As Bill C-13, modernizing the Official Languages Act, undergoes its third reading in the Senate, English-speaking Quebecers fear that their concerns have gone unheard. For them, the federal government is playing by the Quebec government’s rules. “Until now, we’ve always hoped that the federal government would be our protector, supporting us as a minority language … Read more
Bill C-13 saw no changes by the Senate, which completed its study of the proposed language legislation yesterday evening. The Quebec Community Groups Network had requested that Senators work to remove all mention of the Charter of the French Language from Bill C-13. Read more
The Senate’s official languages committee hears from individuals and groups – including the Quebec Community Groups Network – concerned with how the inclusion of the Charter of the French Language within Bill C-13 would impact the rights of Quebec’s English-speaking minority. Read more
Joe Ortona, chair of the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) writes to each member of the Senate urging the upper chamber to fulfill its role “as the Chamber of sober second thought” and propose amendments to Bill C-13 “to ensure the rights of minority-language communities in this country are not mutually exclusive.” Ortona’s appeal cites … Read more
Anthony Housefather, Liberal MP from the Mount Royal riding and lone parliamentarian to vote against Bill C-13, tells the Sherbrooke Record he “did exactly what I am supposed to do” by voicing his opposition to the inclusion of Bill 96 references. Advocacy groups including the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) have repeatedly raised concerns that … Read more
Members and stakeholders attending the 28th annual meeting over the weekend of the Quebec Community Groups Network reiterate the collective commitment of the English-speaking community to this province, to the future of the French language, and to the importance of community vitality. Read more
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