As Concordia University faces a $36-million deficit, the school announced major cuts in spending. It comes as the result of a historic drop in enrolment, which the academic institution blames on the Quebec government’s tuition hike targeting students from outside of Quebec. QCGN President Eva Ludvig comments on the situation. Read more
A new 152-page report published by the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) illustrates that adults aged 18 to 34 are major contributors to the decline of the use of the French language, especially online and in social settings. QCGN Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge says that the government cannot dictate what language young people … Read more
“English-speaking Quebecers are not the enemy,” reads the open letter from QCGN President Eva Ludvig, calling for the English-speaking community to have a seat at the table in the provincial government’s action plan to protect and promote the French language. “Regardless of where we agree or disagree, the English-speaking community should be part of the … Read more
The English-speaking community should be included in the Coalition Avenir Québec’s action plan for the revitalization of the French language, writes QCGN President Eva Ludvig in an open letter to French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge. “The English-speaking community of Quebec has a role to play in the promotion and protection of the French language,” writes … Read more
The revamp of the Official Languages Act last summer “gives us an opportunity to turn the page in an effort to fully realize Canada’s language policy,” says Official Languages Commissioner Raymond Théberge in the Official Languages annual report. The Gazette makes note of the QCGN’s opposition to the inclusion of references to Quebec’s Bill 101 … Read more
The English-speaking community should be included in the Quebec government’s plan to bolster the French language, writes QCGN President Eva Ludvig in an open letter to French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge. “We can make reasonable and constructive suggestions to further this objective,” Ludvig explains. “We are part of the solution, not the problem.” Read more
“People don’t react well to coercive measures and fear-mongering,” says QCGN Director-General Sylvia Martin-Laforge, reacting to the Coalition Avenir Québec government’s $600-million action plan to protect the French language. She adds that the QCGN disagrees with the CAQ’s apparent focus on the proportion of French spoken in households. Read more
The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government has not defined the “yardsticks” that would be used to measure if its $600-million action plan to protect the French language is achieving its objectives, writes former politician Tom Mulcair. Mentioning a recent QCGN press release, Mulcair points out that there are indications that the CAQ will consider data … Read more
The Quebec government isn’t using objective or appropriate statistical criteria as it argues that the French language in Quebec is declining, says Sylvia Martin-Laforge, director general of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN). Data which the government consistently cites – and presents to the public – should be interpreted with more nuance, she adds. Read … Read more
“The draconian measures contained in Bill 96 haven’t changed anything, weren’t necessary, and missed the target,” Eva Ludvig, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), writes in a commentary published by The Suburban: “It was heartening to see the degree to which the speakers (at a recent multi-partner conference) shared the QCGN view that … Read more
English-speaking Quebecers have a vested interest in the preservation of Quebec’s identity – something that cannot be achieved through coercive measures, writes QCGN President Eva Ludvig in an op-ed in the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph. Read more
Another follow-up to the recent Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) study suggesting the use of French in public spaces remains stable. La Presse editorial writer Stéphanie Grammond not only acknowledges the QCGN’s language event, but writes that false claims by the Quebec government that French is in decline only hurts the cause of … Read more
Researcher Mario Polèse speaks about his suggestion that English-speaking Quebecers ought to make a conscious effort to use French as the primary language in the public sphere. He speaks with CBC Radio Noon’s Shawn Appel. Quebec Community Groups Network Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge joins the call at minute 14 of the show. Listen here
Professor Jean-Pierre Corbeil speaks with CJAD 800’s Elias Makos about a recent report about the use of French in public, as well as about last week’s conference about the vitality of French in Quebec, which was co-sponsored by the Quebec Community Groups Network. Listen here
The CTV News Montreal late-night newscast covers Thursday evening’s panel discussion on the place of French in Quebec society, co-sponsored by the Quebec Community Groups Network. CTV’s report begins at the 5:50 mark, with a brief summary of the latest Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) survey results. Watch more
It appears the rationale for Bill 96 as framed by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government was based on something other than facts, Eva Ludvig, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), suggests to Global News. This follows the release of a report by the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) concluding French … Read more
Ideas and opinions about the status and future of the French language in Quebec were exchanged during yesterday’s bilingual panel. The discussion, which was co-hosted by the Quebec Community Groups Network, the Montreal Gazette and the Notre Home Foundation, featured panelists Mario Polèse, Jean-Benoît Nadeau and Jean-Pierre Corbeil. Montreal Gazette columnist Allison Hanes acted as … Read more
“Quebec is more polarized today than it has been in decades in large part over the undisputed assertion that French is under threat from all sides,” writes columnist Allison Hanes. This issue will be one of several discussed at Thursday’s conference, co-sponsored by the Quebec Community Groups Network. Hanes will join Jean-Benoît Nadeau, Jean-Pierre Corbeil … Read more
A conference to be held next Thursday will place the spotlight on a recently published book that takes a deep dive on one of the most pressing questions facing Quebec these days: Is French in decline? Some of the many contributors to Le français en déclin? Repenser la francophonie québécoise will participate in a panel … Read more
In the run-up to tomorrow’s Quebec budget, the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) met with Finance Minister Eric Girard to underscore a longstanding demand that funding for community organizations in Quebec representing Anglophones be upped to reflect the size of the English-speaking population. Read more
“All minorities should be worried about the ruling” on Bill 21 released Thursday afternoon by the Quebec Court of Appeal, Sylvia Martin-Laforge, director general of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), tells CTV. She adds that the ruling sets a dangerous precedent: “It means that the government can pass any bill, like Bill 96, that … Read more
Montreal – February 29, 2024 – QCGN expresses deep condolences to the family of former Prime Minister of Canada the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney, who died today at age 84. He was a man of stature whose profound belief in the sanctity of human rights never wavered, and who did much to build bridges between … Read more
Quebec is expected to introduce legislation requiring digital streaming platforms, including Netflix and Spotify, to offer more French-language content. Quebec Culture and Communications Minister Mathieu Lacombe says the legislation will be based off a recent report on the protection of Quebec culture online. “In this report, we find common cause with Quebecers who are worried … Read more
The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) shares the frustrations at McGill and Concordia that led to the decisions by both universities to turn to the courts, in separate actions, to try to reverse sharp tuition hikes that specifically target out-of-province students, says QCGN president Eva Ludvig. Read more
The Quebec government’s resolve to continue to target out-of-province university students with tuition increases is “very harmful” to both McGill and Concordia universities, says Sylvia Martin-Laforge, director general of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN). In a video report by Global News, she underscores that severe damage is simultaneously being inflicted “to Montreal and to … Read more