Milliard's Language Law Flip-Flop: Amendments First

0:00It's April 20th. You're listening to Canada News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Cory with the story. Quebec Liberal leader Charles Millyard is backpedaling a bit on Bill 96, the law beefing of the French language charter. He's saying a liberal government would huddle with ministry lawyers first to see if the notwithstanding clause is really needed to protect French. If it is, he'd use it. No question. All in the name of keeping the language strong. He's got plans to tweak the bill big time, like wrapping up French skills for young folks and pouring way more cash into language classes. Millyard also wants to ditch the heavy red tape on businesses and scrap that unrealistic rule forcing workers to learn French in just six months. Inside the Liberal Party, this has stirred up some heat. Last Thursday, he straight up backed keeping the clause, which flipped a key 2022 election promise. That sparked questions from his own team, leading to a quick caucus meeting to hash it out. The next day, he fine-tuned his stance, promising amendments first, then deciding on the override.

1:02Meanwhile, opponents like the CAQ and Quebec Conservatives catch flag from him for slapping the clause on everything without good reason over the past. Eight years. On Monday in Laval, Millyard wrote out his candidate for the hotly contested Saint-Té Rose Riding, Dr. Cecille Tremblay, the doc who gained fame during. She's gunning for CAQ Minister Christopher Skeet's seat, as the language debate keeps heating up Quebec politics.