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“When it comes to the perception of bilingualism in the workforce as a threat, on the contrary, since around the world the international language of business is English, we have to be careful not to ghettoize ourselves,” he said.

Mr. Dorval said that while it is important to protect and improve French, “at the same time, we have to realize that if we don’t speak English, we are limiting our potential for international development, and also the career opportunities of employees.”

But Ms. De Courcy said she thinks it’s great if individuals want to learn different languages like English, Spanish, Mandarin or Arabic in their private lives, but institutions and businesses must function strictly in French.

“There is a difference with what is institutional and it must be without mercy,” she said.

Last year, the government decided not to push for adoption of Bill 14, which would beef up the language charter, because of a lack of support from opposition parties. The wide-ranging bill would extend Bill 101 rules for large businesses to smaller companies with between 26 and 50 employees, and toughen up aspects of the language law on access to English education and bilingual municipalities.

‘There is a difference with what is institutional and it must be without mercy’

Bill 14 would strip military personnel of the right to send their children to English school. The government originally proposed to extend restrictions on English schooling to the CEGEP colleges but dropped that proposal.

Employees who deal with the public must be able to address customers correctly in French, “not like what we have right now in downtown Montreal, and not only in Montreal, which is ‘Bonjour-Hi,’” Ms. De Courcy said.