Opponents of Bill 96 are spreading ‘disinformation’: Legault
Reacting to Legault’s comments, Quebec Community Groups Network president Marlene Jennings turned the tables, saying the government is also spreading false information.
Tag Archive for: François Legault
Quebec accused of launching ‘culture war’ on English with strict French language law
The Daily Telegraph reports: “[Quebec’s] ruling nationalist party, Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) says tough measures are ‘urgently required’ for the survival of the French language… but critics say it will penalise bilingualism.”
“It’s nothing against English Quebecers,” says Premier François Legault: “It’s about protecting French.”
Opposition Grows to Restrictive Definition of English-speaking Community
MONTREAL, December 16, 2021 – More than three dozen organizations are telling Premier François Legault that his restrictive definition of an historic English-language community is unfair and unacceptable.
These groups, from across Quebec and from multiple sectors including arts and culture, education and health and social services have endorsed a resolution opposing the Coalition Avenir Québec government’s plan to limit government services in English to what the premier defines as “historic anglophones” – only individuals eligible to attend school in English in Quebec.
Dear Mr. Premier: English-speaking Quebecers are full-fledged, contributing members of Quebec society
English-speaking Quebecers are proud Quebecers who reject the Coalition Avenir Québec’s decision to label our community as “historic anglophones” and its plan to limit government services in our own language to citizens who are eligible to attend English schools.
That is the message 96 English-speaking Quebecers signed in an open letter to Premier François Legault.
True Impact of Bill 96 on English-speaking Community Now Abundantly Clear
Following months of repeated assurances to the contrary, Quebec Premier François Legault this morning confirmed that under Bill 96, he intends to restrict access to Quebec government services in English to members of the English-speaking community eligible to receive English education under Bill 101.
Among the effects, this would remove the existing right to access health care and social services in English from between 300,000 and 500,000 members of Quebec’s English-speaking community.
Legault’s take on what it means to be a ‘historic’ English-speaker in Quebec problematic some say
Quebec Premier François Legault’s use and definition of the term “historic English-speaking community” is cause for concern, according to some in the province’s anglophone community.
“The reaction that I’m hearing from English-speaking Quebecers is that it was a self-serving few seconds,” said QCGN director general Sylvia Martin-Laforge, “speaking to us and telling us we were the best treated minority in Canada.”
Historic Quebec anglos are those eligible for English schooling, says Legault
Premier François Legault has defined the historic English-speaking community as people who are eligible for English schooling in Quebec.
The QCGN says the definition would mean between 300,000 and 500,000 English-speaking Quebecers would be dropped from the list of those entitled to services.
The QCGN also challenged Legault’s statement that anglophones are the best treated minority in Canada, noting that many of the institutions that provide services in English were built and supported by generations of anglophones.
Quebec anglos are best-served minority in Canada, Legault insists
Premier François Legault said Tuesday that despite his rocky relationship with Quebec’s English-speaking community, it is nevertheless the best served minority in Canada and he is proud of that.
Legault’s use of the term “historic English-speaking community” will raise some hackles. The English community has complained such language potentially narrows the list of people eligible for services in English.
Bill 96 proposes basing access to services on the English school eligibility formula. The Quebec Community Groups Network, an anglophone umbrella group, says that would mean between 300,000 and 500,000 English-speaking Quebecers would be dropped.
‘No minority in Canada is better served than English-speaking Quebecers’: Legault
Quebec Premier Francois Legault came under fire this week for claiming “no minority in Canada is better served than English-speaking Quebecers” during his Tuesday inaugural speech.
The premier made the comment after listing off institutions servicing the English-speaking community, from Dawson College to the MUHC.
“English-speaking Quebecers worked hard to give ourselves those institutions,” said Quebec Community Groups Network general director Sylvia Martin-Laforge.
“We built them, we paid for them, and they’re now part of Quebec,” she said.
‘Things must change in Quebec,’ says Legault ahead of inaugural speech
With Quebec now officially into an election year, Premier François Legault is set to deliver a new inaugural message Tuesday to the National Assembly, which he hopes will signal a fresh start for his government.
Launching a fresh session is useful for Legault. Any bills remaining on the order paper in the previous session automatically die, allowing him to cherry-pick the ones he wants to bring back and adopt. That will certainly include Bill 96, overhauling the Charter of the French Language .
On Monday, the Quebec Community Groups Network again urged the government to withdraw the bill and start over.
The QCGN is funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage.
