Latest news with #Bill101
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Quebec fines LaSalle College $30M for having too many students in English programs
LaSalle College has been fined $30 million by François Legault's Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government for enrolling too many students in its English-language programs over the past two academic years. The college confirmed the news on Friday morning, saying it was accused of contravening Quebec's French Language Charter, Bill 101. Its amended Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec, states that the province's CEGEPs, or junior colleges, are only allowed to enroll a certain number of students in their English-language programs. In a letter sent to the college by the Quebec Higher Education Ministry, dated June 28, 2024, the school's officials were accused of surpassing their allowed limit by 716 English-speaking students for the 2023-2024 academic year. Simon Savignac, director of communications with the Higher Education Ministry, clarified to CTV News on Friday that an 'English-speaking student' in this case was any student enrolled in a program taught in English – regardless of their mother tongue or the language in which they completed their elementary or secondary education. 'The Ministry of Higher Education must recover the amount of subsidies paid in excess and collect the adjustment,' the letter states. That amount, according to the ministry, was $8,781,740. Additionally, for the 2024-2025 academic year, the school was accused of enrolling 1,066 too many English-speaking students in its English programs. For that, the school was asked to pay $21,113,864. 'Despite close monitoring and several warnings, it is important to note that LaSalle is the only subsidized private college that continues to defy the French Language Charter and fail to comply with the law,' said Savignac with the Higher Education Ministry on Friday, confirming that no other school in its category had been penalized. In a letter to Quebec Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry and French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge, dated Dec. 9, 2024, LaSalle College President Claude Marchand argued that the $30 million penalty imposed by the government threatened the school's very survival. 'In all transparency, we acknowledge that we have been unable to comply with the conditions imposed by the new legislative framework regarding quotas for English-speaking students,' he wrote. However, Marchand added that the college 'never had a real opportunity' to discuss the situation with government officials. 'These penalties will inevitably lead to our insolvency and a default on our obligations to our banking syndicate, the [Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec] CDPQ and Export Development Canada, which will recall the $150 million granted to LCI Education,' he said. Marchand also pointed to the major collateral damage the school will suffer, including abruptly interrupting the education of thousands of students, penalizing the jobs of 736 people, and hurting the college's international network. The college said it is contesting the fine in the Quebec Superior Court. LaSalle College, founded in Montreal by Jean-Paul Morin in 1959, offers more than 60 programs to students.
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Quebec fines LaSalle College $30M for having too many English-speaking students
LaSalle College has been fined $30 million by François Legault's government for having too many English-speaking students over the past two years. The college confirmed the news on Friday morning, saying it was accused of contravening Quebec's French Language Charter, Bill 101. Its amended Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec, states that the province's CEGEPs, or junior colleges, can only have a certain number of students in English-language programs. During the last academic year, the school enrolled 1,066 more English-speaking students in its programs, while the threshold stood at 973. In a letter to Quebec Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry, dated Dec. 9, 2024, Claude Marchand, President of LaSalle College, argues that the $30 million penalty imposed by the government threatens the school's very survival. 'In all transparency, we acknowledge that we have been unable to comply with the conditions imposed by the new legislative framework regarding quotas for English-speaking students,' he writes. However, Marchand adds that the college 'never had a real opportunity' to discuss the situation with government officials. 'These penalties will inevitably lead to our insolvency and a default on our obligations to our banking syndicate, the CDPQ and Export Development Canada, which will recall the $150 million granted to LCI Education.' The college says it plans to contest the fine in the Quebec Superior Court. The college, founded in Montreal by Jean-Paul Morin in 1959, offers more than 60 programs to students. More to come
Montreal Gazette
04-07-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Language complaints soar in Quebec as English service eclipses concerns about signs
Quebec News By Quebec just recorded a historic high in language complaints, exceeding 10,000 and tripling the total from 10 years ago. Despite Premier François Legault's new focus on English storefront signs, complaints about signage have plummeted, while those about language in customer service have risen sharply, a Gazette analysis shows. In 2024-25, 10,371 complaints were filed, a 14 per cent jump over the previous year, according to recent statistics from the Office québécois de la langue française. A decade ago, the language watchdog received 3,159 complaints. The OQLF's latest figures cover April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, with complaints alleging violations of the Charter of the French Language, commonly known as Bill 101. By far the largest category of complaints — 40 per cent — concerned language of service. A decade ago, only 18 per cent of complaints addressed this issue. Under the charter, 'consumers of goods and services have a right to be informed and served in French.' The OQLF does not provide specifics regarding language-of-service grievances. One high-profile flashpoint, however, has been the bilingual greeting Bonjour-Hi — a sore point for the Legault government, which briefly considered banning the phrase. 'Commercial documentation' was the second-highest source of complaints. At 24 per cent, it was around the same level as 10 years ago. This category includes websites, publications, job applications, invoices and contracts. The language of public and commercial signs was the third-largest topic. Eighteen per cent of submissions targeted signs, down from 31 per cent a decade ago. Seven per cent of reports of non-compliance focused on product packaging, down from 13 per cent. However, complaints about signs and product packaging are expected to rise this year due to new rules that came into effect on June 1, part of the Legault government's effort to reinforce the French language. Under the sign changes, companies with names or trademarks in English or another language must add enough French wording so that French occupies twice the space of the other language. Retailers call the rule onerous and say they had too little time to adapt. Many retailers, both large and small, do not appear to have updated their signs to meet the new requirements. Regarding packaging, under the new measure, 'the generic or descriptive elements of a trademark (such as ingredients, colour, scent or other characteristics of the product) must ... appear in French.' Some music and hobby stores say the packaging rule is unrealistic and will drive them out of business. They say many of their specialized products are available only with English-language labels and suppliers aren't interested in translating them. A majority of 2024–25 complaints — 53 per cent — involved situations in Montreal, home to Quebec's largest concentration of English speakers and immigrants. That percentage represents a low over the past decade. More complainants are targeting the Montérégie and Quebec City regions. Of the complaints filed during the latest period, 36 per cent led to the situation being corrected, while in 25 per cent of cases, the OQLF offered proactive guidance to the subject of the complaint. Another 22 per cent of complaints were deemed unfounded or inadmissible. Since January 2024, Quebec courts have imposed $12,000 in fines on six businesses found guilty of language law violations, the OQLF says. Last year, a Gazette analysis found that complaints about alleged language law violations have rocketed since the Legault government began allowing anonymous grievances and protection for whistleblowers. Anonymity became an option in 2022 after the National Assembly passed Bill 96, the Coalition Avenir Québec government's extensive overhaul of the language charter. Complaints are filed via a form on the OQLF website. A whistleblower who fears reprisals for divulging privileged information can ask that their identity be kept confidential. Under recent changes, a tipster can file a complaint even if they are bound by 'a contract or a duty of loyalty or confidentiality.' Previously, statistics showed the average number of complaints filed per individual. For example, in Montreal during 2021-22, complainants filed 2.7 complaints on average. This calculation is no longer possible, as the OQLF does not have the addresses for those filing reports anonymously.
CBC
24-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
'Allez Habs! Allez!': STM to support Montreal's sports teams en français
Social Sharing Montreal's transit agency will be removing the word "Go" from its electronic displays when supporting local sports teams, to comply with Quebec's language laws, and the move is raising eyebrows from even the most ardent defenders of the French language at the National Assembly. As such, the popular phrase "Go Habs! Go!" will be substituted with its French equivalent " Allez Habs! Allez!" In a statement, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) says the decision follows a previous order from the province's language watchdog, the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF). It's related to a complaint over the use of "Go! CF MTL Go!" in support of the local men's soccer team on bus displays. Though the word "Go" is a common sports expression, it's an Anglicism. Ruba Ghazal, the Québec Solidaire co-spokesperson and a self-proclaimed "lover of the French language," said "Go Habs! Go!" is Québécois, during a news conference gathering Quebec's opposition parties Thursday morning. "I don't think that's what's threatening the French language, the 'Go Habs, Go!'" She said protecting the language involves rather measures like making sure new immigrants as well as CEOs from large companies learn French. Catherine Gentilcore, the culture and communications critic for the Parti Québécois (PQ), echoed Ghazal, saying that her party has "bigger" priorities when it comes to the protection of the French language. She cited expanding Bill 101 to junior CEGEPs (junior colleges), improving francization efforts and strengthening culture and language programs in schools. She said PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will not be deleting "Go Habs! Go!" from his vocabulary. "It's a waste of time, waste of money, waste of energy," he said.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill requiring medical students to stay in Hawaii dies in House
A Senate bill remains alive that would require University of Hawaii medical school students to remain in Hawaii for two years after they complete their residencies, but the House version has died. House Bill 221 and Senate Bill 101 would require students who pay in-state tuition to attend UH's John A. Burns School of Medicine to work in Hawaii for two years after their residencies or fellowships. If they don't, they would have to pay the state the difference between their in-state tuition and the cost, nearly double, of nonresident tuition : $36, 372 for each academic year, compared with $71, 328. The bills are just one part of the ongoing effort to retain health care workers across the islands and keep them from leaving for the mainland—especially in a state that needs hundreds of more doctors. But Rep. Andrew Takuya Garrett (D, Manoa )—who chairs the House Higher Education Committee—called HB 221 and SB 101 'misguided ' and 'flawed.' Although he said he understands the desire to fill the demand for health care workers, Garrett said both bills would have 'unintended consequences.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. According to Garrett, the requirement of a two-year commitment could deter enrollment at JABSOM and punish local doctors-in-training who cannot find residences in their specialized fields and force them to relocate to the mainland where there are more opportunities. Both bills were referred to their respective higher education and money committees in the Senate and House. Garrett has killed HB 221 this session. 'I'm not planning on hearing the bill, ' Garrett told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Monday. 'This bill, if I don't send it to FIN (Finance ) by this Friday, the bill is dead—and I have not scheduled it for a hearing. We'll see if the Senate bill comes over.' 'I understand what they're trying to do, but the way they're going about it is all wrong, ' Garrett said. 'We all recognize there's a terrible shortage. But these kind of mandates have the effect of making JABSOM less desirable.' Garrett shares JABSOM's desire to increase the number of students it can accept for each year's incoming classes, and hopes the Legislature provides more funding for additional instructors to accommodate bigger numbers. At the same time, he supports JABSOM's effort to expand residencies and specialties in local hospitals to train more local doctors, offer them more professional opportunities and give them reasons to stay to take care of local patients. No one had submitted testimony on HB 221 as of Monday. The Senate Higher Education Committee passed out SB 101 last week. It's now waiting to be scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Johnnie-Mae L. Perry submitted a one-sentence, written testimony in support of SB 101 and said JABSOM graduates should be required to stay in Hawaii even longer. 'Five (5 ) years commitment instead of 2 years as (proposed ), ' Perry wrote. Carol Linde said in her written testimony, 'We have a scary shortage of doctors in Hawaii, especially in rural areas. I can often see the difference in the quality of experience between doctors who understand what it means to live in and love Hawaii and those who do not. I believe this initiative is a good way to encourage more local students to make their home and grow their practice here in Hawaii, for the betterment of the whole community.' And the Hawaii Primary Care Association submitted testimony that it 'believes that requiring graduates who benefited from receiving their medical education at reduced costs to serving in Hawaii for a period after residency or fellowship is not only appropriate but desperately needed given how urgent the workforce shortage is for qualified physicians in the State.' But Stephen Hazam called the Senate version 'a misguided effort to solve the problem of a lack of health care professionals. This will only reduce the number of Hawaii residents studying medicine in Hawaii, which is counterproductive. If they don't (choose ) to practice in Hawaii, this is unlikely to change their mind.' And Garrett shares the concerns of JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker, Associate Dean Lee Buenconsejo-Luma and Michael Bruno, UH Manoa's provost. They wrote in opposition to SB 101 that requiring graduates to remain in Hawaii for two years after medical school and their residencies 'may be daunting for most applicants. This could discourage individuals from attending JABSOM, negatively affecting the number of applicants, especially residents. 'Typically, ' they wrote, 'medical education takes four years to complete. After earning their M.D. degree, students must undergo a graduate medical education (GME ) residency program, which involves three to five years of training in their chosen specialty. … Furthermore, students or residents wishing to further sub-specialize need additional fellowship training, which lasts from one to four years, before they can become board-certified in that sub-specialty.'
