ticatfan3
October 23rd, 2007, 1:02:12 PM
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=ad65f1f5-c991-4f43-abb3-7fc7efa7b799&k=74869
Quebec's ruling Liberals and the Parti Quebecois traded claims Monday that the other party was creating two classes of citizens.
The Liberals charged that Bill 195, a PQ bill to establish Quebec citizenship, would create two types of Quebecers.
The PQ, citing Liberal plans to reduce the Immigration Department payroll, said the government is creating two kinds of newcomers.
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Font:****PQ members have been on the defensive over Bill 195 which states that Quebec citizenship would be required to run for school board, municipal or national assembly elections.
Canadian citizenship alone, however, would still be sufficient to vote in those same elections.
Monday the PQ seized on a report that the Immigration Department is cutting its staff by 11 per cent, at the same time that it has proposed welcoming an additional 10,000 immigrants a year.
"By reducing the budget of the department destined to better integrate and francize immigrants, the Charest government is creating two classes of citizens, those who speak French and those who don't," said PQ immigration critic Martin Lemay.
Bill 195 would make all Canadian citizens now living in the province Quebec citizens, independent of their ability to speak French. Newcomers from another country or another province could only become Quebec citizens by demonstrating three years after arriving their capacity to get by in French.
The PQ, with 35 members of legislature, is the third party in the assembly and Bill 195 has no chance of becoming law. But Bill 195 has shifted the spotlight away from Action democratique du Quebec Leader Mario Dumont and on to newly crowned PQ Leader Pauline Marois.
"We don't take it seriously," said Catherine Morissette, the ADQ immigration critic.
kdougherty@thegazette.canwest.com
© Montreal Gazette
Quebec's ruling Liberals and the Parti Quebecois traded claims Monday that the other party was creating two classes of citizens.
The Liberals charged that Bill 195, a PQ bill to establish Quebec citizenship, would create two types of Quebecers.
The PQ, citing Liberal plans to reduce the Immigration Department payroll, said the government is creating two kinds of newcomers.
Email to a friend
Printer friendly
Font:****PQ members have been on the defensive over Bill 195 which states that Quebec citizenship would be required to run for school board, municipal or national assembly elections.
Canadian citizenship alone, however, would still be sufficient to vote in those same elections.
Monday the PQ seized on a report that the Immigration Department is cutting its staff by 11 per cent, at the same time that it has proposed welcoming an additional 10,000 immigrants a year.
"By reducing the budget of the department destined to better integrate and francize immigrants, the Charest government is creating two classes of citizens, those who speak French and those who don't," said PQ immigration critic Martin Lemay.
Bill 195 would make all Canadian citizens now living in the province Quebec citizens, independent of their ability to speak French. Newcomers from another country or another province could only become Quebec citizens by demonstrating three years after arriving their capacity to get by in French.
The PQ, with 35 members of legislature, is the third party in the assembly and Bill 195 has no chance of becoming law. But Bill 195 has shifted the spotlight away from Action democratique du Quebec Leader Mario Dumont and on to newly crowned PQ Leader Pauline Marois.
"We don't take it seriously," said Catherine Morissette, the ADQ immigration critic.
kdougherty@thegazette.canwest.com
© Montreal Gazette