Immigrants can't be forced to learn French: Quebec language watchdog

The head of the advisory body that oversees language policy in Quebec says it would be unethical for the government to impose the need to learnFrench on immigrants.

Coercive language measures such as those proposed in the Parti Québécois' Quebec identity act should not be used, said the director of le Conseil supérieur de la langue française, or theSuperior Council on the French Language.

"The choice of language, we can't impose that," council director Pierre Georgeault said in a French interview with CBC News.

Only half of all immigrants to Quebec use French when they shop and use public services, but forcing them to change through legislation would be unethical, said Georgeault.

The Quebec identity act, known as Bill 195, would withhold the right of new citizens to run as candidates in elections and raise funds for political parties unless theypass a French test.

The way to encourage more people to speak French is toteach them how, Georgeault said, and Quebec's public language training programs are underfunded and poorly organized.

The PQ has vigorously defended its proposed laws despite mounting criticism from law experts, opposition parties and civil rights groups.

"If you want, really, to be part of Quebec society, I think you have to make an effort a little bit, to speak French," said PQ immigration critic Martin Lemay.

But that may discourage foreign skilled workers from choosing Quebec, said Harjeet Bhabra, an economics professor at Concordia University.

Bhabra, who immigrated to Quebec a decade ago, said it's not really essential to speak French in order to live comfortably in Quebec. "You can work, and you can have a good social life, and enjoy the culture, without having invested much in learning French," he said.

It is difficult for newcomers to learn French because the provincially sponsored courses are inconvenient, especially for those who find some kind of work when they first arrive.

"You can only [attend classes] if you are not working and I'm not sure that a lot of immigrants can afford to do that," he said.

"If it were more spaced out, let's say, or an evening program, and you encourage them to do that, in addition to working, and learning at the same time, I'm sure everybody would be interested in doing it."