News

Anglo relations one of PQ minister Sarrazin’s many portfolios In the official directory for new MNAs and ministers in the incoming Parti Québécois government, minister “responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers” is last on the list of Marie-Claude Sarrazin’s seven portfolios.Top of the list, understandably, is the high-profile and politically fraught job of minister of … Read more

Survey finds most Canadians link official languages to national pride and see them as an asset for expanding trade. Most Canadians say English and French are important to Canada’s identity, contribute to their pride in being Canadian and can help diversify the country’s economy beyond North America, a new federal survey suggests. The findings come … Read more

Newly elected Parti Québécois MNAs attended a training session with former premier Pauline Marois the morning after Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon unveiled his cabinet. Although most of the party’s 60 elected members are political newcomers, many bring experience that could help them navigate their new roles in Quebec’s minority government. Long time lawyer and Gallant … Read more

“We only have anecdotal evidence,” said TALQ Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge, as Élections Québec launches a survey into whether French-only information affected voters. Élections Québec says it received a significant number complaints about language during the election. Now, it wants to know whether French-only information affected some Quebecers’ decision to vote. The elections authority told … Read more

A new study looks at why young English-speaking Quebecers choose to stay in the province — or leave. Across Quebec, English-speaking youth are increasingly bilingual, but historian Simon-Pierre Lacasse says language skills don’t necessarily translate into acceptance. Economic opportunities and a sense of belonging continue to shape those decisions of whether to stay or leave. … Read more

Community leaders want to work with PQ, say minority government invites collaboration In a conference room in Montreal’s Ville-Marie borough, a group of people representing anglophones in different facets were glued to the screen as the Parti Québécois picked up seat after seat in Monday’s general election. They had gathered for a watch party, hosted … Read more

English-rights group TALQ says it is cautiously optimistic about the province’s new Parti Québécois (PQ) government, adding that it is looking forward to working with premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon on issues concerning the community. “I think people are happy that it’s a minority government, which means that all parties will have to pay attention to … Read more

English-speaking Quebecers react to a PQ minority victory and what it could mean for their rights. Quebec’s new minority Parti Québécois government is promising to work with the province’s English-speaking community, but anglophone organizations and residents say they will be watching closely to see how their rights and priorities are addressed. In his election victory … Read more

Quebec’s new minority government made several promises to its English-speaking community, but anglophones say they’re approaching the new government with both optimism and skepticism. The Parti Québécois (PQ) was elected to a minority government in Monday’s provincial election, just five seats shy of a majority, meaning it will have to work with opposition parties to … Read more

English language voters say their concerns were sidelined during the election campaign. At a TV watch party for anglos at the headquarters of advocacy group TALQ, the mood shifted from fear to stoical acceptance Monday night to news the Parti Québécois will form the next provincial government. “Oh my God! Oh my God!” some members … Read more

Critics say eligibility rules do not necessarily identify who speaks English or needs services in English.   A legal category created almost 50 years ago to determine who can attend English schools has become one of the main ways Quebec decides who qualifies for government services in English. But researchers, constitutional lawyers and language-rights advocates argue … Read more

Many English-speaking Quebecers are feeling sidelined in this election campaign, but it turns out anglophones have an unlikely ally: the former PQ leader. In 2018, five months before Quebec voters would go to the polls in a pivotal election, former PQ leader Jean-François Lisée caught reporters at the National Assembly by surprise when he stood … Read more

English-language rights have emerged as an issue in the lead-up to Quebec’s Oct. 5 provincial election. “We’re here, we count and we’re important.” That’s the message English advocacy organization TALQ is pushing one week before the Quebec provincial election. It comes after Élections Québec directed polling staff not to speak English to voters in the … Read more

Responded to a lawyer’s demand letter calling on the independent elections agency and the Quebec government to reverse course.   Élections Québec says only a court order suspending a specific portion of the province’s Charter of the French language would allow it to curtail a directive to polling staff to limit speaking English with voters. … Read more

“The difference between a majority and a minority is not only the stability of a government … it’s also the chance to fulfil our commitments,” Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says. With three new polls suggesting the Parti Québécois is flirting with majority status in next week’s provincial election, leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said a majority would … Read more

It demonstrates that it is willing to erect barriers to democratic participation, TALQ says Élections Québec is telling polling staff to only speak French with voters unless they have a right to English education or are Indigenous. The news comes as Quebec is seeking leave to appeal a court ruling on French-only election voter cards. … Read more

Quebec’s English-speaking community feels “totally ignored and excluded from this election.” The Quebec government is seeking leave to appeal a ruling that suspended part of the province’s French-language charter to allow Élections Québec to send out bilingual reminder cards to voters. The provincial government filed the application Wednesday, arguing Quebec Superior Court Judge Sylvain Lussier … Read more

An Élections Québec poll worker told CTV News that they were instructed to speak English with voters only in certain situations ahead of voting in election. According to the document, poll workers can speak with voters in English who say they have an English eligibility certificate or are Indigenous.  The poll worker said they have … Read more

  “It’s a barrier to voting,” said Sylvia Martin-Laforge, director general of TALQ, about ‘non-historic Anglophones’ unable to be served in English at polling stations during this year’s Quebec provincial election.

The Quebec government is seeking to appeal a ruling that ordered Élections Québec to send out voter reminder cards in English and French for the general election by suspending the province’s language law, Bill 96. The provincial government filed the application Wednesday, stating that Quebec Superior Court Judge Sylvain Lussier erred in his decision by … Read more

This was the first year Élections Québec sent out voter guides in French only, to comply with new provincial language legislation. Members of Quebec’s anglophone community are hailing a Quebec Superior Court ruling that ordered Élections Québec to mail voting reminder cards in both French and English. The ruling provides a temporary resolution to a … Read more

A Quebec Superior Court judge has ordered Élections Québec to mail voting reminder cards in both French and English. This was the first year the elections authority sent out voter guides in French only, to comply with new provincial language legislation. The guides included a QR code to access information in English online. Groups representing … Read more