“(W)e are particularly pleased that our rights have been recognized and respected thanks to this decision,” says Dan Lamoureux, president of the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) about the Quebec Superior Court’s ruling on Bill 40. “This is an important victory not only for the English-speaking community in Quebec, but also for official language … Read more
The Quebec Community Groups Network applauds a landmark Quebec Superior Court decision that strongly affirms the Constitutional minority language educational rights of Canadians. In a far-reaching 129-page decision rendered this afternoon, Superior Court Justice Sylvain Lussier struck down parts of Quebec’s Education Act that, as amended by Bill 40, eliminated school boards and transferred decisional … Read more
Ontario MP Arif Virani takes over the role of justice minister and attorney general following the removal of LaSalle—Emard—Verdun MP David Lametti from the federal cabinet last week. “The Quebec Community Groups Network is probably already working on organizing a meeting,” writes columnist Robert Libman. Read more
The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) looks forward to working with Randy Boissonnault, the newly appointed Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages. We also welcome the appointment of Anita Anand as the new President of the Treasury Board. Both have key leadership roles in the implementation of recent changes to the Official Languages … Read more
Under Bill 96, we can expect to see more incidents like that of Susan Starkey, who was hung up on by the RAMQ for asking to converse in English, says QCGN President Eva Ludvig. Read more
“He made me feel like a second-class citizen.” West Island resident Susan Starkey speaks about her phone call with a RAMQ employee who, despite being bilingual, hung up on her after she asked to communicate in English. QCGN Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge says that the passage of Bill 96 will lead to such egregious incidents. … Read more
“[François Legault] promised that health care services wouldn’t be impacted by Bill 96.” MNAs Gregory Kelley and Madwa-Nika Cadet voice their indignation over a 75-year-old West-Island woman being hung up on by the RAMQ due to her lack of knowledge of French. The QCGN voiced its discontent of the RAMQ’s conduct on Twitter. Read more
The Townshippers’ Association will meet with elected officials to express its concerns about Bill 96, rather than organize protests about the language legislation, says Townshipppers’ President Don Warholtz. The approach taken by groups like the QCGN and the Task Force on Linguistic Policy “is a little bit different than us,” he adds. Read more
Under Bill 96, the family of a man who passed away 14 years ago is required to pay $100 for the death certificate to be officially translated into French. “There are so many elements in Bill 96 that are so invasive, so ridiculous, so unnecessary that we knew as time went on and things started … Read more
Pontiac Journal editorial writer Fred Ryan asks, “Does C-13 actually modify Canada’s constitution — without going through the constitutional process of national consent?” He continues, “If the QCGN interpretation is accurate, then it seems, to a layman, that the federal Liberal government has allowed a serious end-run around constitutional guarantees by strengthening Quebec’s Bill 96.” … Read more
QCGN’s Access to Justice project has released its report and recommendations on access to the Courts of Quebec in English. Our research methodology included a thorough investigation of the issue along four main lines of inquiry: the relevant policy and legal framework, the internal organization and administration of services of Quebec’s courts and tribunals, system … Read more
Meaningful access to information and services QCGN’s Access to Justice in English project has presented Quebec government stakeholders with its report and list of recommendations on how to strengthen the information and services provided online in English through Quebec government websites. “Quebecers are increasingly interacting with government online, from registering for a family doctor to … Read more