Concern over access to English CEGEPs returns to PQ ranks

Some hard-line members of the Parti Qubcois want to bringa promise to restrictaccess to English-languageCEGEPsfor francophones and allophones back tothe party's program.

The measure was previously adopted by the PQ at its 2011 convention, but it isn't mentioned in the proposed program for the party's upcoming convention in September.

• PQ would make language law tougher

Thirty PQ riding associations are proposing amendments to the program, and reinserting the restriction on access to English CEGEPs is one of them.

Figures from Statistics Canada's latest census revealed that more francophone Quebecers are learning and speaking English, to the consternation of Quebec nationalist leaders.

"It's going to be a major issue at the convention," said Pierre Dubuc, director and editor-in-chief of the pro-independence publication L'Aut'journal.

Confidence vote

He said the issue will also prove a test for PQ headJean-FranoisLise's leadership, which will be put to a confidence vote.

Marc Laviolette, president of the PQ's riding association in Beauharnois, says Lise hasn't been strong enough on language issues.

"On the question of language, he hasn't got it, and that's nothing new," Laviolette said.

Dubuc echoed that concern, and pointedto the fate of former PQ leader Bernard Landryin a 2005 confidence vote as a warning.

"It's an important question of leadership. I don't know if Jean-Franois Lise realizes that Bernard Landry lost a confidence vote on the same issue," he said.

Landryactually received 76.2 per cent support in the vote, but he considered that insufficient to continue as leader. Dubuc contends that the votewas partly a reflection of dissatisfaction withhis position on language-related issues.

In the campaign leading up to the 2012 provincial election, the PQ promised to extend Quebec's language laws to CEGEPs.

Once elected, however, the minority PQ government wasn't able to fulfill its promise.

• PQ pitches tighter language restrictions to boost French