INTRODUCTION
An election campaign is the ideal time to see what our political parties really think about any given issue. Here, we will examine and compare the measures proposed by the main parties in the 2026 Quebec election regarding the protection and promotion of the French language.
The vast majority of voters decide how to cast their ballots based on a wide range of factors, particularly economic ones. For a general comparison of party platforms, see Le Devoir here and La Presse here. Our goal here is specifically to provide information on language issues so that you can take them into account when voting. It is up to you to decide how much importance to place on language issues.
We have carefully reviewed the election platforms (even though the term "election platform" is not always used) of each major party to identify differences regarding language issues and related topics. Our readers are aware that we have made submissions at both the provincial and federal levels regarding the decline of French, and that we consider the lack of French proficiency among many graduates of the current English-language school system to be the primary factor contributing to that decline.
At the end of this text, under the heading COMPARISON OF ELECTION PLATFORMS, we present a detailed comparison of the party platforms. Please note that, to simplify *our* task, we did not search for every statement made outside of the parties' official platforms.
Many of you likely do not have the time (or, let’s be honest, the interest) to go through every detail of our full comparison. Therefore, to simplify *your* task, we will immediately summarize the key takeaways from our study.
KEY FINDINGS
Here is a brief summary of the parties' positions.
The PQ acknowledges the decline of French, but the only specific measure proposed pending independence is extending Bill 101 to CEGEPs.
The PCQ does not acknowledge the decline of French, nor does it propose any specific measures to strengthen the use of French.
As for the PLQ, Mr. Milliard had acknowledged the decline of French prior to the campaign (in a July interview with Radio-Canada’s Sébastien Bovet); however, the party platform merely describes French as vulnerable (fragilisé) and states only an intention to implement targeted—though unspecified—measures.
QS does not acknowledge the decline of French; its specific measures to strengthen the use of French involve extending Bill 101 to very small businesses and reinforcing the application of Bill 101 in the digital realm through unspecified measures.
The Canadian Party of Quebec naturally represents and advocates for the interests of Anglophones. True to the legacy of Pierre Trudeau, it idealizes bilingualism within school systems but refuses to mandate French proficiency for graduates of the English school system, settling instead for the hope that these graduates will be confident in French.
In summary, regarding the language issue, the platforms of all parties carefully avoid requiring French proficiency for graduates of the English school system, while also avoiding any move to curtail Anglophone rights. This is very disappointing.
However, there are two significant differences between the parties:
1- Only the PQ and the CAQ explicitly acknowledge the decline of French; and
2- Only the PQ would apply Bill 101 to CEGEPs.
It is up to you to take this into account.
For those interested in the details, here is a more in-depth comparison.
COMPREHENSIVE COMPARISON OF ELECTION PLATFORMS
Parti Québécois
As of our publication date, the PQ had not yet released an election platform, with the exception of its financial undertakings.
On August 30, the PQ released an announcement titled "The Parti Québécois commits to reversing the decline of French (in french, Le Parti Québécois s’engage à renverser le déclin du français.). It outlines the following:
Sous la gouverne de la CAQ et de Christine Fréchette, tous les indicateurs en matière de langue française ont reculé. En effet, qu’il s’agisse de la langue parlée à la maison, de la langue maternelle, du français comme langue au travail, langue de consommation culturelle ou de l’utilisation du français dans les commerces, le constat est sans appel : le français perd du terrain. Un gouvernement du Parti Québécois va renverser le déclin du français une bonne fois pour toutes en mettant en œuvre les mesures suivantes : -Étendre la loi 101 au CÉGEP.. Other, less significant measures are also planned.
However, the announcement warns that we are reaching the limits of what can be achieved as a province. The ultimate tool we lack—and arguably the most decisive one—is making Quebec a country. A previously published "Blue Book" (Livre bleue) on Quebec independence indicates that French proficiency would be a requirement for granting citizenship:
Il faudra déterminer avec précision les critères d’octroi de la citoyenneté...L’un des critères principaux demeurera l’adhésion aux valeurs de la
constitution québécoise et à la maîtrise du français.
However, both the announcement and the Blue Book carefully avoid requiring French proficiency for graduates of the English-language school system. Instead, the Blue Book states that there is no intention to curtail the rights of Anglophones. PQ Blue Book:
Pierre Elliot Trudeau avait répliqué en insérant dans la Constitution canadienne la « clause Canada », stipulant que les enfants des parents qui ont reçu leur
éducation en anglais au Canada pouvaient recevoir leur éducation en anglais au Québec3...le Québec indépendant devrait reprendre la formule de la clause Canada pour octroyer la citoyenneté à tous ceux qui ont reçu leur éducation en français en Amérique du Nord. Il ne saurait jamais être question qu’un Québec indépendant réduise les droits des anglophones par rapport à ce qu’ils ont aujourd’hui...Parti Québécois fera en sorte que plu- sieurs droits de la communauté anglophone qui existent actuellement soient constitutionnalisés, et ce, même dans la constitution transitoire.
PCQ
The PCQ’s election platform states that Quebec must assert its French character—clearly affirming Quebec’s French nature and the role of French as the common language—while fully recognizing the contribution of its historic Anglo-Quebecer minority; proposes a Charter of Autonomy to the other provinces based on respect for jurisdictions, voluntary cooperation, and the recognition of asymmetry; and revisit the issue of Quebec citizenship.
There is no acknowledgement of the decline of French, nor are there any specific measures to strengthen the use of French or to address the lack of French proficiency among graduates of the English school system.
Le Québec doit affirmer son caractère français tout en re- connaissant pleinement la contribution de sa minorité historique anglo-québécoise et la place particulière des nations autochtones... L’autonomie ne consiste pas seulement à résister aux intrusions d’Ottawa. Elle consiste aussi à agir pleinement comme une nation...Affirmer clairement le caractère français du Québec et le rôle du français comme langue commune, tout en reconnaissant pleinement la place historique des nations autochtones et de la communauté anglo-québécoise...Proposer aux autres provinces une Charte pour l’autonomie fondée sur le respect des champs de compétence, la coopération volontaire, la recon- naissance de l’asymétrie et le refus d’une centralisation excessive...AFFIRMER LE QUÉBEC COMME NATION Réaffirmer le non-consentement du Québec au rapatriement consti- tutionnel de 1982, rouvrir le chan- tier d’une citoyenneté québécoise et engager une démarche rassem- bleuse afin de doter le Québec d’un hymne national.
The PCQ stance is reminiscient of the old Union Nationale, loudly proclaiiming a nationalist viewpoint, but with no specific measures to implement.
PLQ
As of our publication date, the PLQ had not released a document titled "election platform," with the exception of its financial framework. However, it did publish a similar document on its website titled "My Commitments" (Mes engagements), which includes a section on French language and culture. Various measures are advocated—including strengthening French-language integration for immigrants—to make French a language of success and inclusion. The party aims to identify geographic areas (why not name Montreal and Gatineau?) where the French language is vulnerable and to implement targeted, though unspecified, regional strategies.
The PLQ website homepage states: fiers de notre culture, nous voulons en faire un moteur de rayonnement pour le Québec à travers toute la francophonie. Pour y arriver, nous devons soutenir nos artistes et placer la culture au cœur de notre projet de société. Nous devons également protéger le français et assurer une francisation efficace.
Prior to the campaign (in an interview with Radio-Canada’s Sébastien Bovet in July), Mr. Milliard acknowledged the decline of French and advocated for positive, non-coercitive measures to promote the language. However, his platform contains no acknowledgement of the decline of French, nor any mandatory measures to strengthen its use or to address the lack of French proficiency among graduates of the English-language school system.
The PLQ has a document titled "My Commitments" (*Mes engagements*), which includes a section on the French language and culture.
Francisation : Faire du français une langue de réussite et d’intégration
- Augmenter les budgets de francisation de 138,41 M$ sur 4 ans
- Réduire les délais d’attente en francisation à six semaines.
- Augmenter l’intensité des programmes de francisation.
- Bonifier et réformer la francisation en milieu de travail.
Agir où le français est fragilisé
- Intégrer à la Charte de la langue française l’obligation pour l’État de déterminer les zones géographiques où le français est fragilisé et de mettre en œuvre des stratégies territoriales ciblées.
- Bonifier et multiplier les programmes de francisation et de jumelage avec les Chambres de commerce.
Faire du français un moteur économique
- Bonifier le financement des centres d’éducation populaire de 8M$/année pour lutter contre l’analphabétisme.
- Favoriser la diffusion des savoirs en français dans les études supérieures et la recherche.
- Mettre en place une stratégie de rayonnement économique francophone:
- En augmentant les missions économiques du gouvernement dans les pays francophones;
- En diversifiant nos marchés pour augmenter nos exportations dans les pays francophones;
Augmenter la promotion internationale de la culture francophone via nos délégations.
QS
The only language-related measure in the election platform of Quebec Solidaire is:
Pour mieux protéger le français, un gouvernement solidaire appliquera la loi 101 à l’ensemble des entreprises de dix personnes employées et plus, tout en faisant reposer le fardeau sur les entreprises pour la formation de leur personnel. Il renforcera l’application de la loi 101 dans le monde numérique, y compris dans l’affichage. Il abolira aussi certaines mesures discriminatoires de la loi 96.
There is no acknowledgment of the decline of French, no other specific measure to strengthen the use of French, and no measure to address the lack of French proficiency among graduates of the English-language school system.
CAQ
As of our publication date, the CAQ had not released an election platform (except one for the city of Quebec). In a statement dated August 29, the CAQ acknowledges the decline of French, but the only new measures proposed were to renew the notwithstanding clause protecting Bill 96 and to apply Bill 101 to vocational training.
Canadian Party of Quebec (CaPQ)
Although it has no elected members, the Canadian Party of Quebec’s election platform is worth examining.
The party’s raison d'être is to protect the rights of Anglophones (rights guaranteed by the Charter, minority rights) and freedom of choice (protecting students' right to choose their CEGEP and university based on program and language, without new administrative or financial barriers steering that choice).
Unsurprisingly, the party does not acknowledge the decline of French. It opposes any coercive language measures. Naturally, it does not view the 1982 Constitution’s imposition of the Anglophone school system in Quebec—without Quebec's consent—as a coercive measure.
It idealizes bilingualism within school systems but refuses to mandate French proficiency for graduates of the English school system. It simply hopes that these graduates will be comfortable in French:
Bilinguisme à l'école : Renforcer les programmes bilingues et d'immersion français-anglais dans le réseau public, afin que les élèves québécois obtiennent leur diplôme à l'aise dans les deux langues officielles.-- Strengthen French-English bilingual and immersion programs across the public system, so Quebec students graduate confident in both official languages.
Linguistic rights: Defend official language equality and reject coercive language policy.
Bilingualism: Treat French and English as shared civic assets and practical tools for opportunity.
Legislative position: The CaPQ opposes Bills 96, 21, and 40 where they restrict individual rights, equality, religious freedom, linguistic rights, or community autonomy.
Bilingualism in schools: Strengthen French-English bilingual and immersion programs across the public system, so Quebec students graduate confident in both official languages.
CONCLUSION
We hope our comparaison will be useful in your electoral reflexion.