Preserving English rights in Quebec
Protecting the French language does not require limiting services to English-speaking Quebecers, says QCGN President Marlene Jennings in an interview with Todd van der Heyden on CTV News.
Tag Archive for: Access to English services
Allison Hanes: QCGN warns of new threat to English health services
The Quebec Community Groups Network is warning of a new threat to health and social services in English in the province.
QCGN Begs to Differ on Premier’s Interpretation of English Signage in Hospitals
Montreal – January 10, 2019 – Premier François Legault’s statement that English-speaking Quebecers have the right to services in their language but not to English signs is wrong. Bill 101 in no way prohibits the use of English on hospital signs as they relate to health and safety, maintains Geoffrey Chambers, President of the Quebec Community Groups Network.
“It’s senseless to argue that you have access to health and social services in English if you do not know where the services are located,” Chambers commented. “Not to have clear signage is an obstacle to services. If you cannot find the service, it is not available to you.”
In a press release issued only in French, the regional health authority in Lachute, Le Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) des Laurentides, announced in December that it was removing English from all signs at the local hospital to be conform with Quebec’s Charter of the French Language. This decision followed an intervention by the Office québecois de la langue française.
Improving access, quality of services
The Montreal Gazette
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Re: “Anglo panel sounds familiar” (Letters, April 13) In his letter, Robert Libman characterizes as unnecessary the revamped regulation announced by Health Minister Gaétan Barrette to oversee the creation of access plans that guarantee the delivery of health and social services in English to our community.
As a former MNA, Libman should know that rights obtained by Alliance Quebec in negotiations with the government in 1986 only guarantee services where plans are in place that actually define those services.
As a result of massive reforms in the health-care system, many of those plans are either out of date or out of service. Over the past few years, we have received frequent complaints about the lack of access to services in English, a recurring problem throughout the province.
Quebec champion for English healthcare to be honoured
“Carter has devoted the last thirty years to championing the rights of English-speaking Quebecers to receive care in English”
CTV’s Caroline Van Vlaardingen interviews James Carter, winner of the 2017 Sheila and Victor Goldbloom Distinguished Community Service Award. Carter has been a tireless and effective advocate for improved access to health and social services in English in Quebec. Carter will receive his award at the QCGN’s Community Awards evening which takes place on October 26 at the St. James Club.
The QCGN is funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage.
