Health, Housing and Language Rights – Quebec Drops 2026 Budget Figures

English rights advocacy organization TALQ is decrying the CAQ’s 2026-27 budget and what appears to be a $2.3 million funding envelope for
anglophone rights. This “is not a lot of money,” said TALQ executive director Sylvia Martin-Laforge.

What’s worse, according to TALQ, is the lack of consultation between the CAQ government and English advocacy groups in pre-budget talks. “We felt with Minister Girard, he had a good understanding of the English-speaking community, and he had the consultations, and people were able to put forth their concerns,” said Martin-Laforge, referring to past budget consultations. “This year we didn’t have the consultations. Now, everybody’s been cut.” She said that a reduction in dedicated funding to the English-speaking community will result in a loss of programs and services for anglophones in the
province, although she wasn’t able to specifically say what could be affected.
However, Martin-Laforge spoke a lot about Bill 1, Quebec’s overarching constitution Bill that has been heavily criticized by Amnesty International and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. She said Bill 1 is “problematic.”  She continued: “Bill 1 does not have the English-speaking community in its constitution, except in the preamble. We see no protections there.”
She said TALQ will continue to consult with the government on potential cuts and impacts to the English-speaking community.