Kinew Calls for Manitoba Schools to Teach 1980s French Language Crisis

Premier Advocates Curriculum Change After French-Only Answers

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is urging the province's education system to teach students about the controversial French-language crisis of the 1980s. This move comes in the wake of Kinew's recent decision to answer questions in the Manitoba Legislature almost exclusively in French over four days, a choice that has generated both support and criticism.

Recalling the 1980s French Language Crisis

Kinew wants students to understand the fierce battle over the expansion of francophone rights that occurred during the 1980s. At that time, a government bill proposing that provincial services be available in French led to significant public opposition and protests from some English-speaking Manitobans. The situation escalated when arson targeted the offices of the Société de la francophonie manitobaine and Progressive Conservatives in opposition blocked the bill for nearly two weeks. The government eventually withdrew the bill in 1984 due to mounting public pressure.

However, the debate did not end there. In 1985, the Supreme Court of Canada deemed Manitoba's unilingual laws unconstitutional. The Court required that these laws be translated into French for re-enactment, pushing the province towards recognizing the importance of bilingualism in Manitoba.

Student Awareness and Preservation of Francophone Culture

Kinew said many Manitobans are unaware of this difficult chapter in their history. He emphasized to Radio-Canada's Le 6 à 9 that the struggles for french language culture and the need for secrecy around French books and signs have not been widely shared among younger generations. As a result, the Premier is proposing consultations with the Franco-Manitoban School Division, the Société de la francophonie manitobaine, and relevant experts to guide the curriculum addition.

Bernard Lesage, board chair of the French-language school division, welcomed the proposed changes, stating that a broader student body would benefit from learning about french language history and the efforts required to preserve it.

Recent Controversy in the Legislature

The Premier’s emphasis on french language education follows a period during which he responded in French to every English-language question in the legislature, beginning after Konrad Narth was named interim leader of the Opposition Progressive Conservatives. Narth, who does not speak French, previously sparked debate by criticizing Kinew’s choice to answer in French. While Narth later apologized, the incident reignited conversations about french language services and respect for Manitoba’s bilingual traditions.

Kinew has denied any link between his recent use of French and Narth’s earlier comments, explaining to reporters that his choice was not in retaliation but rather a reflection of Manitoba’s linguistic diversity.

Political Debate and National Ambitions

Some political analysts question whether Kinew’s consistent use of French has political motivations. Raymond Hébert, a political studies professor and author on the subject, suggested it could potentially alienate some anglophones, though Kinew asserted that Manitoba's society has changed and there is now more respect for both languages. Kinew’s government has committed to making Manitoba a “truly bilingual” province, with a new strategy expected in March 2027. Daniel Béland, director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, also noted that Kinew’s elevated national profile could factor into his approach.

Live Translation and Legislative Accessibility

Kinew has proposed adding a live translation service for question period, enhancing accessibility for Manitobans following legislative proceedings online. While MLAs already have access to translation in the chamber, Rick Yarish, clerk of the legislative assembly, confirmed that technology upgrades are in the works to provide this service to the public, though there is currently no timeline for its implementation.

Source: cbc.ca.