Advocacy

Our Voice

Talq is the
non-partisan
voice of quebec’s
english-speaking
community.

For more than 30 years, we’ve stood up for the rights and voices of English-speaking Quebecers.

Whether in the news, in court, in Quebec City, or in Ottawa, we work to make sure our community is seen, heard, and, above all, valued.

1 in 8 Quebecers is part of the English-speaking Community.

TALQ has participated in more than 15 provincial and federal consultations over the last five years on language rights, health care, education, and civic inclusion.

More than 25 policy briefs have been submitted by TALQ and our partners in the last decade to defend language rights and support inclusive policy-making.

Throughout Quebec. Across Canada.

We hold our
governments
to account.

We expect the Government of Quebec to recognize Quebec’s English-speaking community as a dynamic and vibrant contributor to Quebec society, and respect our rights as an official language minority when working to protect and promote the French language.

We expect the Government of Canada to fiercely protect and promote Canada’s linguistic duality across all areas of federal jurisdictions, with a constant eye to the vulnerabilities of official language minority communities.

Community Definition

There is
strength in
numbers.

How our community is defined matters, but it’s not necessarily easy given diverse lived experiences, cultural expressions, and evolving identities. For our governments, community definition can shape and scale government policy, services and budgets. For groups like TALQ, it can affect our capability to plan programs, apply for funding, and speak up for the community’s needs.

In short, community definition supports the self-definition of the English-speaking community, so accuracy is crucial.

Latest Advocacy Work

Bill 21

Bill 1

Part VII

BILL 21: ACT RESPECTING THE LAICITY OF THE STATE

OVERVIEW

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Bill 21, adopted in 2019, establishes state secularism in Quebec by prohibiting certain public-sector employees—such as teachers, police officers, and judges—from wearing visible religious symbols while working. It also requires individuals to have their faces uncovered when receiving public services.

The law has sparked ongoing legal challenges and public debate, particularly around its use of the notwithstanding clause and its impact on religious freedom and minority rights.

TALQ’s Intervention Before the Supreme Court on Bill 21

March 25, 2026

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TALQ’s intervention focuses on section 23 of the Canadian Charter, arguing that Bill 21 infringes minority-language education rights by weakening the cultural, institutional, and community foundations of Quebec’s English-speaking population.

Further, we will ask the Court to find the law unconstitutional—at least in this context—emphasizing that these rights are fundamental, collective, and protected from the notwithstanding clause.

Bill 1: Quebec Constitution Act

Overview

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Bill 1 would reshape Quebec’s Constitution by concentrating power, weakening judicial oversight, and prioritizing “collective rights” over individual rights. Introduced without public consultation, it raises concerns about legitimacy and accountability. With no explicit protections for minorities, TALQ is calling for inclusive consultations to safeguard democratic values and the rule of law.

Legal Analysis

Webinar

Watch here

On November 18, TALQ hosted a webinar to help our partners better understand the far-reaching implications of Bill 1.

Constitutional law experts Marion Sandilands and Logan Stack from Conway Litigation provided a clear and comprehensive overview of the bill’s key issues.

TALQ Brief to the National Assembly

Committee on Institutions for Bill 1

Read our brief here

This brief was submitted to the National Assembly in order to join discussions around a proposed Quebec constitution.

Our careful assessment of Bill 1 reveals that it does not meet the basic standards of a constitution in a free and democratic society.

Presentation to the Committee on Institutions

February 17, 2026

Watch here

TALQ underscored that Bill 1 departs from Quebec’s tradition of inclusiveness and diversity. Instead of uniting Quebec, it concentrates power, weakens judicial oversight, sidelines minorities—including the English-speaking community—and limits institutions’ ability to defend rights, favouring government over citizens.

Part VII of the Official Languages Act

Overview

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The proposed regulations set clearer, binding expectations for federal institutions, requiring positive measures in policy development, formal impact assessments on minority communities, meaningful consultation, and stronger accountability. They also clarify obligations in federal–provincial agreements. TALQ welcomed the shift toward measurable results and will engage actively to ensure the final framework delivers real improvements for English-speaking Quebecers.

Brief to the Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages

February 9, 2026

See our brief and presentation here

The regulations emphasizes procedural compliance—analysis, consultation, documentation, and proposal—without embedding any corresponding outcome requirements. The draft Regulations operationalize process, not outcomes.

Standing Up For Our Community

On the ground.
At the table.
In the conversation.

Protecting Access to English Health Services

Standing up to Bill 96

Promoting English Education Rights

Celebrating Multiculturalism

Challenging the Limits of the Notwithstanding Clause

Perspectives on the future of the French language

Additional Reading and Resources

Justice & Rights

Rights are
fundamental,
not negotiable.

With funding from Justice Canada, we inform English-speaking Quebecers about their rights to receive services in English, providing them with information and resources to access justice in English where possible, and support and guidance where needed.