Quebec Liberals plan to oppose Bill 101 expansion to vocational training

People march in support of Quebec's language law in Montreal in this file photo from 2007. (CP PHOTO/Peter McCabe) CANADA

Quebec’s Liberal Party (PLQ) says it plans to oppose a bill aimed at extending Bill 101 to vocational training and adult education.

“The approach proposed by the [Coalition Avenir Québec] CAQ is not the best way to protect the language and ensure that adults can achieve a better command of French,” argued Liberal MNA Madwa-Nika Cadet.

She insists there are concerns that the measure could discourage adults from returning to school.

“What we understand is that these people aren’t required to do this. So if we tell them, ‘You absolutely must do this in French,’ there’s absolutely no guarantee that these people will pursue their vocational training in French. So, these people will just stay at home,” Cadet added.

The Liberals say they believe it is better to invest more money in francization.

French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge introduced the bill on Thursday, stating that the initiative would transfer 27,000 students from the English-language system to the French.

If passed, the new law would not take effect until July 2028, and those “eligible” could be exempt.

There is little time left before the end of the legislative session, and the agenda is already quite full.

Cadet says she does not believe that members of the National Assembly will have time to vote on the bill.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 5, 2026.