Bill 96: New rules for accessing English services in Quebec could change, says minister
Parts of Quebec's controversial language law that took effect Thursday could still be tweaked, according to the minister responsible for the French language.
"Of course, we will adjust during the next days and weeks to improve our ways," said Jean-Francois Roberge on Friday. "It's important that in Quebec we know French language is the only official language."
Despite the City of Cote Saint-Luc poking fun at the requirements for service in English, Roberge says it's up to common sense, not a burden of proof.
"We will rely on good faith of Quebecers. We won't ask people to bring a card or something like that," he said.
The CAQ defended Bill 96 again Friday, insisting it doesn't promote French at the expense of English.
"It does not limit access to services(…) service will be provided first in French, but of course, if you want to file your income tax return and you need help in English, you will receive help in English," said Eric Girard, the minister responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers.
The Parti Quebecois said it shows the bill has too much red tape.
Quebec solidaire voted in favour of the law but said elements such as having English access at the top of some municipal websites are useless.
"There's a lot of good things in Bill 96, but this element, we will make it (…) we will delete it from the law, because it's not applicable, and it's (…) we have this ridiculous situation," said Ruba Ghazal, Quebec solidaire MNA.
The Liberals call it a joke.
"I can understand for some persons to see this as a laughing matter," said interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay.
The premier didn't speak to the latest criticisms of the bill Friday, but Roberge said he's not surprised by the reaction because the original language law had a similar one.
Cote Saint-Luc and other municipalities are promising a lawsuit, adding to a list of legal challenges to the legislation, which passed one year ago.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.