Premier Rene Levesque has assured the Jews of Quebec that his program to enhance the French nature of the province will not harm “the natural rights of people.” The leader of the Parti Quebecois which won a surprise victory in last year’s provincial elections, made his statement at a recent meeting with representatives of the Canadian Jewish Congress.
Quebec Jews have been uneasy over the party’s stated aim to separate Quebec from the rest of Canada and its stress on the French language and culture. They fear that a separate Quebec would have adverse economic and political effects on the Jewish community. But Levesque told the Jewish leaders that he recognized that “Jews belong to a different universal faith and have a unique and natural attachment to the State of Israel.” At the same time, he reserved the right to criticize Israel without being branded an anti-Semite.
He told the CJC delegation that “Everyone who speaks French will be considered Francophone by my government.” He said that “Certainly, we don’t have the pogrom mentality which made national minorities leave Europe in the past.” He stated that “Changes will take place to help make the province more French without harming the natural rights of people.”
The Premier indicated that he was knowledgeable in matters concerning ethnic minorities in general and the Jewish minority in particular. The delegation asked him to recognize the traditional rights of the Jewish community as regards day schools and to understand the requirements of Jewish social services. He expressed astonishment to learn that about 20,000 Jews in Quebec province live below the poverty line.
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