Montreal could create its own office for the French language
Mayor says recommendations won't impact access to services
A City of Montreal committee has proposed establishing a municipal office dedicated to the French language to better understand the linguistic landscape of the city's boroughs.
The proposed office would fall under the oversight of Montreal’s French-language commissioner, a position currently held by Noémie Dansereau-Lavoie. This initiative is part of eight recommendations presented on Wednesday by a nine-member volunteer committee led by former Parti Québécois MNA Louise Harel.
The committee, formed in February 2022, is tasked with advising and supporting the city in executing its 2021-2024 French Language Preservation action plan. One of its goals is to complement data already gathered by the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF).
The recommendations aim to emphasize Montreal's identity as the francophone capital of North America by fostering partnerships with cultural organizations and promoting the use of French across various city activities.
At a news conference, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said the city will evaluate how to implement the suggestions. She assured that these changes will not affect residents' access to services in their preferred languages, nor interfere with cultural festivals celebrating different heritages.
"It's not about asking the Argentinian festival to now sing in French — that's not the point," Plante explained. "We're a cosmopolitan city. We're proud of that."
Encouraging French among newcomers
Another recommendation focuses on promoting French to newcomers, including international students. The report proposes organizing a city-wide welcome event at the beginning of the school year for international and out-of-province students, aligning with the Parcours FrancoVille initiative launched last year.
The committee suggests that Montreal collaborate with cultural organizations to offer new residents a "passport" to French culture, providing free or discounted access to French-language shows and exhibitions. Additionally, it recommends inviting French-language students to visit municipal facilities and explore benefits like the Accès Montréal program, Maisons de la culture, and the city's recreational amenities.
