On Tuesday, September 24th, the National Assembly of Quebec adopted a motion on Free Software.
Here is the text of this motion (see page 9 of the minutes of the sitting [3] [FR]) at which it was adopted):
Based on the Assembly's consent for waiving articles 84.1 et 185 of the Regulation, Mr. Bédard, who is the Minister of Governmental Administration and the President of the Treasury Board, along with Mr. Gautrin (Verdun), Mrs. de Santis (Bourassa-Sauvé), Mr. Le Bouyonnec (La Prairie), Mrs. David (Gouin), and Mr. Ratthé (Blainville), proposes:
THAT the National Assembly highlights the International Day of Free Software, which took place on the 21st of September;
THAT the Assembly welcomes initiatives aimed to publish and spread Free Software in Quebec, and that it encourages the Government to continue its efforts to promote the use of Free Software within the public administration.
Considering the consent of the Assembly, the motion is adopted.
The vote of this motion takes place a few months after the Government of Quebec had announced eight measures aimed at further development of its expertise in the area of Free Software [4] [FR].
April welcomes the unanimous vote of such a motion, which encourages the Government of Quebec to continue its efforts to promote the use of Free Software within the public administration. April encourages the public authorities of Quebec to go even further and to enshrine the prioritization of Free Software into its legislation, as the French Parliament did recently [5].
This vote is also a tribute to the awareness-raising work of our friends in FACIL [6]1 [FR], FQCIL [7]2 [FR] and APELL [8]3 [FR]. Following the vote of this motion, FQCIL and APELL published a press release [9] [FR]. Well done to them all!
- 1. FACIL, for the collective appropriation of free information technology, is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to promote the adoption, use and democratization of free/libre information technology.
- 2. FQCIL is the Quebec Federation of Free Software Communities and Industries.
- 3. APELL is the Trade Association of Free Software Businesses.