The Canadian Jewish Congress has asked the Quebec government to enact a Human Rights Code to forestall moves by nationalist elements that would install the French language as the only language of instruction in the province’s schools. A CJC delegation, headed by Murray Spiegel, chairman of the Congress’ eastern region met with Premier Robert Bourassa and Dr. Victor Goldbloom, Minister of State for Environment, to discuss this issue.
They asked for a Human Rights Code that would “entrench the linguistic rights of all residents of the Province of Quebec and the establishment of a Human Rights Commission to assist victims of discrimination and receive complaints through conciliatory action as well as enforcement procedures.” The memorandum presented to the Quebec Premier expressed the anxiety of the Jewish community that pressures exerted by French-Canadian nationalists here might force the government to repeal Bill 13 which guarantees freedom of choice for parents regarding the language of instruction for that children.
The memo refuted the suggestion that the French language can survive by the suppression of the linguistic rights of those who are Anglophile. “History has taught us that injustice starts where equality of citizenship ends, where differentiations are made between different classes of people and where quota systems are introduced,” the memo said.
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