Hour 1 of Ottawa Now for Mon. January 5th, 2026

As they head back to the classroom, Quebec’s students are going to have to get used to a brand-new rule change. Students at both the elementary and high school levels are now required to use formal language when addressing teachers and staff members. Introduced by the Quebec government, these regulations are intended to ‘establish a framework for civic responsibility’. We kickstart the conversation with Heidi Yetman, the President of the Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers. She is skeptical that these changes are going to deliver a significant shift. Later in the program, we check in with Julie Blais-Comeau, an Ottawa-based business etiquette specialist. She believes that the usage of formal language in the classroom will be beneficial, arguing that it also serves as an important life skill. But first, we bring you up to speed on today’s top headlines.