Opinion

Commentator Robert Libman takes note of the forceful pushback by the Quebec Community Groups Network, among many others, on the embedding of the Quebec Charter of the French Language –as buttressed by Bill 96 – in the new Official Languages Act under study at the Senate. Read more

“Our minority – indeed all Quebecers – now live in a ‘Charter free zone’ where our fundamental human rights have been vacated in the name of protecting and promoting the French language,” Eva Ludvig, QCGN president, tells a Senate hearing on the new Official Languages Act: “This is the principal reason why the QCGN has … Read more

The Quebec Community Groups Network called on senators to work to remove the controversial references to Quebec’s Bill 101 within the federal Bill C-13 during their time before the senate committee studying the proposed language legislation on Monday. “We remain deeply concerned about the effects of Bill C-13 on the English-speaking community of Quebec and … Read more

Leaving the references to Bill 101 within Bill C-13 would be a blow to the rights of English-speaking Quebecers, the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) tells a Senate committee studying the proposed federal legislation. “[W]hen something is in law, we don’t know how that will be interpreted, not only at the court but also by … Read more

“The charter (of the French Language) is a threat for us,” says QCGN Board Member Joan Fraser, speaking before the Senate committee on official languages studying Bill C-13, which makes several references to the charter. Read more

Including references to Bill 101 within Bill C-13 sets a precedent for provincial governments outside of Quebec to adopt legislation that undermines the rights of francophone minority communities, the Quebec Community Groups Network tells senators. Read more

The incremental step taken last Thursday to further implement Bill 96  “creates … more confusion,” says Eva Ludvig, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN).  Read more

Bill C-13 has received criticism from English-speaking Quebecers and several senators for driving a wedge between linguistic minorities. The Senate’s Official Languages committee will hear input on Monday from experts and communities affected by the proposed legislation. Speaking on behalf of the QCGN will be President Eva Ludvig and Board Member Joan Fraser. Read more

English-speaking Montrealers looking to use the city’s information line, 311, will now have to listen to a 40-second message detailing who has the right to receive services in English under the Charter of the French Language. “This is where we really start seeing the impact of Bill 96,” comments QCGN President Eva Ludvig. Read more

Quebec’s Bill 101 should not be referenced in Bill C-13, as its inclusion in the federal bill could be seen as an endorsement of the notwithstanding clause, says Senator Tony Loffreda. The QCGN, which has voiced its opposition to this reference, says its representatives have been invited to discuss their concerns about Bill C-13 on … Read more

As of today, employees of government agencies will be required to serve clients in French only, unless the client has English-language rights or is a new immigrant. This measure, included in Bill 96, will require the “good faith” of clients to be truthful about whether they qualify for English services. QCGN President Eva Ludvig expresses … Read more

CTV Montreal lists the five measures of Bill 96 which go into effect today, among which includes the requirements for companies with between five and 49 employees to disclose the number of workers that have an adequate knowledge of French. This measure provokes numerous questions, including “What does adequate mean?” and “Who evaluates it?” says … Read more

QCGN President Eva Ludvig speaks with CityNews Montreal about the new provisions of Bill 96 that went into effect yesterday, and some of the concerns shared among members of the English-speaking community. Read more

“We are now seeing the impact of a bad bill, a draconian bill,” says QCGN President Eva Ludvig about Bill 96: “We see what this really means and the impact it will have on the day-to-day lives of business people, of everyday workers, of students.” Read more

“We expect the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages to understand and support official language minority communities, including the English-speaking minority in Quebec,” says Eva Ludvig, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN). She was responding after the federal Commissioner of Official Languages, Raymond Théberge, sidesteps the question of whether, in his role … Read more

Eva Ludvig, QCGN’s president, explains some of the potential effects on small businesses anticipated under provisions of Bill 96 that take effect tomorrow. Businesses with as few as five employees are among those targeted. The likely impact of the many new regulations and rules is “draconian,” she says. This approach is likely to hobble Quebec … Read more

Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather could face long-term backlash for voting against Bill C-13, as he was the only Liberal and only Member of Parliament to do so, says Professor Daniel Béland. The language legislation was approved by a vote of 300-1, and is now before the Senate, where the Quebec Community Groups Network says … Read more

Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather stood against the tide by voting “No” to Bill C-13 yesterday – the only MP in the House of Commons to do so. “It’s difficult to go against your own party, but he stuck with his principles and that’s admirable,” says QCGN President Eva Ludvig. Read more

Sherbrooke MP Élisabeth Brière and Compton-Stanstead MP Marie-Claude Bibeau both intend to vote in favour of Bill C-13, the drastically overhauled Official Languages Act. The reference to Quebec’s Bill 96 embedded in the pending federal legislation “has been our major issue with C-13,” says Eva Ludvig, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN). Read … Read more

Columnist Allison Hanes minces no words, in an analysis and recap of positions taken by the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), several outspoken federal Liberal MPS, and others on the new Official Languages Act: “English-speaking Quebecers shouldn’t be fooled” by Ottawa’s public packaging of Bill C-13, she writes. Read more

In an editorial taking a broad view of the federal Action Plan for Official Languages announced last week, Robert Dutrisac of Le Devoir takes note of the response of the Quebec Community Groups Network with regard to federal funding levels. Read more

Measures specific to English-speaking Quebecers include $6.5 million over five years to support the training and integration of bilingual health personnel. However, says Eva Ludvig, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), “our major concern (remains) Bill C-13, which will incorporate the [Quebec] Charter of the French Language into the [federal] Official Languages Act.”  … Read more

With their newly announced official languages policy, the federal Liberals are “speaking to different constituencies” both inside and outside of Quebec, and trying to balance political pressures on a file where they are “damned if they do, and damned if they don’t,” say observers. Meanwhile Eva Ludvig, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network, which … Read more

The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) expresses disappointment that Jean-François Roberge, Quebec’s minister for the French language, does not see any need to use funding for the province’s Anglophones – newly earmarked under Ottawa’s fresh Action Plan for Official Languages – to support English-language community organizations in Quebec.  Read more

A thriving and vibrant English-speaking community benefits the provincial government and all Quebecers, emphasizes Eva Ludvig, QCGN president, after an array of National Assembly figures blast new federal funding for anglophone groups and initiatives. Read more