Thousands demonstrate in Ottawa for French-language rights

Thousands of Franco-Ontarians and supporters filled the south lawn of Ottawa City Hall on Saturday, demanding that the provincial Progressive Conservative government protect French-language rights, with many drawing a parallel to the 1997 protests that helped save the Montfort Hospital.
“It’s an ongoing battle here in Ontario, mostly with the Conservatives, but, still, it’s non-stop,” Sylvain Potvin said as between 2,500 and 3,000 people packed the lawn off Lisgar Street.