The Harper government is distancing itself from comments made by one of its Conservative MPs.
Former federal cabinet minister Maxime Bernier told a Halifax radio station on Friday that Quebecers don't need Bill 101 to protect their language.
The 1977 Quebec law, which restricted English on street signs and limited access to English public schools, is often credited with saving the French language from decline in the province.
Bernier's remarks spread rapidly over the Internet and were quickly denounced in Quebec where the historic legislation is as much an identifying symbol as the fleur-de-lys flag.
Ottawa has refused to wade into the debate. Sara MacIntyre, a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister, would only say that the Harper government respects provincial jurisdiction.
The Conservative government holds 11 seats in Quebec and is eager to keep them in its quest for a majority.
Attacks on Bill 101 in Quebec have been taboo for a generation, but Bernier told Maritime Morning with Jordi Morgan, on Halifax's News 95.7, that French continue to be strong in Quebec without it.
He made the comment as part of a broader discussion -- about whether governments have a role to play in creating a national identity through legislation, with laws like the Canada Health Act.
Bernier said it's not the government's role to create an identity, and he used Quebec's language law as an example.
"It's like in Quebec -- we don't need Bill 101 to protect the French language over there," Bernier told his interviewer.
"They know we speak French in Quebec and we will speak French for a long time, I believe it."
Prominent Quebec political pundit Jean Lapierre suggests Bernier made the comment because he believes it could help him build a national support base.
Bernier is often touted as a potential leadership candidate for the federal Conservatives.
