Le leadership commence par le dialogue

In an op-ed in Le Devoir, TALQ board member and president of the Quebec Board of Black Educators Alix Adrien, says Quebec’s political leaders should directly engage with the province’s English-speaking minority during the upcoming election whether through debates, forums, or public discussions.

Drawing on his own experience as a Francophone immigrant who worked in both languages, he recalls René Lévesque’s willingness to speak to all Quebecers as an example of confident leadership. He believes English-speaking Quebecers deserve to hear directly from those seeking to govern them because their concerns, such as health care, education, the economy and the future of young people, are shared by all Quebecers. For Adrien, open dialogue strengthens democracy and shows confidence in Quebec’s French language and identity. He adds protecting French and including English-speaking Quebecers are not opposing goals.