A PQ government would strengthen Quebec language laws within 100 days: Marois

MONTREAL – Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois is promising to strengthen the province’s language laws if elected to power in next month’s vote.

Marois says the province’s landmark language law, Bill 101, needs to be updated to stop the decline of French in Montreal shops and businesses.

Marois says she would introduce legislation within her first 100 days in office that would close loopholes that make it possible for companies to operate in English.

She also plans to increase the number of language inspectors to monitor the presence of French on commercial signs.

Recent polls have placed the PQ ahead of the Charest Liberals and the new Coalition for Quebec’s Future.

The election is scheduled for Sept. 4.

Marois, who criticized the Liberal government for failing to do enough protect the French language, said the Parti Quebecois would review the rules that allow companies such as aeronautics giant Bombardier to deny employees the right to work in French.

“I think we need to look over all of this, to see if there are gaps or corrections that need to be made,” she said Sunday at a campaign stop in Montreal.

Marois said it’s normal that some tasks are performed in English when a worker is interacting with people outside Quebec, but within the province it shouldn’t be the norm.

“Once (the employee) hangs up the phone, I think business in Quebec needs to happen in French,” she said.