The Quebec Community Groups Network recognizes the federal bill tabled this morning in the House of Commons to amend the Official Languages Act for what it is – a clear attack on the equality of Canada’s official languages. Traditionally, the Official Languages Act has given life to constitutional official language rights. These rights define much … Read more
Bill 96 is a wide-ranging and complex piece of legislation. It represents a significant overhaul of Quebec’s legal system. It amends the Charter of the French Language (“CFL”), 24 other provincial statutes, one regulation, and the Constitution Act, 1867. Go to the QCGN’s analysis of Bill 96
The Townshippers’ Association hosted its 41st Annual General Meeting this Friday June 4th, 2021, with 34 members, guests, and stakeholders in attendance. For a second year in a row, the Association provided a summary of the last year’s activities via videoconference and the business meeting was followed by the unveiling of the winners of this year’s Young … Read more
Canada’s Commissioner of Official Languages Raymond Théberge is advising the federal government to maintain the equal status of French and English in its coming changes to the Official Languages Act. The Quebec Community Groups Network enthusiastically endorses this advice. In his annual report tabled in the House of Commons today, Commissioner Théberge said he is … Read more
(Audio) Quebec’s Bill 96, which comes with generous use of the notwithstanding clause, would entrench the French language as the only official language of the province and open up the Constitution to recognize the province as a nation. That brings up a number of questions: What about Quebec anglophones and their rights? Can a province … Read more
The results of the poll were collected via a web panel conducted by Léger for the Quebec Community Groups Network and the Association for Canadian Studies among a sample of 1623 Canadians, 18 years of age or older from May 21 to May 23, 2021. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of 1623 respondents would … Read more
The results of the poll were collected via a web panel conducted by Léger for the Quebec Community Groups Network and the Association for Canadian Studies among a sample of 1501 Quebecers, 18 years of age or older from May 14 to 19, 2021. The survey included a sample of 573 Quebecers with languages other … Read more
The first census in North America was conducted in 1666 by the Intendant of New France, Jean Talon. Going door to door, he recorded the names, ages, genders, and occupations of members of the population. This was the beginning of the national census that would eventually serve as a great contributor to our social development … Read more
The Quebec Community Groups Network welcomes today’s Superior Court ruling which declares that Quebec’s secularism law – An Act Respecting the laicity of the State – violates Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms regarding minority education rights. In a landmark ruling for Quebec’s English-speaking community, Justice Marc-André Blanchard declares the legislation … Read more
Canada’s Constitution includes an ‘entrenched’ bill of rights; the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Our Charter comprises 34 sections of the Constitution Act, 1982. Thus, it enshrines our fundamental freedoms and rights. These include our democratic, mobility, legal, equality, and official language rights. With Confederation, the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty (or supremacy) in the Westminster … Read more
Eight of every 10 Quebecers surveyed consider that the French language needs to be protected in Quebec. Among non-francophones, 42 per cent agree. Read more (In French)
(AUDIO) A significant increase starting next year in funding for French-language protection agencies forms an element of Quebec’s latest budget, note Marlene Jennings, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), and Liberal MNA Greg Kelley, Official Opposition critic for relations with English-speaking Quebecers. Both are guests on CJAD’s Montreal Now show to discuss changes … Read more
(VIDEO) Kevin Shaar, constitutional lawyer at the Quebec Community Groups Network, talks about languages acts and different jurisdictions with CTV news anchor Mutsumi Takahashi. Go to interview
In this opinion piece by Patrice Garant, a public law professor, explains the principle of judicial independence mentioned by former Quebec Court Judge Claude Laporte in a recent article. M. Garant also supports the constitutional right Quebec citizens have to use either French or English in courts. Read more
OTTAWA – Le chef néo-démocrate a lancé un nouvel outil de communication. Soucieux de « tenter quelque chose », Jagmeet Singh a offert son numéro de cellulaire sur les médias sociaux. « Textez-moi où et quand vous voulez, sur n’importe quel sujet ». Mais les réponses données sont unilingues. Read more (In French)
BILINGUISME INSTITUTIONNEL Alors que tout le monde s’entend sur l’importance de renforcer le français, vouloir imposer systématiquement le bilinguisme aux juges francophones de districts majoritairement francophones, sous prétexte que certains de leurs résidants sont anglophones, laisse pantois. Rappelons que cela aurait pour effet d’interdire aux avocats unilingues francophones d’accéder à la magistrature dans la plus grande partie … Read more
To focus on the language of protest placards when they are written in English is merely a side issue and a distraction when the premier of the province continues to minimize systemic discrimination as a fact of Quebec life, writes Corey Hoare, a Montreal university admissions administrator. Read more (In French)
What have we’ve been up to… Consultation of and dialogue with organizations and stakeholders to move toward a strategic development plan for Quebec’s English-speaking community. This has allowed us to develop a shared understanding of what communities need for vitality and start building consensus with organizations and stakeholders by focusing on common challenges to community … Read more
Announcement comes amid debate over state of French language and push to update Official Languages Act. The federal government will spend $12 million over the next four years on bursaries to help English-speaking students pursue post-secondary education in French. Approximately 3,400 bursaries worth $3,000 each will be available to anglophone secondary school graduates who enrol in French-language programs at select CEGEPs, colleges … Read more
Par Paul Bégin, ex-ministre de la justice du Québec Qui, au moment où se profile dans la société québécoise un vaste débat sur la place et l’avenir de la langue française au Québec, s’attendait à une attaque frontale de la part de la juge en chef de la Cour du Québec à l’encontre du ministre … Read more
(VIDEO) The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) is uncomfortable with the direction the federal government has chosen regarding proposed changes to the Official Languages Act, QCGN Board member Eva Ludvig says during a videocast panel discussion on Unpublished TV. “What is being introduced is really changing the dynamics between English-and French-speaking people in this country … Read more
Trois grandes idées sous-tendent la proposition de réforme : l’égalité réelle des langues, la promotion du français et la complétude institutionnelle. La ministre du Développement économique et des Langues officielles, Mélanie Joly, a récemment dévoilé son plan de réforme de la Loi sur les langues officielles, intitulé Français et anglais : vers une égalité réelle des langues officielles … Read more
Canada is a federation, with the federal and provincial governments operating within defined areas of responsibility. Canada has two official languages, English and French. Some provinces, like Quebec, New Brunswick, Manitoba, and the Nunavut territory, also have their own official languages strategies. Two ways of thinking about official languages are particularly useful: using a national … Read more
#OuiOurQuebec is a community campaign which celebrates English-speaking Quebecers and their contributions to making this province a great place to live. Initiated by the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) in cooperation with many of its members, community organizations and individuals, it seeks not only to highlight our contributions and sense of belonging, but also to … Read more
MONTREAL – Quebec Solidaire is calling on the Quebec government to put in place a plan to address the state of French in Montreal, including the creation of a special office of the Office quebecois de la langue française (OQLF) to combat the decline of French in the city. Ruba Ghazal, MNA for Quebec Solidaire, … Read more