Immigrants to Quebec who want to send their children to daycare will soon have to find a French-language centre, says the province's family minister.

The measure will be part of legislation to be tabled this fall that is aimed at toughening Bill 101, Nicole Leger told The Canadian Press.

"Bill 101 is going to be changed," Ms. Leger said.

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"I will have plenty of support as family minister to make sure it also extends to daycares."

Quebec has many types of child-care centres and it is not immediately clear whether the new legislation will apply to all of them.

Premier Pauline Marois has made it clear she intends to strengthen the French Language Charter, which actually falls under the purview of another cabinet minister, Diane De Courcy.

Another possible measure would force companies with between 11 and 50 employees to make French the official language of the workplace. Currently, that provision applies only to those with 50 or more workers.

The PQ has said it will take special aim at Montreal and the Outaouais region in western Quebec where the party believes French is under particular threat.

Bill 101 makes it compulsory for the children of most immigrants to attend French-language schools.

The Canadian Press