Posts

Quebec wants special protection, promotion of French as Ottawa looks to modernize official languages act

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As Ottawa prepares to modernize the Official Languages Act, Quebec believes it is essential that it adopt a more comprehensive vision of official languages and recognize that of the two official languages, French is the only minority language across Canada.

Quebec Minister responsible for Canadian Relations and the Canadian Francophonie Sonia LeBel wants to share Quebec’s five points on this subject with the federal government.

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Editorial: A time for English-speaking Quebecers to focus on our future

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With new measures to protect French imminent from both the Quebec and federal governments, English-speaking Quebecers should be forgiven for wondering, ‘what about us?’ writes the Montreal Gazette’s editorial board. Quebec’s English-speaking communities also require protection, even if English — as the majority language in Canada and the world’s lingua franca of commerce, technology and popular culture — does not.

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Opinion: Include anglos in efforts to boost French

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It’s time for francophones and anglophones to work more closely together on linguistic issues. Here’s how.

If the government of Quebec wants to strengthen the French language, it should do so in partnership with English-speaking Quebecers, not treat them as an opponent.

Anglophones know that French requires some form of protection and promotion by the governments of Quebec and Canada, given the language’s minority status in the country and, indeed, on the continent.

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We must protect French – but not at the expense of Quebec’s English-speaking communities

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By Marlene Jennings, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network

At the dawn of 2021, English-speaking Quebecers are witnessing the relative language peace we have enjoyed for many years fade.

In Ottawa, Official Languages Minister Mélanie Joly has promised to table a white paper as the basis for protecting and promoting French not only outside of Quebec but also within. Meanwhile, in Quebec City, Simon Jolin-Barrette, minister responsible for the French language, will reinforce the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101).

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Malaise à employer le français pour bien des fonctionnaires… francophones!

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Près de la moitié des francophones qui travaillent pour la fonction publique fédérale dans des régions particulièrement bilingues du Canada sont mal à l’aise d’utiliser le français dans le cadre de leur emploi.

C’est ce que révèle un récent sondage mené par le Commissariat aux langues officielles auprès de 10 828 fonctionnaires de cinq régions clés: le Nouveau-Brunswick, les villes d’Ottawa et de Gatineau, les autres endroits en Ontario où l’on parle autant la langue de Shakespeare que celle de Molière ainsi que les endroits au Québec où les milieux de travail sont bilingues.

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Editorial: As language issues heat up, a new year’s wish

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Let’s hope our government leaders take a balanced approach, one that respects the rights and legitimate concerns of all.

It is said that a new year brings new hope. And certainly, as 2021 dawns, there is much to be hopeful about, starting with the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines that promise an end to this horrible pandemic.

But for English-speaking Quebecers, this is also a time of apprehension. New provincial and federal measures to protect French are imminent. The nationalist ideologues who seem to have a particular influence on the Coalition Avenir Québec government continue to clamour for action.

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Opinion: QCGN to be a crucial, constructive voice in coming debates

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By Marlene Jennings  •  Special to Montreal Gazette

Let’s protect French without diminishing the vitality and viability of Quebec’s English-speaking communities, which are increasingly fragile.

The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) and many English-speaking Quebecers are determined to serve as crucial and constructive voices throughout upcoming debates that are bound to prove emotional and sometimes acrimonious. We believe that English-speaking Quebecers are uniquely placed to nurture understanding between English and French Canadians — and to communicate Quebec’s unique character and concerns as well as the needs of francophone minorities to Canada’s English-speaking majority.

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Kramberger: French learning curve for anglo West Island MNA

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Jacques-Cartier MNA Greg Kelley’s opposition member’s bill remains in limbo.

It’s been a year since West Island Liberal MNA Greg Kelley audaciously tabled an opposition member’s bill in the National Assembly to amend Quebec’s French Language Charter to establish free French instruction for anyone who resides in the province.

I commend his effort, which can help anglophones and immigrants improve their prospects in Quebec. However, it comes as no surprise the Coalition Avenir Québec government has yet to act on this olive-branch proposal.

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Francophone MPs ‘feel some discrimination’ over translation issues, says Bloc Whip

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Since hybrid committee meetings began on Sept. 23, 86 per cent of witness interventions have been in English, with 14 per cent in French, according to the House administration’s findings.

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