English-speaking Quebecers count on the federal government for recognition and support, QCGN President Eva Ludvig tells the Toronto Star. The reference to Quebec’s Charter of the French Language within the federal Bill C-13 “erodes that notion of equality [and] of support by the federal government”. Read more
“This is a major setback for the rights of English-speaking Quebecers,” says QCGN President Eva Ludvig of the recognition of the Charter of the French Language within Bill C-13. The Standing Committee on Official Languages had rejected proposals from Liberal committee members to remove reference to the Charter in C-13, while proposals by the Bloc … Read more
The Liberal proposal to remove mention of the Charter of the French Language from Bill C-13 was shut down in committee by opposition parties on Friday. “Despite the best efforts of many Liberal MPs led by Anthony Housefather, Patricia Lattanzio, and Marc Garneau, it is clear to us that the deck is stacked against English-speaking … Read more
With the dramatic changes proposed to the federal Official Languages Act, the language rights of the English-speaking community in Quebec are currently being treated with disdain by both the federal government and the majority francophone community in the province, Sylvia Martin-Laforge, director general of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), tells ONfr. Geneviève Tellier, a … Read more
QCGN Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge says that the action group created by Quebec French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge should consult with English-speaking Quebecers before taking concrete steps to further protect French. Watch here
While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent criticism of the use of the notwithstanding clause by the governments of Quebec and Ontario is admirable, “English-speaking Quebeckers remain worried that the federal government is embracing proactive use of the notwithstanding clause through its proposed update of the Official Languages Act,” reads a letter from QCGN President Eva … Read more
The federal government appears to be sleep-walking past a ticking constitutional timebomb to avoid provoking Premier François Legault, all the while ignoring whatever perilous consequences its current approach might entail, write Eva Ludvig and Joan Fraser, QCGN president and board member, respectively. Read more
Premier Legault’s recent Twitter outburst “should not deter the Trudeau government from seeking a Supreme Court of Canada ruling on the notwithstanding clause,” writes Joan Fraser, a former senator and editor in chief of the Montreal Gazette, as well as current QCGN board member. Read more
“Non-profit organizations serving English- speaking Quebecers are seriously underfunded compared with francophone groups, and thus often unable to provide important and sometimes essential services,” reads an open letter from the QCGN. Read more
“It was a good meeting,” says QCGN Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge of the pre-budget consultation with Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard. The QCGN called for more equitable funding for English services, as well as for wide-ranging hearings to be held on the potential negative impacts that could be created by Bill 96. Read more
Several Quebec municipalities with an English-speaking population of less than 50 per cent have announced that they intend to retain their bilingual status. The fact that towns with even a fractional English-speaking population are protecting their citizens’ rights to access services in English sends a strong message to the Quebec government, says QCGN Director General … Read more
While 2022 was a year of linguistic tension for English-speaking Quebecers, more of the same is expected to come this year in the form of Bill C-13, writes columnist Robert Libman. The Quebec Community Groups Network is calling on the Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages to refer the bill to the Legal and Constitutional … Read more
Marlene Jennings, former QCGN president and board member of the Red Coalition, is one of three new columnists being welcomed by the Montreal Gazette. “Jennings will be bringing her extraordinary professional and personal experience to bear on, among other things, the once-again tumultuous issue of language in Quebec,” writes Bert Archer, editor in chief … Read more
“No legislation, past or present, will damage our community more than Bill 96,” reads an op-ed by QCGN President Eva Ludvig: “Moving forward the QCGN strongly suggests that [Minister Eric] Girard and his government hold formal consultations on the regulations that implement Bill 96.” Read more
How will Bill 96 affect the English-speaking community in 2023? “The law is being implemented in phases, and I think many of the bigger concerns are down the line,” says QCGN President Eva Ludvig. Read more
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has no commitment to give on whether the borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro will retain its bilingual status. A spokesperson for the mayor says that the decision will be made in the new year after consultations with the borough. “We trust that Mme. Plante and her administration will do the right thing and … Read more
“As another long year in politics draws to a close, the English-speaking community of Quebec finds itself as hard-pressed as at any time in recent history,” writes former politician Tom Mulciar. Among the few bright spots this year, Mulcair adds, is the QCGN’s “well-crafted” open letter to Parliamentarians, calling for the removal of the Charter … Read more
Poll commissioned by the QCGN shows that a majority of French-speaking Quebecers support the rights of English-speaking Quebecers. Read more
Some 90 per cent of Quebec respondents to a Léger survey commissioned by the QCGN say that English-language schools boards are important. About 93 per cent indicate that they feel that the Quebec government’s plan to eliminate these school boards would put minority rights at risk, with only 13 per cent saying they support the … Read more
“English is not a species in peril in Quebec,” says Premier François Legault in response to federal Liberal MPs defending Quebec’s English-speaking community during a committee meeting examining Bill C-13. The QCGN maintains that Bill C-13 tramples on the rights of Quebec Anglophones due to the Bill’s reference to the Charter of the French Language. … Read more
“All Canadians should be outraged by Bill C-13,” writes William Steinberg, former Mayor of Hampstead. “The biggest problem with C-13 can be fixed easily by removing all references to Quebec’s Charter of the French Language. The Quebec Community Groups Network has prepared an open letter to the honourable David T. Lametti,” he adds: “Thousands have … Read more
“We want the stability of having English and French recognized equally in our provinces and as Canadians,” says QCGN Executive Director Sylvia Martin-Laforge, adding that Bill C-13 goes directly against this goal. There’s an asymmetrical approach now to English and French in Bill C-13 and the “Official Languages Act” that we do not agree with,” … Read more
French-speaking Quebecers strongly support the rights of English-speaking Quebecers, according to the November poll by Léger conducted for the QCGN. Read more
The majority of French-speaking Quebecers support the right for those in the province’s English-speaking community to receive government services in English, according to a Léger poll commissioned by the QCGN. “As the National Assembly begins its work, we want all parties to understand, to be aware of what Quebecers feel about access to services for … Read more
A recent poll by the QCGN indicates that 77 per cent of Quebec Francophones believe that the federal government should continue to safeguard the rights of the province’s English-speaking minority, while 87 per cent of Quebec Anglophones believe that Ottawa should do more. “This is not a divisive issue,” says QCGN Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge … Read more