MONTREAL — Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe wants the federal government to recognize French as Quebec's official language.

Duceppe, who appeared Sunday at a Bloc gathering in Montreal, says the request has been part of the separatist party's agenda since 2000.

The Bloc leader says if the minimum wage for federal employees can be adjusted for each province, so can the official language used at work.

Duceppe's comments come days after Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois tabled two bills in the Quebec legislature aimed at shoring up the province's identity.

Among the measures proposed by the PQ are the creation of a Quebec constitution and a certificate of citizenship, the reinforcement of the province's language laws and the revision of the provincial charter of rights.

The provincial sovereigntist party's bills would also prevent immigrants who cannot speak proper French from running in provincial, municipal and school board elections.