Quebec Liberals pledge $380M to protect French language

The Quebec Liberal Party has pledged to invest an additional $380 million over four years to promote and protect the French language if it forms government after October 5.

Party leader Charles Milliard presented the plan Tuesday afternoon in Montréal, structuring it around seven main pillars: "read," "learn," "integrate," "protect," "promote," "thrive," and "unite."

A significant portion — $138.4 million — will fund francization programs to help immigrants speak French more fluently. Another $110.6 million goes toward promoting reading and improving young people's reading skills and French fluency.

The plan also includes an amendment to the Charter of the French Language requiring the government to identify geographic areas where French is at risk and implement targeted regional strategies to strengthen the language's presence.

"This is a positive, ambitious, and multifaceted plan," Milliard said. "There is no magic wand to improve the status of French in Quebec." The party opposes extending Bill 101 to adult education and vocational training, but acknowledges the current proportion of English-language CEGEPs as a valid reality.