Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Montreal on Saturday to protest the provisions of Bill 96 and its amendments to the French language law, Bill 101.

Protesters began gathering at 10 a.m. at Dawson College on Sherbrooke Street West and marched to Premier Francois Legault’s office at the corner of Sherbrooke and McGill College.

“As it stands, Bill 96 will reduce and restrict access to education, health care, justice and government services in English,” said a press release from the organizers.

On Thursday, Quebec’s Legislative Assembly passed an amendment to Bill 96, slightly relaxing the rules for English-speaking students in the province.

Bill 96 is expected to pass this month and would impose stricter language requirements on workplaces and municipalities.

It also seeks to limit the use of English in courts and public services, grant warrantless search and seizure powers to Quebec’s language regulator, and limit enrollment in English-language colleges, where students should take more courses in French.

People take part in a protest against Bill 96 in Montreal, Saturday, May 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Russell Copeman, executive director of the Quebec English School Boards Association, says he supports efforts to promote and protect the French language, but describes Bill 96 as “discriminatory” and the cause of “frustration and anxiety” among Anglophone and Francophone business leaders.

“There are issues with access to justice, access to services in English, access to health and social services,” he said. “There are many reasons to oppose this bill.”

Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, said requiring young people to master a third language – French – has colonial overtones and would make it harder for them to succeed.

“[It’s] a heavy burden for our children, and it will discourage them and make it more difficult for our people to enter professions,” he said.

People take part in a protest against Bill 96 in Montreal, Saturday, May 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Politicians from the federal and provincial Liberal parties marched alongside demonstrators, including the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), Dominique Anglade.

“We really believe that the French language can be promoted and protected, but in an inclusive way,” Anglade said. “That’s not what Bill 96 does.”

But the Quebec Liberals have a complicated history when it comes to Bill 96: They were the ones who originally suggested that students in English-language CEGEPs be required to take three core courses in French.

Following outcry from Anglophone CEGEPs, Anglade would later offer a “mea culpa” for the proposed amendment, admitting the party should have consulted with them first.

With that in mind, the leader of the new Canadian Party of Quebec, Collin Standish, said English-speaking Quebecers have been let down by the Liberals.

“The Liberal Party of Quebec and Ms. Anglade should not be present at this rally. They have escalated the situation,” he said.

COUNTER-DEMONSTRATION

However, not everyone was against the bill: counter-demonstrators also appeared on Saturday, playing French music and waving the fleur-de-lis flag.

Counter-protester Éden Bélanger said he came to the protest to show his pride in the French language.

“We are here to celebrate French. We are here to celebrate our culture,” he said. “We are for law 96, so we are here to show the beauty of French with music.”

According to him, the ends of Bill 96 justify the means.

“We have a social objective, and that is to protect French,” he said, adding that he personally believes Indigenous groups should be exempt from the bill.

He said their goal is not to eliminate English, but to ensure that French is the predominant language in Quebec society.

— with files from The Canadian Press.