Preserving Culture and Bilingualism with Bill 96

photo: Image courtesy of Radio-Canada.

May 21, 2024

Language and culture are inextricably linked because language greatly influences and reflects a culture's traditions, customs, and beliefs. 

Reflecting on my personal journey, I spent my entire pre-university education immersed in a purely French environment. Unlike French immersion programs, I attended a full-fledged French school where many of my teachers had limited proficiency in English. Consequently, my mastery of French accompanied a profound understanding of Québecois and French-Canadian culture. This cultural immersion enabled me to grasp the language more deeply than many, as I could appreciate and internalize the cultural nuances integral to truly understanding and mastering a language.

Having lived through these experiences, I gained an intimate understanding of Québec's extensive history in its social and political efforts to preserve its language. Preserving the French language means maintaining the conservation of Québec's unique culture. The Government of Québec has prioritized protecting its language rights as evidenced by the introduction of Bill 96: An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec ("Loi sur la langue officielle et commune du Québec, le français”). 

Bill 96 affirms French as the official language of Québec to strengthen the use of the language across the province. The legislation includes provisions to promote the use of French in government systems, education, and workplaces, addressing concerns about the potential decline of French in the province.

The Bill fortifies the use of French in government operations and services, mandating that businesses operating in Québec communicate with the government in French. Additionally, it aims to enhance French language proficiency among students by requiring all children to attend French-language schools, with few specific exceptions. Furthermore, the Bill includes measures to safeguard the French language from decline, such as stricter language requirements for both citizens and immigrants. 

I understand Québec's radical decision and support its attempt to preserve its culture and heritage. Preserving a language is synonymous with conserving a culture. Language is a vessel for a community's history, traditions, values, and identity. Without the protection of minority language rights, the language can gradually fade, and with it, the unique cultural heritage it embodies. This is evident in the declining fluency of French among students in Ontario's French immersion systems. Many students often emerge from these programs with a less-than-fluent grasp of the language, emphasizing the potential of losing bilingualism. Therefore, the protection and promotion of a minority language like French are crucial to ensure the survival of the associated culture.

Bill 96 has the potential to improve French language proficiency in Québec and, by extension, promote bilingualism across Canada. It can also inspire similar efforts in other regions, ensuring that cultural and linguistic diversity in Canada is maintained and celebrated by advocating for a model of language protection.