Quebec’s anglophones approach PQ win with optimism, skepticism

Quebec’s new minority government made several promises to its English-speaking community, but anglophones say they’re approaching the new government with both optimism and skepticism.

The Parti Québécois (PQ) was elected to a minority government in Monday’s provincial election, just five seats shy of a majority, meaning it will have to work with opposition parties to pass legislation.

During the campaign, premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon stressed the importance of the anglophone community, defending their right to election documents in both official languages and suggesting changes to the province’s language law, Bill 96.

But Sylvia Martin-Laforge, director general of TALQ, which advocates for the province’s English-language communities, said they will be watching to see what actions Plamondon takes.

This includes whether he will reverse a challenge by the government on whether English-speaking Quebecers can receive voter information in English and French.