The Legault government’s new language reform bill is getting mixed reviews. Global’s Laura Casella invites Quebec Community Groups Network president Marlene Jennings to share reactions from some of its members. Warnings by the QCGN of a range of unintended consequences as a result of the Bill 96 proposals thus far seem unheeded, she adds: “It … Read more
Quebec Premier François Legault wants to change Canada’s Constitution to better protect the French language, a move that could affect everything from immigration and education to policies outside the province’s borders. Matt Galloway discusses the new legislation with host of Radio-Canada’s Midi-Info and longtime political journalist Michel C Auger; the CBC’s chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton; and president … Read more
Arguments over language are nothing new in Quebec, but with a changing landscape that leans towards multiculturalism, some are asking if it might be time to put the debate to rest. Thursday, Quebec’s language debate was once again thrown into the spotlight when the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) tabled an aggressive piece of legislation to reform Bill … Read more
Quebec’s new language reform, Bill 96, proposes to cap the number of places in English-language CEGEPs. It would also give priority to anglophone students. However, the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) said the government should be focusing on ensuring students become bilingual. “(Students) who can fill the needs of business, the businesses already here and … Read more
The English-speaking community loses none of its rights and actually will improve its status with new language legislation tabled this week, the minister responsible for the bill said Friday. “My objective was not to pit the French and English communities against each other. The important thing is to protect French while protecting the anglophone community. … Read more
The Quebec Community Groups Network deeply regrets that proposed changes to the Charter of the French Language override fundamental human rights and will erode the vitality of our English-speaking minority community. “The proposed legislative changes are more far-reaching than we could have ever imagined,” QCGN President Marlene Jennings said following a quick review of Bill … Read more
A group of suburban municipalities with bilingual status is calling for ‘balance’ and ‘respect’ ahead of major language reform set to be tabled in Quebec today. Marlene Jennings, head of the Quebec Community Groups Network, or QCGN, said she finds it “very interesting” the bilingual status for some municipalities could change, given the CAQ’s stance, historically … Read more
The first census in North America was conducted in 1666 by the Intendant of New France, Jean Talon. Going door to door, he recorded the names, ages, genders, and occupations of members of the population. This was the beginning of the national census that would eventually serve as a great contributor to our social development … Read more
Canada’s commissioner of official languages says he shares the concerns of Quebec’s English-speaking minority over proposed reforms to federal language policies. “I do … share the concerns of Quebec’s English-speaking community that the addition of asymmetrical components to the act will undermine the equal status of English and French,” Théberge said in a statement. “I therefore … Read more
Groups working in youth protection hailed Régine Laurent’s report Monday as a way to finally address decades-long failures of the system. The report called for the creation of a charter of rights for children and a commissioner to ensure those rights are upheld. It also called for a shift toward prevention and for more resources for minority … Read more
Who is ready and willing to stick their neck out? Once the much anticipated legislation beefing up Bill 101 is tabled in the National Assembly, who will step up and represent the concerns of minority communities in Quebec? Premier François Legault has already made it clear his Coalition Avenir Québec government won’t hesitate to use the … Read more
(VIDEO) Marina Boulos-Winton, executive director of the Chez Doris women’s shelter, joins Concordia University Television (CUTV) for a Facebook Live event to discuss the interconnectivity between domestic violence and homelessness and how to further help survivors of domestic violence. Watch here