News¹⁹

The Quebec government is stepping up its efforts to contain the decline of French in the province, but the English-speaking community is concerned about the impact legislative action will have on its own language rights. ONFR TFO’s 4 minute piece on English-speaking “Quebec activists” are featured, including QCGN President Eva Ludvig and board member Chad … Read more

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