Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Anthony Housefather rises during Question Period, Friday, October 7, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
OTTAWA – A Liberal member of Parliament says it would be difficult to support his government’s official languages bill because of changes the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois have made to it, which he believes could reduce English services in Quebec.
Anthony Housefather says he hopes he’s able to support Bill C-13 — which is aimed at protecting French by recognizing its status as minority language.
The bill is currently in front of a House of Commons committee.
Several amendments have been passed by the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois that Housefather believes will reducesthe rights of Quebec’s English-speaking communities because they make reference to the province’s Bill 96.
The Quebec law was adopted in May and requires all provincial businesses to operate in French.
Housefather says he’s very concerned that the changes could reduce the rights of his people in his riding who speak English.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 15, 2023.
