Latest news with #FrenchLanguageCharter
CTV News
18-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
St-Léonard barber battles OQLF over English signs, social media
A St-Léonard barbershop owner says the OQLF is targeting his business over English content on his storefront and Instagram. Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual A St-Léonard barbershop owner says he's spending as much time dealing with Quebec's language watchdog as he is cutting hair, after being flagged for using English on both his storefront and Instagram account. Jesse Padulo, who opened the Corner Shop barbershop a little more than a year ago, said inspectors from the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) first showed up at his business about six months ago. 'It's been rough ever since. So instead of me cutting hair I'm going back and forth with emails and trying to run my business,' Padulo said. He says the OQLF initially took issue with his outdoor sign, before focusing on his Instagram content. In a letter, the language watchdog cited Article 52 of the French Language Charter, which prohibits publishing commercial content on social media in a language other than French. In a statement to CTV News, the OQLF said that even videos have to be in French. 'They may also be in other languages, provided that they are accessible in French under conditions that are at least as favourable,' the watchdog said. Padulo also has a file for his outdoor sign because the OQLF says French must take up twice as much space as other languages, and non-compliance could result in hefty fines, reaching as much as $30,000 a day. 'I'm here to give a haircut, not a French lesson. If you walk in, 'Bonjour/hi, qu'est-ce que tu veux, what would you like?' I'll do it in both languages,' he said. The OQLF confirmed that it had received a complaint regarding Padulo's signage, adding that it was currently being processed. 'One fine and I close the doors, and I go on welfare.' Padulo said he is currently stuck in limbo and unsure what the next problem will be. 'I'm feeling stressed because I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, how can I give this service to my clients? So, what happens? Everything just decreases because they walk in and I'm not the same Jesse,' he said. Padulo noted that he will not be changing his storefront sign.
CTV News
14-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Quebec private college association calls on CAQ to reconsider $30 million fine over English students
LaSalle College, which has been fined $30 million by the Quebec government for enrolling too many students in its English-language programs, is seen in Montreal on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) The Association des collèges privés du Québec (ACPQ) is urging François Legault's Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government to negotiate with LaSalle College instead of imposing nearly $30 million in fines over English-speaking students. 'It unfairly compromises the viability of colleges that play an essential role in providing access to French-language post-secondary education here in Quebec,' the ACPQ said in a statement Monday. Last week, the college confirmed it was being fined for enrolling too many students in its English-language programs over the past two academic years, saying it was accused of contravening Quebec's French Language Charter. It was amended under Bill 96 to only allow junior colleges to enroll a certain number of students in their English-language programs. The ACPQ said it is alarmed by the CAQ's move, which could threaten the college's survival. It is calling for 'a reasonable, fair and realistic solution to avoid irreversible consequences for LaSalle College and all its students.' Private colleges receive some subsidies from the government, representing about 60 per cent of the subsidy allocated to students in the public system, according to the ACPQ. 'This substantial difference reflects the significant contribution of private colleges to the efficiency of Quebec's higher education system,' it said. The college association said it 'commends the government's stated commitment to protecting and promoting the French language,' and stressed that institutions like LaSalle College provide higher education in French. The ACPQ participated in Bill 96 consultations in May 2023 and recommended a gradual implementation of new measures as it was worried about the fairness of the government's proposed penalty system. 'However, we regret that the draft regulation concerning subsidy reductions unfairly and disproportionately targets many subsidized private colleges, which will jeopardize their sustainability,' the ACPQ said. 'In this context, the uniform application of a cutback, without regard to the structural differences between the public and subsidized private systems, is not only unjustified but counterproductive.' CTV News reached out to the French-Language Ministry for comment but did not hear back at the time of publication. The ACPQ is demanding that the government quickly put in place a negotiated transition plan based on 'justice, fairness and realism' and to treat LaSalle College 'in line with its historical and current contribution to the promotion of the French language and higher education in Quebec' and avoid the closure of a major institution. 'The ACPQ therefore calls for a reasonable, fair and realistic solution to avoid irreversible consequences for LaSalle College and all its students,' it said. With files from CTV News Montreal's Rachel Lau
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.
Montreal Gazette
11-07-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Quebec fines LaSalle College $30 million for having too many English-speaking students
The Quebec government has fined LaSalle College $30 million for enrolling too many English-speaking students during the past two academic years. The province accuses the college of contravening the province's French Language Charter, as amended by the Coalition Avenir Québec government's Bill 96. The legislation limits the number of students that CEGEPs are permitted to enrol in their English-language programs. The fines threaten the future of the college, its administration says. In a letter to LaSalle College dated June 28, 2024, Quebec's department of higher education said the school was surpassing its cap of 716 English-program students for the 2023-24 academic year. The college, it said, has to reimburse $8.78 million in excess public subsidies it received. The ministry accused the college of surpassing its English-language cap by 1,066 students for the 2024-25 academic year and ordered the college to pay back $21.11 million. The college says it is contesting the fine in the Quebec Superior Court. The college, which has campuses in downtown Montreal and Laval, was founded in Montreal in 1959. It is a private and subsidized institution offering college and pre-university programs. This story was originally published
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
