Economy and identity: Quebec premier delivers inaugural speech of 43rd legislature

Quebec Premier François Legault says the French language is the foundation of Quebec and his objective is to stop what he called the decline of the language.

The Quebec government will spend the next four years trying to reverse what it says is the decline of French in Montreal and transform the province’s economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Premier Francois Legault said Wednesday.

Legault delivered his inaugural speech — equivalent to a throne speech — to the 43rd session of the legislature, almost two months after his Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) was re-elected with a large majority.

His speech touched on labour shortages and the difficulties plaguing the health system. But the thrust of his message was about Quebec’s identity and how to fight climate change without damaging the economy.

“On identity, the objective is to stop the decline of French in Quebec, and in particular in Montreal — to reverse the trend because French is the base of our identity as a nation,” Legault said.

“Imagine what would remain of us if we lost this fundamental link that unites us with past generations and those to come.”

He noted that between 2001 and 2021, the number of people who speak French at home fell to 78 per cent from 83 per cent. In Montreal, he said, that number dropped below 50 per cent _ to 48 per cent from 55 per cent _ over the same period.

“It is imperative to stop this decline and reverse the trend,” Legault said, adding that his government would produce yearly statistics on the health of the French language instead of waiting for census numbers from Statistics Canada.

There is an undeniable link between immigration policy and the vitality of the French language, Legault said. All Quebecers favour immigration, he explained, but they want newcomers to be integrated properly into Quebec society.