Marc Miller, the new federal culture minister, has sparked criticism from various Quebec officials, including the premier of Quebec. Miller, who took over from Steven Guilbeault in the cabinet, stated that the French language is in a precarious state across North America, diverging from the opinion of the provincial government that it is declining specifically in Quebec.
During a discussion, Miller, a Quebec native, expressed his frustration with the identity-focused nature of the language debate. He described the language situation in Quebec as intricate, highlighting that labeling French as declining could undermine the significance of legislation like Bill 101 and the Canada-Quebec Accord.
In a past instance in 2023, when he was the immigration minister, Miller consistently refused to acknowledge the decline of French in Quebec, opting to characterize it as a language “under threat.” Following these remarks, Quebec Premier François Legault criticized Miller, referring to him as a “disgrace to all Quebecers.”
Legault further questioned how Miller could participate in cultural activities in Quebec after making such statements. The utilization of varying metrics to evaluate the vitality of French in Quebec has fueled the ongoing language discourse. Statistics from Statistics Canada show a slight decrease in the percentage of Quebecers speaking French at home regularly between 2016 and 2021.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre raised concerns about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to appoint Miller, questioning the choice given Miller’s stance on French language issues. In response, Carney defended his support for Miller, emphasizing his backing for investments in Quebec’s cultural sector.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet criticized Carney’s government, using Miller’s appointment as evidence of a disconnect with Quebec’s reality. The appointment has underscored the ongoing debate surrounding the French language and its status in Quebec.