Expansion of Bill 101 would move 27,000 students to French-language system: Roberge

Jean-François Roberge, Minister of the French Language, introduced a bill on the French language in the Quebec National Assembly on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

Applying Bill 101 to vocational training and adult education would move 27,000 students from the English-language system to the French-language system, said Jean-François Roberge, the Minister Responsible for the French Language, on Tuesday during the budget debate.

“These 27,000 people, currently in the English-language system, would transfer … I think this would be a tremendous step forward in making workplaces more French-speaking in particular,” he said.

The 27,000 individuals are not “eligible students,” the minister clarified, meaning they “would not be entitled to attend an English-language elementary or secondary school.”

“But those in general adult education and vocational training, since there are no rules, go to the English-language system,” he said.

“These people, well, are in the public system, so they’re being funded by our taxes. I think that, as a nationalist government, we have a duty to do something about it,” Roberge added.

The commitment to extend Bill 101 to vocational training and adult education was made by Christine Fréchette during the leadership race.

The bill to fulfill this promise has yet to be introduced. The parliamentary session ends on June 12.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 12, 2026.

Thomas Laberge, The Canadian Press