Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois and PQ language critic Pierre Curzi have vowed to rescind the Liberal government's decision to force the passage of Bill 115 concerning access to English public school education in Quebec, should the PQ return to power in Quebec.
Two hours after the controversial bill was adopted in a 61-54 vote following an often-angry 20 hours of debate, Marois said she was outraged by the decision.
"We will abrogate the law, the Bill 115 and we will be back with Bill 101. We will reinforce Bill 101," said Marois.
Curzi said the law, which defines how children can acquire a Certificate of Eligibility to study in the English school system, exposes a fundamental rift in the mindset of Quebecers: those who believe people should be able to choose the language of education, and those who think collective rights come first.
Marois stated what could become a campaign promise for the next election: the Parti Quebecois will extend Bill 101 to block children of francophones from attending English private schools.
She also said that despite small rallies in Quebec City and Montreal, attended by roughly 200 and 500 people, she believes a large section of Quebec's population agrees with her.
"If you have a look on the internet you can see many people say they disagree with this project. They send a lot of emails, about this project," said Marois.
Marois said the government had acted strategically to minimize debate about the law, creating a commission to survey the public about the proposed law, but said the Liberals had deliberately tried to make the law confusing.
Bill 115 defines access rights
Bill 115 attempts to clarify the conditions whereby children whose parents did not go to English schools in Canada are allowed to attend an English school.
A student will have to attain a certain number of points, typically by attending one of nine private, unsubsidized English schools in Quebec for three years.
A team of bureaucrats will then analyze each student on a case-by-case basis to determine if they are legitimate contenders to attend public school in English.
Opponents denounce the law, saying it allows rich Quebecers to buy the right to be educated in English.
Mario Beaulieu, president of the Societe St. Jean Baptiste, says the bill will lead to the extermination of French in Quebec, despite a total enrolment in private, unsubsidized schools of fewer than 2900.
