Canada

English-rights activists in Quebec are raising concerns about a proposed new language law they say infringes on their rights.

The new law is intended to build on Quebec's landmark language legislation, Bill 101, to protect and strengthen French in the province.

But protesters say they feel under attack by Premier Pauline Marois' Parti Quebecois government.

They are concerned about new rules designed to encourage French in small businesses, municipalities and post-secondary education.

Christopher Rose, a 27-year-old Montrealer, says the law takes away the rights of English-speaking Quebecers.

He says Montreal is a multicultural city and people should be able to make their own decisions about language.

"We still belong to the country of Canada and we still have our rights," he said.

"There shouldn't be any quarrels here in Quebec... There's nothing wrong with being bilingual, there's nothing wrong with English, and there's nothing wrong with French either."

Language tensions bubbled to the surface during last summer's provincial election campaign when the PQ vowed to toughen Quebec language laws.