“This is a major setback for the rights of English-speaking Quebecers,” says QCGN President Eva Ludvig of the recognition of the Charter of the French Language within Bill C-13. The Standing Committee on Official Languages had rejected proposals from Liberal committee members to remove reference to the Charter in C-13, while proposals by the Bloc … Read more
The Liberal proposal to remove mention of the Charter of the French Language from Bill C-13 was shut down in committee by opposition parties on Friday. “Despite the best efforts of many Liberal MPs led by Anthony Housefather, Patricia Lattanzio, and Marc Garneau, it is clear to us that the deck is stacked against English-speaking … Read more
The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) is profoundly disappointed that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages has allowed references to Quebec’s Charter of the French Language to remain in proposed new federal language legislation to amend Canada’s Official Languages Act. During the committee’s clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-13, An Act to amend … Read more
With the dramatic changes proposed to the federal Official Languages Act, the language rights of the English-speaking community in Quebec are currently being treated with disdain by both the federal government and the majority francophone community in the province, Sylvia Martin-Laforge, director general of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), tells ONfr. Geneviève Tellier, a … Read more
QCGN Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge says that the action group created by Quebec French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge should consult with English-speaking Quebecers before taking concrete steps to further protect French. Watch here
While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent criticism of the use of the notwithstanding clause by the governments of Quebec and Ontario is admirable, “English-speaking Quebeckers remain worried that the federal government is embracing proactive use of the notwithstanding clause through its proposed update of the Official Languages Act,” reads a letter from QCGN President Eva … Read more
The federal government appears to be sleep-walking past a ticking constitutional timebomb to avoid provoking Premier François Legault, all the while ignoring whatever perilous consequences its current approach might entail, write Eva Ludvig and Joan Fraser, QCGN president and board member, respectively. Read more
Premier Legault’s recent Twitter outburst “should not deter the Trudeau government from seeking a Supreme Court of Canada ruling on the notwithstanding clause,” writes Joan Fraser, a former senator and editor in chief of the Montreal Gazette, as well as current QCGN board member. Read more
“Non-profit organizations serving English- speaking Quebecers are seriously underfunded compared with francophone groups, and thus often unable to provide important and sometimes essential services,” reads an open letter from the QCGN. Read more
“It was a good meeting,” says QCGN Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge of the pre-budget consultation with Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard. The QCGN called for more equitable funding for English services, as well as for wide-ranging hearings to be held on the potential negative impacts that could be created by Bill 96. Read more
Non-profit organizations serving English-speaking Quebecers are seriously underfunded compared with francophone groups and thus often unable to provide important and sometimes essential services. That is among the messages the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) and other community stakeholders brought to Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard during a pre-budget consultation this afternoon in Quebec City. Read … Read more
Several Quebec municipalities with an English-speaking population of less than 50 per cent have announced that they intend to retain their bilingual status. The fact that towns with even a fractional English-speaking population are protecting their citizens’ rights to access services in English sends a strong message to the Quebec government, says QCGN Director General … Read more