Brief – Expert Panel on Language of Work and Service in Federally Regulated Private Businesses

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By The Honourable Marlene Jennings, P.C. President, and Kevin Shaar, Vice-President

Canada has two official languages and two official language minorities.

In its recent paper on official languages, English and French: Towards a Substantive Equality of Official
Languages in Canada, the Government of Canada makes a legislative proposal to increase the use of
French in federally regulated private enterprises. The paper outlines specific proposals to provide rights
to work and rights to services in French – but not in English – in federally regulated private businesses in
Quebec and in regions with a strong Francophone presence.

The Government of Canada’s proposal to grant language rights to one language group and not the other
runs counter to the purpose of the Official Languages Act and offends the government’s constitutional
obligation to ensure respect for English and French as the official languages of Canada. It also poses
significant challenges for the substantive equality of the English-speaking minority in Quebec.

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QCGN Analysis – English and French: Towards the substantive equality of official languages in Canada

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On Friday, February 19, 2021, the Government of Canada released its policy paper on reforming the
federal approach to Canada’s Official Languages. The government’s guiding paper builds on six themes:


1. The recognition of linguistic dynamics in the provinces and territories and existing rights
regarding Indigenous languages;
2. The willingness to provide opportunities for learning both official languages;
3. Support for the institutions of official language minority communities;
4. The protection and promotion of French throughout Canada, including in Quebec;
5. The Government of Canada as an example through strengthening of the compliance of federal
institutions; and,
6. An Act for the Canada of today and tomorrow: Mandatory review of the OLA and its
implementation.

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English and French: Towards a Substantive Equality of Official Languages in Canada

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Official Languages in the 21st Century: New Challenges, New Opportunities

In 1963, the Government of Canada created the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism (the Laurendeau-Dunton Commission) to examine the state of bilingualism in the country and to respond to the preoccupations being increasingly voiced by French Canadians, particularly in Quebec, that the French language and Francophones were victims of unacceptable inequalities within the federal government…

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2019-2020 Annual Report – QCGN Sharpens Focus on Mission and Vision

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This past year – our 25th anniversary – has proven pivotal for the QCGN. While consistently at the forefront of public policy debates, we have simultaneously been taking important steps to strengthen our capacity as an effective and representative advocate for Quebec’s diverse English-speaking community.

Education has been a hot topic. We have repeatedly defended our right to manage and control our school system. We are a driving force behind the creation of APPELE-Québec, the Alliance for the Promotion of Public English-language Education in Quebec. This broadly based alliance, devoted to promoting the continued existence of elected English school boards, has spearheaded opposition to Bill 40.

Go to the 2019-2020 Annual Report

Vision Vitality and Viability: Report on the Consultation by the Secretariat for Relations with English-speaking Quebecers

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In March 2020, the Quebec Community Groups Network reported on the fall 2019 “Building Bridges” consultation of the Secretariat for Relations with English-speaking Quebecers organized by the Coalition Avenir Québec government.

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QCGN Brief for Committee on Culture and Education Special Consultations on Bill 40: An Act to amend mainly the Education Act with regard to school organization and governance

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The Quebec Community Groups Network (“QCGN”) has not been invited to appear before the Committee in the course of its special consultations on Bill 40. Nonetheless, the QCGN submits this brief to the Committee.

In addition to providing an excellent education to students, Quebec’s English public schools exist to preserve and promote the language and unique culture of English-speaking Quebec. Schools are key and central institutions of the English-speaking community of Quebec. The Government of Quebec must recognize and support the linguistic and cultural rights of Quebec’s English-speaking community.

 

Read Executive Summary

Read complete brief

Factum of the Intervener Quebec Community groups Network

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Read QCGN’s legal factum on the Supreme Court of Canada case of Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique v. British Columbia, at

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Poll: English-Speaking Quebecers: Views on Governance

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What do English-speaking Quebecers think about the current state of affairs in their home province? This five-part study is based on one of the largest opinion surveys to date of Quebec English-speakers.

Conducted by Léger Marketing for the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), the Community Economic Development and Employability Corporation (CEDEC), the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) and the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS), the survey was conducted via web panel between Aug. 29 and Sept. 4, 2019.

The poll sampled 1,936 Quebecers. This included 1,019 Quebecers with English as their first language, 773 Quebecers with French as their first language and 144 persons whose first language is neither English nor French. The survey has a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

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Poll – English-speaking Quebecers Views on School Boards

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What do English-speaking Quebecers think about the current state of affairs in their home province? This five-part study is based on one of the largest surveys of opinion conducted to-date of Quebec English-speakers. 

Conducted by Léger Marketing for the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), the Community Economic Development and Employability Corporation (CEDEC), the Quebec English School Board Association (QESBA) and the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS), the survey was conducted via web panel between August 29 and September 4, 2019.

The poll sampled 1, 937 Quebecers which included 1019 English-speaking Quebecers, 773 French-speaking Quebecers and 144 persons whose first language is neither English nor French. The survey has a margin of error of 2.5 19 times out of 20.

View poll here

Priority Setting Steering Committee Phase II Recommendations to the Department of Canadian Heritage

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Phase II report on the Priority setting Steering Committee Recommendations to the Department of Canadian Heritage written in November 2018.

 

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