PQ government officially drops Bill 14 - Action News
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Montreal

PQ government officially drops Bill 14

The Parti Qubcois government says its controversial plan to update and reinforce language laws with Bill 14 has been shelved for good by the minority government.

Language minister says party needs majority government before reviving controversial proposal

Language Minister Diane De Courcy said Bill 14 failed after talks broke off with the Coalition Avenir Qubc party. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

The Parti Qubcoisgovernment says its controversial planto update and reinforcelanguage laws with Bill 14 hasbeen shelved for good by the minority government.

Language Minister DianeDeCourcysaid yesterday that there was no way she couldpass the billaftertalks with theCoalitionAvenirQubc(CAQ)broke off.

The minister saidshe tried topass the legislation by makinga number of changes thatmet theCAQ'sdemands,but they were all rejected.

TheCAQhad said it would only support the bill if the government made severalconcessionson controversial issues like forcing smaller businesses to follow the language rules, restrictingFrancophone studentsapplying for English languageCEGEPs, and possibly revoking bilingual status for dozens of municipalities.

Qubec Solidaire's Franoise David said this development makes her concerned about thefuture of the French language in the province.

Why refuse that? I dont understand really the position of the Coalition Avenir Qubec. They will explain that, I suppose, but for me, its not reasonable, said David.

De Courcy said theonly hope of passing a tougher language law now would be for the PQto win a majority government in the next election.