English community plans rally against Bill 96 in downtown Montreal

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Leaders of the province’s English-speaking community vowed to speak loudly and often against Bill 96, which was passed in the National Assembly on Tuesday. “We are very concerned about the erosion of rights of all Quebecers that were introduced by a government that seems to care more about scoring political points for the upcoming election than […]

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The Guardian

Quebec moves to protect French language and restrict use of English

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Quebec’s government has successfully passed sweeping French language protections that critics warn will reshape all aspects of public life. “Bill 96 is the most significant derogation of human rights in the history of Quebec and Canada,” Marlene Jennings, head of the Quebec Community Groups Network, which promotes the rights of English-speakers in the province, said in […]

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Politico

Ça va trop loin, or not far enough? Quebec passes controversial new law to ‘promote and enhance’ French

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The tug-of-war over Bill 96, which was approved Tuesday, pitted the majority government and politicians who declared the French language’s viability was at stake against advocates who warned the law could weaken civil liberties in Canada’s second most populous province. “Bill 96 will make it virtually impossible for someone to receive quality health and social […]

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Adoption of Bill 96 means ‘it’s a sad day for Quebec,’ lawyer Grey says

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There will be legal challenges and a public pressure campaign against Bill 96, which was voted into law Tuesday afternoon. The Quebec Community Groups Network has vowed to support any fight against the law, and plans to mount a public awareness campaign, starting with a protest in Montreal set for Thursday evening. Read more

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Language law Bill 96 adopted, promising sweeping changes for Quebec

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Bill 96, the provincial government’s controversial legislation aimed at protecting the French language in Quebec, has been adopted in the National Assembly. “It’s a sad day. I think it’s a sad day for all of Quebec,” said QCGN director Sylvia Martin-Laforge. Read more

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Quebec legislature adopts Bill 96 language law despite bitter opposition

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The Quebec government has secured the largest expansion of its language laws in more than 40 years, imposing new rules to reinforce the use of French in the public service, education and business despite bitter opposition from the province’s English-speaking minority. “The mood now in the English-speaking community is quite bleak,” said Joan Fraser, a […]

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Legal challenge against Bill 96 coming, Montreal lawyer says

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The Quebec Community Groups Network has criticized Bill 96 for many reasons, in part for infringing on citizens’ privacy rights, greatly reducing the ability to receive public services in English and for issuing fines for speaking languages other than French at work. Read more

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CityNews

Will Bill 96 affect how English-speakers in the province receive health care?

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Bill 96 – according to the Quebec government – is a moderate reform that will improve protection for French-language while preserving English services. But critics say the bill will limit access to health care and more. “Little exemption appears to only apply if someone’s life is in imminent danger of death,” said Marlene Jennings, president […]

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Les craintes de la réforme de la Charte de la langue française

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“Premier Legault, can you hear us now?” said QCGN President Marlene Jennings during the May 14 protest against Bill 96. Read more

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No ‘hidden agenda’ with Bill 96, Quebec’s language minister says

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The minister responsible for the French language says the Legault government has no “hidden agenda” with Bill 96, and insists the status quo will continue for the English-speaking and Indigenous communities when accessing health and social services. Critics including the Quebec Community Groups Network have said that under Bill 96, out of 1.1 million residents […]

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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS BILL 96

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Members of the National Assembly yesterday delivered their final speeches and remarks on Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the Official and Common Language of Québec and commentary from the Committee on Culture and Education, which had reviewed the bill on a clause-by-clause basis. Read more

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Statement by The Honourable Marlene Jennings, P.C. President of the Quebec Community Groups Network on the Adoption of Bill 96

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For more than a year, the QCGN has been doing its best to convince the Quebec government of the shortcomings of Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec. Unfortunately, our concerns as well as those of countless Quebecers including organizations representing our business, education, health and social services, human […]

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Une société normale

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Though the QCGN has voiced its support for French being the official and common language of Quebec, Le Devoir columnist Robert Dutrisac accuses the organization of hypocrisy by speaking out against Bill 96. Dutrisac criticizes what he calls the QCGN’s desire to maintain the “status quo.” Read more

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(Video) Anglophone seniors living outside Montreal deplores limited access to English-language newspapers

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English-speaking residents outside the greater Montreal area say they feel cut off, even abandoned. For months, they haven’t been able to get their hands on publications of most English-language newspapers. “It really affects the vitality of our community in terms of access to what’s going on,” says Eva Ludvig, a board member of the Quebec […]

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CityNews

Bill 96: Five reasons Quebec’s language law reform is stirring controversy

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A protest against Quebec’s proposed overhaul of its language law drew a large crowd in Montreal on Saturday. Marlene Jennings, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network, an anglophone advocacy group, says the law could prevent hundreds of thousands of English speakers from accessing health care in their language. Read more

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