News

“I definitely felt not French enough,” said Samantha Restall, reflecting on her early experiences in the province’s workforce. “I knew that if I didn’t speak French, I wouldn’t have a choice to stay here.” For Claire Dooley, who moved from Vancouver to Montreal five years ago, the challenge was never deciding whether she wanted to … Read more

Anglophone advocacy groups are feeling cautiously optimistic about the Quebec liberal party’s French language protection plan.   The plan, unveiled on Tuesday by leader Charles Milliard seems to hold much promise at over $340 million. Milliard continues to tout the language policy he would implement if his party wins the provincial election in October.  It … Read more

Kelly Burke says her office will continue intervening in court cases involving minority-language rights, particularly when they touch on education. Canada’s new official languages commissioner on Friday acknowledged anglophone Quebecers’ frustrations in recent years and vowed to stand up for linguistic minorities when governments attempt to thwart their rights. “We cannot chip away at rights, … Read more

Newly appointed Official Languages Commissioner, Kelly Burke, is making her first public address in Quebec at the TALQ symposium.   Click below to listen to the conversation.

Kelly Burke is keynote speaker at TALQ-sponsored event. The event was followed by a panel discussion with community and sector leaders discussing key issues for the English-speaking community.   Listen at the 6:48 minute-mark in this news cast.

“This bill was part of a divisive government agenda that includes Bill 96, 21 and 84, among others.” QUEBEC — Human rights organizations, unions, minority groups and opposition politicians cheered the news on Thursday that the Coalition Avenir Québec government is abandoning its attempt to create a Quebec constitution. “Victory,” Québec solidaire MNA Haroun Bouazzi told reporters. “We … Read more

Quebec’s French language minister conceded the adoption of the bill before next week’s adjournment isn’t guaranteed.   QUEBEC — Minority groups, English-language school boards and Quebec’s largest employer association are warning about the potential damage to the economy and education system if Quebec goes ahead with legislation to extend the rules of the Charter of the French … Read more

MONTREAL – The Quebec government has introduced a bill that would force people seeking training in fields such as machining, cabinet making and professional cooking to study in French. The legislation, tabled Thursday, expands the province’s strict language laws to adult education and vocational training, drawing criticism from English school boards, community groups and a … Read more

TALQ Director General Sylvia-Martin Laforge says Christine Fréchette’s message to the English-speaking community needs to be followed by concrete action. TALQ says Premier Christine Fréchette’s recent message of reassurance to anglophones must be backed up by concrete action, not just words. Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge says the English-speaking community in Quebec has “been down this … Read more

Despite a recommendation by the province’s language commissioner to remove English from government websites, Quebec’s French-language minister has decided to maintain the status quo and allow access to seven specific sites. While the commissioner says that contravenes Quebec’s language law, the English-speaking community is relieved. Listen to the full report below.

A French-language commissioner’s report found that there is too much English on the Quebec government’s websites. Listen to the report by clicking below.

“We’ll keep what I would call the good-faith mechanism that we currently use,” the French language minister said. French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge has dismissed a recommendation that he remove most English from government websites, leaving a limited amount for people who can prove they are eligible. “I’ll tell you right away that we have no intention … Read more

French language commissioner says government websites should be in French only, with limited exceptions. English remains too freely available on Quebec government websites and should be sharply reduced, the province’s French language commissioner says. Content on the websites of seven major government bodies should generally be offered in French only, except in narrowly defined cases covered … Read more

Quebec English-language school boards are warning that the proposed expansion of Bill 101 to vocational and adult education could dramatically reshape English-language education in the province, with one association estimating schools could lose up to 70 per cent of their students. The criticisms come after Quebec French Language Minister Jean‑François Roberge said earlier this month … Read more

Prominent nationalist Frédéric Lapointe has forged an unlikely bond with a Quebec anglophone group. For the second year in a row, francophone sovereignists and anglophone federalists are planning to break bread together at the offices of one of Quebec’s most prominent nationalist organizations. The unlikely dinner — bringing together leaders of the Mouvement national des Québécoises et … Read more

Montreal’s largest English-language school board is denouncing the Quebec government’s plan to extend Bill 101 to adult and vocational education, calling it a “political stunt” that could hurt immigrants, weaken the English school system and worsen labour shortages. The proposed legislation, promised by Premier Christine Fréchette during the Coalition Avenir Québec leadership race, would apply … Read more

The Fréchette government is looking to expand Quebec’s French language charter to include adult and vocational education programs. During a budget study at the National Assembly, French-language Minister Jean-François Roberge said 27,000 students could migrate to the French network as a result of the change. As it stands, Bill 101 does not apply to adult education … Read more

The CAQ’s plan would hurt Quebec’s economy, says English Montreal School Board chair Joe Ortona. Quebec failed to teach immigrants French and now wants to bar them from English vocational schools — a plan that will backfire by driving skilled workers out of the workforce, the head of the province’s largest English school board says. … Read more

Charles Milliard adjusts his remarks to “maybe” after they spark an uproar in the English-speaking community. QUEBEC — Faced with a backlash from the English-speaking community and members of his caucus, Liberal Leader Charles Milliard has adjusted his message on the use of the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause to shield Bill 96 from court challenges. After saying Thursday … Read more

Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard caught some of his own party members by surprise on Thursday when he said he was in favour of using the notwithstanding clause to protect Quebec’s language law. He later downplayed that message, saying he wants to change elements of the legislation.

(Lévis) Le chef libéral, Charles Milliard, rajuste le tir sur l’usage de la disposition de dérogation face à la grogne de la communauté anglophone et d’une partie de son caucus. Jeudi, il était « en faveur » de son maintien dans la loi 96 pour la protection du français. Vendredi, il a plutôt dit « … Read more

Devant la grogne de la communauté anglophone et d’une frange de son caucus, le chef libéral Charles Milliard rectifie le tir : il ne veut plus nécessairement protéger la réforme de la Charte de la langue française contre les poursuites judiciaires. Jeudi, le nouveau leader des rouges avait surpris tout le monde, à commencer par ses … Read more

New premier has vowed to extend Charter of the French Language to adult and vocational education. Quebec’s new premier is reviving a long-standing nationalist grievance: that a gap in the Charter of the French Language allows tens of thousands of immigrants and other non-anglophones to study in English, undermining efforts to make French the common language … Read more

Plan to abolish English school boards “has a significant impact on the rights of the anglophone community,” languages commissioner says. Canada’s new language watchdog says Quebec’s plan to abolish elected English school boards would have a “significant impact” on anglophone education rights — and she says she is prepared to challenge provincial laws that violate … Read more