Petition:
Request to exempt Indigenous students from the provisions of the Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec

Petition text

WHEREAS the Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec (2022, c. 14, hereinafter “Law 14”) was put in place to preserve the French language in Québec, without taking into account the preservation of Indigenous languages;

WHEREAS many Indigenous students do not have a Certificate of eligibility for English-language education and are therefore subject to all the requirements of Law 14;

WHEREAS Law 14 imposes educational and linguistic restrictions on Indigenous students enrolled in CEGEP and restricts their individual rights to choose their language of instruction based on their career goals;

WHEREAS Law 14 requires Indigenous students with little or no knowledge of French to take additional French courses at levels beyond their abilities, thereby compromising their chances of academic success, particularly with regard to the Épreuve uniforme de français;

WHEREAS there is no specific funding or support program for Indigenous students to help them comply with the language requirements of Law 14; they are, therefore, left to fend for themselves;

WHEREAS Law 14 acts as a deterrent for Indigenous students in their pursuit of their post-secondary education as it creates an educational barrier for these students;

We, the undersigned, ask the Quebec Government to exempt all Indigenous students from Law 14.

The signing period for this petition is over.

Signing deadline : October 25, 2024

Number of signatures : 2794

Need help?

Telephone: 418 643-7239 or, toll-free, 1 866 337-8837
Email: renseignements@assnat.qc.ca