Bill C-13 has received criticism from English-speaking Quebecers and several senators for driving a wedge between linguistic minorities. The Senate’s Official Languages committee will hear input on Monday from experts and communities affected by the proposed legislation. Speaking on behalf of the QCGN will be President Eva Ludvig and Board Member Joan Fraser. Read more
English-speaking Montrealers looking to use the city’s information line, 311, will now have to listen to a 40-second message detailing who has the right to receive services in English under the Charter of the French Language. “This is where we really start seeing the impact of Bill 96,” comments QCGN President Eva Ludvig. Read more
Quebec’s Bill 101 should not be referenced in Bill C-13, as its inclusion in the federal bill could be seen as an endorsement of the notwithstanding clause, says Senator Tony Loffreda. The QCGN, which has voiced its opposition to this reference, says its representatives have been invited to discuss their concerns about Bill C-13 on … Read more
As of today, employees of government agencies will be required to serve clients in French only, unless the client has English-language rights or is a new immigrant. This measure, included in Bill 96, will require the “good faith” of clients to be truthful about whether they qualify for English services. QCGN President Eva Ludvig expresses … Read more
CTV Montreal lists the five measures of Bill 96 which go into effect today, among which includes the requirements for companies with between five and 49 employees to disclose the number of workers that have an adequate knowledge of French. This measure provokes numerous questions, including “What does adequate mean?” and “Who evaluates it?” says … Read more
QCGN President Eva Ludvig speaks with CityNews Montreal about the new provisions of Bill 96 that went into effect yesterday, and some of the concerns shared among members of the English-speaking community. Read more
“We are now seeing the impact of a bad bill, a draconian bill,” says QCGN President Eva Ludvig about Bill 96: “We see what this really means and the impact it will have on the day-to-day lives of business people, of everyday workers, of students.” Read more
“We expect the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages to understand and support official language minority communities, including the English-speaking minority in Quebec,” says Eva Ludvig, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN). She was responding after the federal Commissioner of Official Languages, Raymond Théberge, sidesteps the question of whether, in his role … Read more
Eva Ludvig, QCGN’s president, explains some of the potential effects on small businesses anticipated under provisions of Bill 96 that take effect tomorrow. Businesses with as few as five employees are among those targeted. The likely impact of the many new regulations and rules is “draconian,” she says. This approach is likely to hobble Quebec … Read more
About the Research In late 2020, the Access to Justice in English project selected the issue of federal correctional services in Quebec for in-depth research and intervention after a preliminary investigation indicated disparities in the availability of services for English-speaking offenders. To gain a better understanding of the issue from all sides, our research focused … Read more
Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather could face long-term backlash for voting against Bill C-13, as he was the only Liberal and only Member of Parliament to do so, says Professor Daniel Béland. The language legislation was approved by a vote of 300-1, and is now before the Senate, where the Quebec Community Groups Network says … Read more
Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather stood against the tide by voting “No” to Bill C-13 yesterday – the only MP in the House of Commons to do so. “It’s difficult to go against your own party, but he stuck with his principles and that’s admirable,” says QCGN President Eva Ludvig. Read more