There is no guarantee a Canadian government bill implementing bilingual mandates to the private sector would stop the decline of French, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. .“I think if we don’t do anything the decline will continue,” Languages Commissioner Raymond Theberge told the House of Commons Languages Committee. .“The very next day, I’m not sure, but it will help.” .Bill C-13 would mandate bilingualism in federally-regulated private businesses such as airports and banks operating in any jurisdiction with a “strong francophone presence.” Strong francophone presence is defined as the number of francophones and their vitality in a select area. .Conservative MP Joel Godin questioned how federally-regulated employers like the Regina Airport Authority would find employees who spoke French. Census figures show French, with 985 speakers, is the ninth language spoken by Regina residents after English (208,980), Tagalog (4,020), Punjabi (3,315), Mandarin (2,580), and Gujarati (1,985). .“There is an urgent labour shortage, but bilingual, yes, that’s another layer on top of it,” said Godin. .“But my question: Do we shut it down?”.Theberge said he would “reach a compliance agreement with the institution in question.” He said he would set out a deadline to obtain compliance. .Bill C-13 would permit the languages commissioner to levy $25,000 fines on scofflaws. Federally-regulated radio and television stations are exempt from the French-language requirement, but the bill would apply to telecommunications companies such as internet service providers..Regarding monetary penalties, Theberge said he believes their use “should be expanded, especially regarding federally-regulated private businesses.” .“I think the use as written in the bill is too limited,” he said. .It was revealed September 22 French is the fifth or sixth most spoken language in provinces west of Quebec, trailing behind Mandarin and Tagalog in major English-speaking cities. .READ MORE: French trails Mandarin and Tagalog in most spoken languages in Canada.“We know French is on the decline across Canada,” said Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor. .“In 1971, the francophone population outside Quebec was 6.6%.”
