Quebec mayor says 'one-size-fits-all' language law isn't right for his town where French is thriving

English is not Daniel Côté's first language but he says it's integral to the town he calls home.

The mayor of Gaspé, Que., nestled in an inlet along the St. Lawrence River, says part of the community's greatest strength — cultural and linguistic diversity — is now disappearing due to French language laws.

With about 15,000 residents, he says the community was founded by French, Mi'kmaw and English individuals — the latter now representing about 11 per cent of the population.

But since the passing of Law 14, previously known as Bill 96 — the Act Respecting French, the Official and Common Language of Quebec — he says several towns which do not have bilingual status but house thousands of anglophones are seeing their right to receive information from the municipality in their first language slip away.

Both New Richmond and Gaspé, located on the Gaspé Peninsula, had to change their linguistic policies in November. Now, official communication from the municipalities must happen solely in French.

"During all our history, we always talk to our citizens in English," said Côté.

"[Now] we must apply the law even though we don't agree with that. If we don't apply the law, the penalty is that the Quebec government will stop all subsidies."

He says that could potentially mean millions of dollars in lost support from the province.

Besides a few exceptions for emergencies, public safety, taxes or health, the law forces municipalities without bilingual status to communicate with their residents in French.

"If the municipalities were bilingual, there would be no problem," said Julius Grey, a constitutional lawyer in Montreal.

Representing 23 bilingual municipalities who challenged the law in Quebec Superior Court, he says to have a bilingual status, at least half of residents must speak a language other than French.

"Which is of course a very heavy requirement," said Grey.

About 83 municipalities in Quebec have bilingual status, says Scott Pearce, representative of bilingual municipalities at Quebec's federation of municipalities.

Mayor of Gore, Que., about 90 kilometres northwest of Montreal, Pearce says his town was able to pass a resolution to hold on to its historic bilingual status, despite the percentage of English speakers dipping lower than 50 per cent.