TALQ, a Montreal-based organization representing English-speaking Quebecers, appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada from March 23 to 26 to argue that the province’s secularism law violates the constitutional rights of English-speaking minority communities to manage their own schools, in a case that could reshape how far a provincial government can go in overriding the … Read more
Hearings in the legal challenge of Quebec’s Bill 21 wrapped up at the Supreme Court of Canada last Thursday, with Chief Justice Richard Wagner saying “the court will take the necessary time to carefully examine all the issues.” Julius Grey, who is representing TALQ, the community organization, seemed satisfied with how the week went. … Read more
Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard presented a “sober” budget on March 18, spending $9.6 billion over five years to strengthen public services, stimulate the economy, convert 5,000 non‐subsidized daycare spaces to subsidized and invest $5 billion in infra‐ structure. “Quebec is facing an economic and geopolitical context marked by persistent uncertainty,” said Girard, delivering his … Read more
TALQ will appear as an intervener before the Supreme Court of Canada this week in the appeal concerning Quebec’s Bill 21, An Act respecting the laicity of the State. Hearings are scheduled from March 23 to 26, 2026. TALQ’s arguments will be presented by Me Julius Grey. The organization is scheduled to plead on Wednesday, … Read more
The Supreme Court of Canada heard arguments Wednesday over whether Quebec’s Bill 21 violates minority-language rights, with federal and provincial governments divided over the scope of the notwithstanding clause. The chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada delivered a pointed rebuke to the anglophone rights group TALQ on Wednesday, suggesting that one of … Read more
Montreal, March 18, 2026 — TALQ, a federally funded English-language advocacy group representing Quebec’s English-speaking community, expresses concern following the tabling of the Quebec government’s 2026–2027 budget, which includes a reduction in funding dedicated to the English-speaking community. At a time when Quebecers are facing economic uncertainty, TALQ acknowledges the difficult fiscal decisions before the … Read more
The backlash against Quebec’s Bill 1 continues to grow. Hundreds of organizations across the province are calling on the government to scrap its proposed legislation to create a Quebec constitution. Critics say the process has been flawed from the start and warn it could have far-reaching impacts on minority rights and workers. … Meanwhile, minority … Read more
“When you’re sick, you’re not bilingual.” Senate committee calls on Ottawa to strengthen health-care access for English and French minorities across Canada. A committee has called on Ottawa to strengthen health-care access for English and French minorities across Canada. … In a report released last month, the Senate committee recommended that Ottawa include language clauses in … Read more
Businesses across several Quebec cities will soon receive anonymous visits from observers evaluating whether customers can receive service in French. The initiative, led by Quebec’s language watchdog, the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF), is part of a research study designed to measure the availability of French as a language of service in everyday … Read more
Quebec’s so-called constitution bill “should be relegated to the dustbin of history,” according to the head of Quebec’s most prominent anglophone advocacy group. Sylvia Martin-Laforge is the director-general of the organization Talking. Advocating. Living in Quebec (TALQ), an advocacy group that promotes the status of English-speaking Quebecers. Martin-Laforge recently told the Low Down that TALQ rejects … Read more
For now, I see no evidence Kelly Burke has much of a grasp of the issues facing the English-speaking community of Quebec. Kelly Burke, a seasoned Ontario bureaucrat, has just been named Canada’s new official languages commissioner. She has a big job ahead of her, and anyone familiar with the language file can only wish … Read more
The OQLF is sending undercover inspectors into thousands of businesses across Quebec to evaluate whether customers are greeted and served in French, as required under the Charter of the French Language. The visits are part of a province-wide study, not an enforcement operation, and businesses will not be fined or publicly identified; instead, the findings … Read more