They walked away from power in Robert Bourassa’s government in 1988 rather than support a language law that swept aside constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression. Today, Richard French and Clifford Lincoln say the principles that drove their resignations are under even greater assault by Premier François Legault. French, 78, Lincoln, 97, and the late … Read more
An anglophone group is calling on Montreal’s next mayor to scrap language rules for front-line city employees, including those that make them put French first even when bilingual service is legally permitted. Eva Ludvig, president of TALQ, a group previously known as the Quebec Community Groups Network, says the Plante administration’s approach to language rules … Read more
The City of Montreal has given its frontline workers a rulebook on dealing with English-speaking citizens — complete with step-by-step guidance, sample phrases and careful instructions for handing out bilingual pamphlets, The Gazette has learned. The procedure is outlined in an internal document dated March 26, 2025, obtained through an access-to-information request. The document is … Read more
Quebec’s language watchdog has admitted it was wrong to ask the Burgundy Lion pub to alter its sign in a dispute that drew public attention this week. By Harry North. The Office québécois de la langue française had initially inspected the pub and co-owner Toby Lyle said he was told that the word “Burgundy” on … Read more
Eight school boards have now joined a legal challenge to cuts in Quebec’s education sector imposed by the province earlier this year. By Jason Magder The boards are challenging the validity of an estimated $570 million in cuts announced by the province in June, as well as a $540-million budgetary envelope added in recent weeks, … Read more
QUEBEC — The Quebec Liberals have elected former federal Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez as the new leader of their party. On the second round of voting because no candidate achieved a majority of 50 per cent plus one in the first, Rodriguez narrowly beat out his last contender, Charles Milliard, the former president of the … Read more
The Quebec Community Groups Network is becoming TALQ, a new name for an anglophone advocacy group that has grown more assertive in recent years and now wants to reach out to francophone Quebecers. The old name “doesn’t reflect what we are today and where the community wants to go,” president Eva Ludvig told The Gazette … Read more
Quebec’s finance minister is continuing his tour of the province, selling the budget and trying to convince Quebecers it’s the best document possible to deal with imminent tariff threats from the United States. Eric Girard spoke before Montreal’s business community on Friday, and one group that helps young English-speaking Quebecers find jobs is very disappointed … Read more
As talk of a federal election heated up, the QCGN reached out to its members and network to ask about their priorities for public policy that should be discussed during the campaign, regardless of which party forms government. Rather than assessing priorities based on party affiliation, we asked which key issues our members and stakeholders … Read more
The most recent Access to Justice in English project explores the discrepancy between what should be theoretically possible, is practically possible, and is perceived possible in the English language in front of Quebec courts and administrative tribunals. The report largely focuses on English Quebecer’s experience in front of less formal tribunals which cover every-day legal … Read more
The Quebec Court of Appeal rendered judgement in March on an Act respecting the laicity of the State, commonly referred to as Bill 21. The complexity of the case before the Court cannot be overstated. Opponents of Bill 21 did a thorough job in challenging the legislation, but with one exception – the right of … Read more
Homelessness and the housing crisis, two deeply interconnected social issues, are central concerns for contemporary Canadian policymakers. Housing affordability, defined by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Company as the ratio of average housing costs to after-tax income, continues to worsen. In 2021, households buying average-priced homes in B.C. and Ontario spent 60 per cent of … Read more
Part VII of Canada’s Official Languages Act ‘breathes life’ into Section 16(3) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, that permits Parliament “to advance the equality of status or use of English and French”. It outlines the Government of Canada’s commitments to this aim and lays out the duties of institutions subject to the … Read more
More than 150 concerned Quebecers attended a Quebec Community Groups Network webinar on Wednesday, November 9 on the anticipated impact of Bill 15, An Act to make the health and social services system more effective. Moderated by former reporter Elysia Bryan-Baynes, webinar speakers were Quebec Liberal Health Critic André Fortin; health care advocate Eric Maldoff; … Read more
The Committee has been authorized to examine and report on minority-language health services, including matters related to the inclusion of language clauses in federal health transfer. Our brief augments the brief submitted by Community Health and Social Services Network (CHSSN) on May 1st, 2023, and will focus on the inclusion of language clauses in federal … Read more
The QCGN makes an appearance as a witness for the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology’s study of Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada. Read more Watch a recording of the hearing
How do different levels of government come together to provide support and assistance to Canada’s official language minorities? Section 16(3) and 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Part VII of Canada’s Official Languages Act are the principal legal foundations through which the federal partner provides support to the country’s English and French linguistic minorities. … Read more
QCGN’s Access to Justice project has released its report and recommendations on access to the Courts of Quebec in English. Our research methodology included a thorough investigation of the issue along four main lines of inquiry: the relevant policy and legal framework, the internal organization and administration of services of Quebec’s courts and tribunals, system … Read more
Meaningful access to information and services QCGN’s Access to Justice in English project has presented Quebec government stakeholders with its report and list of recommendations on how to strengthen the information and services provided online in English through Quebec government websites. “Quebecers are increasingly interacting with government online, from registering for a family doctor to … Read more
QCGN’s Access to Justice in English project has released its report on access to health care services for seniors in English through Quebec’s SAPA program (Soutien à l’autonomie des personnes âgées). The issue was selected on the basis of prior research conducted by the AJEQ Project, including a population survey of 1,601 English-speaking Quebecers conducted … Read more
About the Research In late 2020, the Access to Justice in English project selected the issue of federal correctional services in Quebec for in-depth research and intervention after a preliminary investigation indicated disparities in the availability of services for English-speaking offenders. To gain a better understanding of the issue from all sides, our research focused … Read more
Federal Bill C-13 has two main purposes. The first is to modernize Canada’s Official Languages Act. The second is to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act. Many legal experts, including former Supreme Court Justice Michel Bastarache, have expressed discomfort with the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act. … Read more
At the House Committee on Official Languages’ meeting on Jan, 31, 2023, a Bloc Québécois motion to insert “French as the common language of Quebec” into Canada’s Official Languages Act (OLA) was defeated. A majority of MPs on the committee studying Bill C-13, which would amend the OLA were uncomfortable with the concept of a … Read more
The Government of Canada’s Bill C-13 continues to progress slowly through the legislative process in Ottawa. Introduced in March 2022, C-13 now sits with the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages, which began its first of eight meetings for clause-by-clause consideration of the legislation on December 13th. Barring anything extraordinary, the Committee is … Read more
Background At the Superior Court, Justice Marc-André Blanchard found that Law 21 violates the right to freedom of religion under subsection 2(a) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter). However, Justice Blanchard also ruled that the law, despite its infringement of fundamental freedoms, remains legally valid due to the law’s invocation of the notwithstanding … Read more