Following Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet’s proposal regarding French language requirements for citizenship applicants in Quebec, a constitutional debate has emerged. The legislation proposes implementing French-only citizenship tests in Quebec and extending the language requirement age threshold from 55 to 65. The initiative, however, encounters substantial constitutional challenges due to citizenship being exclusively under federal jurisdiction, in contrast to immigration, which operates under shared authority. Legal experts note that delegating citizenship requirement control to provinces could potentially undermine federal jurisdictional authority.
Quebec’s push for French language requirements in citizenship faces constitutional hurdles
