Act to promote the French language in Quebec (1969)

Quebec

Replaced in 1974 by the Official Language Act

This 1969 law was aimed above all at annulling the 1968 decision by the school board of the City of Saint-Léonard (now part of Montreal) and officially allowing immigrants (especially Italian speakers) and all Quebecers to freely choose the language of instruction. It also required English schools to ensure " une connaissance d'usage de la langue française aux enfants à qui l'enseignement est donné en langue anglaise. "

The Act to promote the French language in Québec (Bill 63) was the first real language law in modern-day Quebec. However, it was a sectoral law that only concerned the field of teaching.

Section 1 declared that the minister "shall take the measures necessary to have the curricula, made or approved for such educational institutions, and the examinations which confirm them, ensure a working knowledge of the French language to children to whom instruction is given in the English language". Section 2 recognized the right of parents to freely choose the language of instruction for their children when registering them for school. Section 3 required the Immigration Department to take the necessary steps to ensure persons settling in Quebec learned the French language. Lastly, Section 4 gave monitoring, research, and advisory powers to Office de la langue française.

Widely unpopular, the law was repealed and replaced by the Official Language Act in 1974.

Sections 1 to 4

1969, Act to promote the French language in Quebec

(Bill 63)

1969 L.Q. CHAPTER 9

ACT TO PROMOTE THE FRENCH LANGUAGE IN QUEBEC

[Assented to 28th November 1969]

HER MAJESTY, with the advice and consent of the National Assembly of Québec, enacts as follows:

Section 1

Section 2 of the Education Department Act (Revised Statutes, 1964, chapter 233) is amended by adding at the end the following paragraph:

"The Minister shall take the measures necessary to have the curricula, made or approved for such educational institutions, and the examinations which confirm them, ensure a working knowledge of the French language to children to whom instruction is given in the English language.".

Section 2

Section 203 of the Education Act (Revised Statutes, 1964, chapter 235), amended by section 1 of chapter 62 of the statutes of 1966/1967, is again amended by replacing sub-paragraphs 3 and 4 by the following:

"(3) To take the measures necessary' to have the courses of study from the' first year level to the eleventh year level inclusive, adopted or recognized. for Catholic, Protestant or other public schools, as the case may be, given to all the children domiciled in the territory under their jurisdiction if they are deemed capable of following such courses and desirous of enrolling for them.

Such courses must be given in the French language.

They shall be given in the English language to any child for whom his parents or the persons acting in their stead so request at his enrolment; the curricula and examinations must ensure a working knowledge of the French language to such children and the Minister shall take the measures necessary for such purpose.

The school commissioners or trustees must either establish such courses in their schools or avail themselves of the provisions of sections 469 to 495, or of those of section 496, or take two or more of such steps at the same time;

"(4) To ensure that the courses of study given in their schools comply with the curricula and regulations made or approved for Catholic, Protestant or other public schools, as the case may be;".

Section 3

Section 3 of the Immigration Department Act (1968, chapter 68) is amended by adding at the end the following paragraph:

"(e) in co-operation with the Minister of Education, take the measures necessary so that the persons who settle in Québec may acquire the knowledge of the French language upon arrival or even before they leave their country of origin, and may have their children instructed in educational institutions where courses are given in the French language.".

Section 4

Section 14 of the Cultural Affairs Department Act (Revised Statutes, 1964, chapter 57) is replaced by the following:

"14. Under the Minister's direction, the French Language Bureau shall:

(a) foster the correction and enrichment of the spoken and written language;

(b) advise the government on any legislative or administrative measures which might be passed to see to it that French is the working language in public and private undertakings in Québec;

(c) in co-operation with such undertakings, prepare programs to see to it that the French language is the working language there, and to ensure a working knowledge of such language to. their administrators and employees;

(d) advise . the government on any legislative or administrative measures which might be passed in regard to public posting to ensure the priority of the French language therein;

(e) establish a linguistic research centre an co-ordinate all research activities in such field in Québec.

"14a. The French Language Bureau may hear any complaint by any employee or group of employees to the effect that his or their right to use the French language as the working language is not respected.

After having heard the parties, taken into consideration the language of the majority in the undertaking or department of the undertaking in question, the nature of the work and all the other circumstances, the Bureau shall make the necessary recommendations, which shall be public.

The Bureau, in the exercise of the authority assigned to it by this section, shall have all the powers of a commissioner appointed under the Public Inquiry Commission Act (Chap. 11).".

Section 5

This act shall come into force on the day of its sanction except for sections and 2 which shall come into force on the 1st of July 1970 or on any prior date to be fixed by proclamation of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.