Turn the page from the idea of having two solitudes to having one society where all Quebecers will have the rights and the opportunities to succeed

Dermod Travis, Commissioner

The commission was set up by the Quebec Government as a way to satisfy the powerful hard-line factions in the governing party, the Parti Quebecois.

They want tougher laws to protect French and another vote soon on separating from the rest of Canada.

Several have already said that they are unhappy with this report, which ignored most of their demands.

Instead it recommends the dismantling of the notorious language police, who monitor, among other things, the size of shop signs in the province.

They would be replaced with a body to promote French.

Divided communities

But commissioners also said they hoped their idea of a Quebec citizenship ceremony will help people move beyond dividing themselves into French or English based communities, often referred to as the two solitudes that could not be reconciled.

One of the two English speaking commissioners, Dermod Travis, said it was time for everyone to see this as the way forward.

"Turn the page from the idea of having two solitudes to having one society where all Quebecers will have the rights and the opportunities to succeed," he said.

Language laws

The issue of language has long been a divisive one in Quebec, the more so since the first separatist government in 1976 said French was threatened by the English, which dominates the continent.

It quickly introduced often harsh language laws designed to protect and enhance French.

But they were effective, and it is now the language of business, commerce and most cultural activities here.

The new citizenship proposal is seen as a mostly symbolic way to continue that process.

Hard-liners will be hoping it will help their battle for independence, after losing two referendums on this issue in recent decades.

Opinion polls continue to show that they still do not have enough support to win.