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
QCGN President Marlene Jennings went on CJAD 800 to discuss the recent meeting with Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette. During this meeting, QCGN representatives presented the concerns of English-speaking Quebec ahead of coming proposals to reinforce Bill 101. Without providing details of his plan, Minister Jolin-Barrette said he aims to protect and promote French while respecting the … Read more
Marlene Jennings says she was wrong to back Premier François Legault when he suggested the English Montreal School Board was not qualified to decide about school openings and closings. “When you are wrong, you are wrong!,” Jennings, head of the Quebec Community Groups Network, said in a tweet Thursday. “And boy was I wrong to support Legault … Read more
English-speaking Quebecers, and indeed all Canadians, should be wary of the consequences of the measures that are being considered. In September’s speech from the throne, the federal government declared that “the defence of the rights of francophones outside Quebec, and the defence of the rights of the English minority within Quebec, is a priority for … Read more
An unexpected area of funding was the $4 million for English-speaking Quebecers, money the Quebec Community Group Network (QCGN) expects to help get English speakers better access to government services. “To gather actual statistical data that can be used to determine where the gaps are, where we need help,” said QCGN president Marlene Jennings. Read … Read more
For the second year in a row, the usual St. Patrick’s Day merrymaking is being curtailed by the pandemic Normally at this time of year, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations would be in full swing. But for the second year in a row, COVID-19 has curtailed many plans for in-person merrymaking. We’ll have to wait at … Read more
Families with loved ones living at the Fulford Residence for women were shocked to learn that the home is closing in September due to financial difficulties. Now in a race against the clock, Christopher Holcroft, whose 76-year-old mother lives at the residence on Guy Street, has started a movement to fight the reallocation. “During a … Read more
The agency was born out of DESTA Black Youth Network — a non-profit Montreal community group founded in 2006 that aims to reduce individual and systemic barriers to employment for Black youth. It offers professional services in graphic and web design, communications and marketing. CBC Montreal had the chance to speak to DESTA graphic designer Kamden Biggart and multidisciplinary designer Peeta … Read more
Literacy Quebec has unveiled a free Literacy Helpline (1-888-521-8181) to help adult English speakers connect with their provincial network of literacy organizations in February 2021. Their support comes at a time when an easy access route to resources is more important than ever with so many people stuck at home alone or trying to support their … Read more
With the pandemic entering its second year and tight restrictions still in place in Montreal, women who are experiencing poverty, homelessness and domestic violence have had to face the additional burden of a relentless public health crisis over the past 12 months. The city, which has been hard hit by COVID-19 since last March, has … Read more
Feeling pressured to overperform and prove himself is something 27-year-old Jama Jama can relate to, especially after landing a temporary job in October as an administrative clerk. He describes it as “feeling stuck, feeling that it’s never enough, like most students or people of my generation.” He’s been working remotely during the pandemic since graduating … Read more
(VIDEO) “For me the reality right now is a whole lot different. I’ve lowered my standards,” says an English-speaking Black Montrealer about her job search during the pandemic. Sacha Obas has more. Go to video
By Marlene Jennings • Special to Montreal Gazette Let’s protect French without diminishing the vitality and viability of Quebec’s English-speaking communities, which are increasingly fragile. The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) and many English-speaking Quebecers are determined to serve as crucial and constructive voices throughout upcoming debates that are bound to prove emotional and sometimes acrimonious. We … Read more