home. These persons meet the objectives of the Charter of the French language. This indicator would make it possible to determine statistically the degree of participation by Anglophones and Allophones in the life of Québec society in French, according to the objective of making French the language common to all Quebecers. 3. Protect individual language rights The Government will entrust the Bureau d’information et d’aide en matière linguistique, which it will create within the Secrétariat à la politique linguistique, with the mandate of receiving complaints from persons who feel that their language rights are not respected or who believe that they are victims of language discrimination. The Bureau will provide these persons with the assistance required to ensure that their complaints are directed to the proper authority for appropriate follow-up. The Bureau will also be able to take initiatives to inform citizens of their language rights. Moreover, the Commissioner of complaints in the health and social services field will designate a member of his team, who will specifically be in charge of handling complaints or requests for information related to access to health services and social services in French and in English, according to the person’s language. 4. Put language at the heart of education Schools are an essential component of Québec’s language policy. The provisions of the Charter of the French language respecting attendance of French schools by immigrant students are efficient and do not need to be modified. On the subject of temporary stays, the Government intends to authorize extensions in exceptional cases where the length of stay exceeds six years. This measure will affect few cases: in recent years 20 to 30 persons per year have extended their stay beyond the authorized time period. These exceptions must not be interpreted as being a right for the children of these persons to subsequently attend English school. Schools play an important role in the integration of young people, in French, in the social, cultural, economic and political life of Québec. The government intends, through new measures, to confirm and consolidate actions already taken by the educational community to promote the situation and quality of French, according to the main directions described below.

French, the language of instruction

Ensure the efficient implementation of new French programs at the elementary and secondary levels

The revised French programs give a vigorous change in direction in favour of the written language, the mastery of language rules and the reading of the major works of French literature. The implementation of the elementary level program has already begun. Consideration will be given to increasing the time devoted to teaching French, which would require changes to the course schedule. This operation could only be carried out following the conclusion of the Estates General on Education.

In partnership with the authorities concerned, encourage schools to adopt an institutional French policy

Each school is an independent environment where the taking into account of the concern about the use and quality of French must be shared by the entire teaching staff. The ministère de l’Éducation — in cooperation with teachers’ unions, school board and college federations, the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec, the parents’ committee federation and other partner associations — will carry out a special operation to promote the use of French in each school of the education networks.

Carry out an information and awareness promotion campaign among the general public, partners in education and the media to make known and to share the orientations of the ministère de l’Éducation regarding the teaching of French

The nature of the actions taken by the ministère de l’Éducation in recent years to enable students to master French seems to be little known: • greater requirements of the new French programs at the elementary and secondary levels in terms of the written language, the mastery of language rules and the reading of the major works of French literature; • tightening of requirements to obtain a college studies diploma which, in 1998, will require students to pass a ministerial exam in French, language and literature; • increased requirements of universities to gain admission to teacher training programs, in particular respecting the mastery of French by all candidates, whatever discipline they plan to teach.

These actions should bear fruit in the near future. The information and awareness promotion campaign should make it possible to achieve two goals: that of combating the long-standing misconceptions regarding the poor performance of the education system in the teaching of French and that of encouraging the teaching staff, at all levels, to pursue the necessary efforts to achieve the set objectives.

French as a second language

Revise “French as a second language” programs at the elementary and secondary levels

The aim of “French as a second language” programs is to help students attain functional bilingualism. The revision of these programs, with a view to increasing the requirements regarding the mastery of written and spoken French, should be completed for the 1997-1998 school year. There is also a need to review the time devoted to teaching, the number of units to be recognized and the approval of more than one level of mastery of the French language. However, it is necessary to wait for the conclusion of the Estates General on Education before proceeding. French in college and university instruction The use of English-language manuals in college and university studies undermines the performance of students in the French language. Educators should be encouraged to prepare and use manuals in French for college- and universitylevel instruction, in particular in vocational training as French is the language of work and professional services. French in technical training

Improve the basic training in French as a language for special purposes, in all disciplines of the vocational sector

The reform of college-level education seems to already be moving in this direction, but much work must still be done to incorporate in the compulsory studies program sufficient training in technical French, especially if students are to be adequately prepared to function in a work market that is increasingly demanding in terms of language. Indeed, one must bear in mind that mastering language skills is gradually replacing experience as the first criterion that employers are looking for, given the fact that communication and hence language skills are becoming increasingly important in the workplace.

Ensure that students are given basic documentation and computer material in French

This line of action is far from being self-evident. Indeed, a number of educators have stated that they have to use English manuals and documents because they do not know their French-language equivalents. Moreover, software and the directions for use are often in English at the secondary vocational level and at the college level. This situation is more prevalent in programs which prepare students

for jobs in the manufacturing sector (metallurgy, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, etc.). As a result, it is not surprising that workers often have a poor knowledge of the French language and the French terminology associated with their specialties.

Set up an incentive program to produce teaching and computer materials in French for vocational and technical training

This concern about improving training in technical French must produce various actions that relate to the teaching of languages for special purposes, in particular terminology, and the production of teaching materials adapted to the North American context. As a result, it is necessary to encourage educators to produce the necessary manuals and software programs and to look for, disseminate and adapt, if necessary, existing French-language teaching material.

At the pre-university college level there is an annual competition known as the Minister’s Awards which underscores the efforts made to produce teaching materials in French. This program has yielded good results over the last twenty years. A similar program in vocational and technical training could prove to be equally promising. Helping adult Allophones to learn to read and write in French

Create community-based groups to help allophones to learn to read and write

The ministère de l’Éducation has already adopted a plan to develop communitybased groups that help people to learn to read and write. In the case of new groups, emphasis would be placed on the allophone clientele. Life in French in multiethnic environments

Encourage school boards to adopt francization models that do more to promote integration over the long term

Despite the time spent in welcoming classes, immigrant students do not always manage to acquire the necessary knowledge to continue their studies in French. Without unduly prolonging the time spent in welcoming classes where students find themselves surrounded by fellow immigrants, means must be found to accompany these young people in order to better promote their integration and success in regular classes. Use of French in the multiethnic areas of Montréal

Set up linguistic school boards

It is now known that 38.5% of the allophone students who studied in French in a school run by a school board for Protestants choose to continue their studies in French at the college level, whereas 70 % of the allophone students who studied in French in a school run by a school board for Catholics choose a Frenchlanguage college. The setting up of linguistic school boards appears to be the most efficient tool for maintaining and increasing the tendency to attend college in French. Moreover, the anglophone community favours the creation of linguistic school boards as this would be a way of consolidating the English-language education system. As part of a comprehensive educational policy for Montréal schools, new measures will be taken to promote the use of French in French-language schools where non-francophone students are in the majority.

5. Stress the importance of the quality of the French language The concern about the quality of the French language, even though it has always been present, both in the Charter of the French language and in the action of agencies, has often been supplanted by the other component of this issue, namely the status and the use of the French language. The priority given to this latter component was justified by the fact that a language must be useful and be used if it is to develop. The significant progress made regarding the use of French and the change in mentalities respecting the reference norm suggest that more emphasis should henceforth be placed on linking promotion of the use and quality of the language. The question of the quality of the French language comprises numerous aspects. A good-quality language is illustrated in the daily practice of the language. It is based on a real, spontaneous knowledge of the reference norm of the standard language. Finally, it supposes that a person who has doubts or who hesitates can find a description of this norm and reliable reference works which provide answers to one’s questions. Defining an action plan to promote the quality of the French language is difficult. On the one hand, the targets of the action plan are both numerous and vague, and the appropriate tangible measures only affect some of these targets, targets which are not always the most decisive or the most effective. On the other hand, the responsibility for the practice and dissemination of a good-quality language is shared by a large number of intervening parties, several of whom are not even aware of the fact that they have a responsibility in this respect or who often tend to forget this fact in their everyday speech and writing. An action plan pertaining to the quality of the French language is defined by targeting the main social players who must bear witness to the norm associated with good-quality French and by determining tangible measures that can facilitate mastery of the norm among Québec speakers. The Government is proposing that Québec society renew its concern for a goodquality French. Québec must come to terms with the paradoxical situation in which it finds itself: on the one hand, affirm its intention to maintain contact with all Francophones and all those who love the French language around the world; on the other hand, assume the particular features of the norm of the standard usage of the French language in Québec without becoming caught up in folklore. This project may be described according to several major directions. Illustration of the quality of the French language in Québec The quality of the French language is illustrated by the persons who make a professional use and the agencies that make an institutional use of the language. The language that is used is disseminated among the public for whom it serves as an example, a model. Moreover, it is incorporated into general usage by osmosis. In actual fact, these persons or agencies have a great responsibility regarding the French language in Québec. It is their duty to be aware of this fact and to make an

appropriate use of the French language. The following persons and agencies in particular are concerned: • educators of all disciplines and of every level of the French sector; • political staff: ministers, elected members, who speak and write a great deal, generally in situations requiring the use of a good-quality language and where the ability to speak and write French properly in Québec is best illustrated; • the Administration, in all the texts it produces and distributes: statutes and regulations, management forms, information documents, correspondence, miscellaneous information, in the written and spoken language; • the news media, both written and spoken: newspapers, magazines, radio, television, where the use of French manifests itself every day, in the spoken and written language, in all language styles; • advertising in all its forms: commercials, advertisements, signs and posters, pamphlets, where new words and slogans and the vocabulary associated with objects are learned; • literature in a broad sense: poetry, novels, essays, texts adapted for the general public, in short, all the publications of our publishers. Real knowledge of the norm of standard French in Québec It is a good-quality French that is passed on and learned. • The language and the manner in which it is spoken are transmitted first and foremost in the family environment and in the neighbourhood where a child grows up. This mother tongue is the foundation on which adult proficiency is built; it is never forgotten even if the person changes over the years in response to different experiences. • A good-quality language is learned at school. Schools, from kindergarten to university, have the responsibility of making sure that the standard form of the language, both written and spoken, both general and specialized, are disseminated and learned. • As a result, teacher training establishments must check that all candidates, regardless of the subject they are preparing to teach, master the standard use of French in Québec and must help them to acquire this mastery if necessary. The training must also include language training adapted to their professional tasks. This language training will have two components: description of Québec French to properly understand the problems associated with teaching French and in French in Québec; teaching of standard French to help students acquire its mastery without making them feel guilty. • A good-quality language is learned throughout one’s lifetime by observing and frequenting those people who use a good-quality language, in particular writers and language professionals.

Description of the French norm in Québec The standard norm must be described, first to teach it, then as a prerequisite to produce reference works that the user needs to solve problems associated with using the language. This description is the task of specialists, in particular linguists. Some of these experts have made this description their field of interest and research. They must be able to count on research and publication grants. This theme should be given priority in existing grant programs. Production of reference materials for the use of the French language in Québec Language users need reference tools that can help them respect the language norm. Dictionaries are the most generally consulted works and must serve all categories of speakers: dictionaries for children, school dictionaries, language dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc. Given the current state of this question in Québec, steps should be taken to promote the creation of language databases on the use of French in Québec. Such databases would make it possible to produce and distribute the reference tools required by Quebecers and all those persons interested in the use of French in Québec. Specialized lexicons and dictionaries cover the broad public of businesses and professions. The production of the last twenty years has been abundant in almost every sector. However, it is still necessary to monitor the evolution of techniques and to keep terminologies up-to-date. In these fields, the Banque de terminologie du Québec is a very good dissemination tool. However, its content needs to be updated and its consultation interface, modernized. Major business firms have reduced the size of their consultation and writing or translation assistance departments due to budget cutbacks. The importance of these departments should be reaffirmed to promote the use of a good-quality French in the business firm and, as a result, among the general public.

V

AN INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION AND COOPERATION APPROACH

The new computerized communication and information technologies are transforming lifestyles and the ways of doing things at home and in the workplace. The presence of French in these technologies is of capital importance for the French language, in its modernity and its uses. In many ways Québec can intervene in these fields of the future. But Québec cannot, on its own, ensure and assume all the interventions required under a plan to ensure the penetration of the French language in new technologies. Québec must join forces with the other members of the French-speaking world and must also work with the other countries wishing to ensure the presence and use of their respective languages in these same fields. 1. Master new technologies in French Québec has created the Fonds de l’autoroute de l’information as an action tool to intervene in new technologies. This program has generated much hope among all those who work in this leading-edge sector and who have difficulty finding funding for their initiatives. Many of these persons have presented numerous projects, a few of which, after selection, are now being financed by the Fonds. Through this means, Québec can pursue, either on its own or with other partners, the following objectives: • Encourage the development of French-language or plurilingual software programs to serve as a counterweight to English-only software programs. This is the most efficient means for ensuring the presence of French in the computer field as well as that of other languages. Québec’s policy on computers will promote, in every manner possible and with all the concerned parties, cooperation with non-anglophone countries. This approach is even more necessary given the fact that the distribution of software is increasingly taking place by telecommunications and by downloading, thereby escaping all commercial control by countries. • Ensure the presence of French-language content on the Internet and on information highways and, to achieve this goal, support the creativity and boldness of Québec creators to allow our culture to exist, spread and have an influence. The creation of this French-language realm will be enriched by the products of other francophone countries to the point of reaching a respectable critical mass that is interesting by its diversity. • Tax incentives could be given to promote the production of French-language content on computer supports, in particular in the multimedia product sector. • Promote, through pilot experiments in the Administration, the creation of navigation and information management tools on the Internet and, later, on the information superhighway. Due to its American origin, the Internet gives a predominant place to the English language in its operating methods. The tremendous expansion of the Internet around the world has led the other countries to fear the exclusion of other national languages and the imposing of

the English language on Internet users, with all its disadvantages, in particular when searching for information. There is a risk that this will also be the case in the future with the information superhighway. In response, other languages are beginning to be used in the content of the Internet and also, but to a much lesser extent, in how it operates. In this respect, Québec’s pilot experiments should make it possible to develop new interfaces to promote the use of French in the new information and communication technologies. Cooperation with European teams is possible and desirable. • Ensure linguistic, technological and industrial monitoring to facilitate research and the creation of French-language digital processing software. This monitoring activity could become international and have as its objective to anticipate the consequences of the development of technology on the use of French, as a national and an international language.

The new software programs intended for the general public released on the market will henceforth have to be available in a French version. As for existing software programs, the Government will see to it that the French-language version must be offered on the retailer’s shelves next to the English version. However, this means of intervention will become less efficient as the dissemination of software takes place directly between computers, without commercial intermediaries. Steps must be taken to avoid the negative effects of such a measure, namely the predominance of translated products to the detriment of products created in French. As a result, efforts must focus on the supply. The Government, alone or in cooperation with other French-speaking countries, prom-ises to foster the production of French-language software, computer games, etc. so that consumers can truly have a choice. Indeed, it has been shown that when Québec consumers have the choice, they most often choose products designed in French and not merely translated. Finally, as it is stipulated in the chapter of the Charter of the French language on French as the language of work, the introduction of new information technologies in business firms and in particular, automated office software must take place in French. The Office de la langue française will monitor this aspect with renewed vigilance. 2. Take the initiative in an international strategy in favour of plurilingualism The advent of the information society is comparable to the first industrial revolution. Only the computerized and digitized languages will retain a decisive place in the world of communication. The future of French is linked to our ability to make sure that this language has a role in the automatic processing of information symbols. Only systematic international cooperation, focusing on these major stakes, will allow us to achieve this goal. The international action strategy must be based on the promotion of plurilingualism. This strategy will be given tangible form through the following measures: Promote an international regulatory framework that truly fosters plurilingualism

Within the framework of Québec-France cooperation, Québec will propose the creation of an international task force bringing together Francophones, Spanish speakers, Italian speakers and eventually German speakers. This task force would be in charge of drawing up a proposed regulatory framework for cultural exchanges (including language) based on plurilingualism and on reciprocity. This task force could also examine proposals such as that of an international charter of languages, the linguistic and cultural dimensions of regional agreements such as NAFTA, the European Union, etc. Québec-France cooperation already ensures the presence of French-language specialists from both our countries in those circles where the technical standards of the new information technologies are being drafted. These standards will have a decisive influence on the design and production of information systems. This

cooperation should be extended to other French-speaking countries or to countries having other languages to defend, upon common accord, a strategy of plurilingualism in systems and products.

Support the creation in Montréal of a centre of excellence in research and development concerning the computerized processing of languages in a plurilingual technological environment

To achieve this goal, it is necessary to foster strategic cooperation at the precompetition stage between university research teams and research teams associated with business firms. These alliances could include American or European partners and involve specific projects in the spirit of Québec’s concerted action program between the ministère des Relations internationales, the Fonds pour la formation de chercheurs et d’aide à la recherche and the ministère de l’Éducation.

Promote the development of international alliances in the language industries sector

The term “language industries” encompasses those industries that generate services or that design, manufacture or market language equipment, software or resources intended for the description, handling, generation or interpretation of the written or spoken language on a computer support. This leading-edge field gives rise to industrial activity around the world, for example in Québec, France, the Northeastern United States, California, Mexico or Brazil. More often than not small businesses are responsible for this activity. The Government intends to revitalize international French-language cooperation in this field and to facilitate the participation of Québec experts in this work. 3. Make Québec’s language policy known abroad Québec’s language policy is often misperceived abroad in the news media and on the Internet. The Government intends to rectify this situation and to disseminate factual information on the situation of the French language in Québec, on the reality of its language policy and on its action in favour of plurilingualism in commercial exchanges. Regarding international trade, Québec will affirm itself as a French-language market and will make known to all interested parties the provisions of the Charter of the French language which must be taken into account when selling and distributing products in Québec.