Non-francophones hold widely diverging views from French-speaking Quebecers on Bill 96, which aims to reinforce the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101). A majority of anglophones and allophones also believe the debate over the proposed legislation will strain relations between the majority and minority communities. “There is a reason for optimism here in that … Read more
“It is no longer a question of modernizing the Official Languages Act. We have returned to the negotiation of the partnership between French and English in Canada,” QCGN President Marlene Jennings says of Bill 96 before the Senate Committee of Official Languages. Jennings comments that the Trudeau government is proposing to “territorialize language rights by crushing … Read more
Francophones and non-francophones are at odds over the Quebec government’s desire to amend the Constitution Act of 1867 to recognize the Quebec “nation” whose “official” and “common” language is French. As many as 79.5% of francophones – but only 25.2% of non-francophones – “strongly” or “somewhat” agree that Quebec should be defined as a nation … Read more
Within hours of the Meech Lake Accord on April 30, 1987, an Angus Reid poll conducted for Maclean’s magazine showed that 51 per cent of Canadians from coast to coast were in favour, 27 per cent were opposed and 22 per cent were undecided. Condemnation of Bill 96 and Quebec’s self-proclamation as a nation was … Read more
Some 25 years after an independence bid by Quebec almost broke Canada apart, a new push by the province to strengthen its French-speaking identity poses an awkward challenge for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau months before an expected election. The Quebec Community Groups Network, which seeks to defend anglophones, said Legault’s proposed measures “override fundamental human … Read more
A majority of non-francophones feel “less proud to be a Quebecer” as a result of the Legault government’s sweeping new language bill, according to a poll. Nearly 80 per cent of anglophones and 63.5 per cent of allophones gave the above answer in response to the reinforcement of the Charter of the French Language under Bill … Read more
Quebec’s legislation to further enforce the use of French in the province creates an “opportunity” for the federal Liberals as a national election looms this year, says a veteran Quebec senator. “Crisis equals opportunity,” said Dennis Dawson, who was appointed to the Senate in 2005 on the recommendation of then-prime minister Paul Martin after three terms as … Read more
In Le Devoir, columnist Konrad Yakabuski notes that QCGN President Marlene Jennings warned the federal government that Bill 96 jeopardizes the constitutional rights of linguistic minorities and imperils the integrity of Canada’s constitutional architecture. Expect more voices to be added to that of Jennings in the coming weeks, he writes, adding that that Prime Minister … Read more
Draft Bill 96 leaves it up to the municipal council to save Chelsea’s bilingual status. The proposed amendment to Quebec law, the Canadian Constitution, and the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms would make it harder for English-only speaking Quebec residents to access services and information in English from their municipality. Quebec Community Groups Network … Read more
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s comments that Quebec can unilaterally rewrite sections of the Constitution have upset representatives of the English-speaking community. But the federal Justice Minister, David Lametti, insisted later that the federal government has not forgotten it has a role guarding the rights of Canadian minorities, including anglophones in Quebec. Jennings expressed her worry about what Bill … Read more
Despite concerns by anglophone interest groups over the possible infringement of freedoms and rights, Sainte-Rose MNA Christopher Skeete, Premier François Legault’s liaison to Quebec’s English-speaking community, is defending Bill 96, the CAQ government’s proposed new law updating the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101). “The Quebec Community Groups Network deeply regrets that proposed changes … Read more
In his first comments since the announcement of Quebec’s most notable language reforms in decades, Mr. Trudeau said Tuesday that the province can amend part of the Constitution to underscore that it is a nation and that its official language is French – adding that both things have already been recognized by the federal government. … Read more
Quebec Premier Francois Legault’s claim that his province can unilaterally change Canada’s constitution to recognize Quebec as a nation and French as its only official and common language has suddenly become a lot more serious. That’s because the support of the Canadian government would be needed to approve it and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appears … Read more
The Legault government’s new language reform bill is getting mixed reviews. Global’s Laura Casella invites Quebec Community Groups Network president Marlene Jennings to share reactions from some of its members. Warnings by the QCGN of a range of unintended consequences as a result of the Bill 96 proposals thus far seem unheeded, she adds: “It … Read more
Quebec Premier François Legault wants to change Canada’s Constitution to better protect the French language, a move that could affect everything from immigration and education to policies outside the province’s borders. Matt Galloway discusses the new legislation with host of Radio-Canada’s Midi-Info and longtime political journalist Michel C Auger; the CBC’s chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton; and president … Read more
Arguments over language are nothing new in Quebec, but with a changing landscape that leans towards multiculturalism, some are asking if it might be time to put the debate to rest. Thursday, Quebec’s language debate was once again thrown into the spotlight when the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) tabled an aggressive piece of legislation to reform Bill … Read more
Quebec’s new language reform, Bill 96, proposes to cap the number of places in English-language CEGEPs. It would also give priority to anglophone students. However, the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) said the government should be focusing on ensuring students become bilingual. “(Students) who can fill the needs of business, the businesses already here and … Read more
The English-speaking community loses none of its rights and actually will improve its status with new language legislation tabled this week, the minister responsible for the bill said Friday. “My objective was not to pit the French and English communities against each other. The important thing is to protect French while protecting the anglophone community. … Read more
A group of suburban municipalities with bilingual status is calling for ‘balance’ and ‘respect’ ahead of major language reform set to be tabled in Quebec today. Marlene Jennings, head of the Quebec Community Groups Network, or QCGN, said she finds it “very interesting” the bilingual status for some municipalities could change, given the CAQ’s stance, historically … Read more
Canada’s commissioner of official languages says he shares the concerns of Quebec’s English-speaking minority over proposed reforms to federal language policies. “I do … share the concerns of Quebec’s English-speaking community that the addition of asymmetrical components to the act will undermine the equal status of English and French,” Théberge said in a statement. “I therefore … Read more
Groups working in youth protection hailed Régine Laurent’s report Monday as a way to finally address decades-long failures of the system. The report called for the creation of a charter of rights for children and a commissioner to ensure those rights are upheld. It also called for a shift toward prevention and for more resources for minority … Read more
Who is ready and willing to stick their neck out? Once the much anticipated legislation beefing up Bill 101 is tabled in the National Assembly, who will step up and represent the concerns of minority communities in Quebec? Premier François Legault has already made it clear his Coalition Avenir Québec government won’t hesitate to use the … Read more
(VIDEO) Marina Boulos-Winton, executive director of the Chez Doris women’s shelter, joins Concordia University Television (CUTV) for a Facebook Live event to discuss the interconnectivity between domestic violence and homelessness and how to further help survivors of domestic violence. Watch here
Discussing the Liberal’s 27-point plan to protect and promote the French language on CJAD radio, QCGN President Marlene Jennings said there are good and bad ideas. Jennings said the QCGN agrees with a Liberal suggestion to have an independent language commissioner with a clear mandate and powers. However the advocacy group is less impressed with … Read more
Following a meeting with Language Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, QCGN President Marlene Jennings discusses the impact that reinforcing the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101) could have on the community in an interview with CTV Montreal’s Maya Johnson. Watch here