Geoffrey Chambers, President of The Quebec Community Groups Network, the umbrella organization representing English-speaking community groups in Quebec, accused the provincial government of trying to undermine the organization. Quebec Premier François Legault dismissed the allegations, as being “completely false.”
Geoffrey Chambers, President of the Quebec Community Groups Network accuses the provincial government of trying to divide English speakers and destabilize the network supporting them, writes Rachel Lau from CTV Montreal.
MONTREAL, October 23, 2019 – Following this week’s election, the Quebec Community Groups Network is looking forward to continuing to work with the Government of Canada and parliamentarians to ensure the delivery of a modern Act that reinforces the principle of the equality of status of English and French – particularly in all institutions subject to the Act.
“Our community made its presence felt Monday night in key regions of the province,” said Geoffrey Chambers, president of the QCGN. “We continue to enjoy a significant voice in federal elections, and we expect the concerns of our official language minority community to be represented and considered by all parties in the new Parliament.”
Carrying on a process that has been happening in the background of federal and provincial political discussions for the last three years or so, the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), the Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario (AFO), and the Société de l’Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick (SANB) have been on tour since the summer trying to get the modernization of Canada’s Official Languages Act to be a priority for the country’s next government.”The Official Languages Act really needs to be brought up to date,” said Geoffrey Chambers, President of the QCGN, in a group interview with The Record last week. Joined by Carol Jolin, President of the AFO, and Ali Chaisson, Executive Director of the SANB, the QCGN president echoed words previously related by Raymond Théberge, Canada’s Commissioner of Official Langauges, in saying that the 50 year old piece of legislation is long overdue for an overhaul.
The QCGN, the Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario and the Société de l’Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick are teaming up to demand parties involved in the Oct. 21 federal election commit to strengthening the Official Languages Act by imposing stiffer sanctions on offenders. “There’s a high degree of consensus on what should be done with the act. We would like that consensus converted into an undertaking by the parties in the election, and then an actual adoption of measures in the new parliament,” Geoffrey Chambers, president of the QCGN, told the Montreal Gazette in an editorial board interview on Thursday.
For immediate release
MONTREAL, October 8, 2019 – Their fields of accomplishment vary widely, but four champions of Quebec’s English-speaking community being formally honoured with Community Leadership Awards by the Quebec Community Groups Network share important qualities in equal amounts: dedication and persistence.
Senator and longtime journalist Joan Fraser, commentator and humourist Josh Freed, and community advocate Martin Murphy have won QCGN’s 11th annual Sheila and Victor Goldbloom Community Service Award. Joshua Arless, a barrier-breaking school commissioner, has been chosen for the fifth annual Young Quebecers Leading the Way Award.
“Each leader chosen has in their own way added to the vitality of English-speaking Quebec in an exemplary fashion,” QCGN President Geoffrey Chambers said. “Each has taken an inspirational path that has helped advance our collective cause and move us toward the greater good.”
The “Bonjour-Hi” battle continues. Journal de Montréal columnist Denise Bombardier shares her thoughts on the greeting. QCGN President Geoffrey Chambers recently expressed the wish that Canadians be greeted in both official languages.
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Voters turning up on October 21 will be greeted with a “bonjour-hello”, causing the Mouvement Quebec française (MQF) to speak out against Elections Canada. Quebec Community Groups Network president Geoffrey Chambers says that a welcome in both official languages is exactly what the English-speaking community supports.
Read more (in French only)
Montreal Gazette’s Don Macpherson looks back at the Coalition Avenir Québec’s first year in power and its ups and downs with the English-speaking community.
The Montreal Gazette’s political reporter Philip Authier reflects on key moments that have marked the Coalition Avenir Québec’s first year in power. There have been a series of initiatives, most notably the plan to abolish school boards and the implementation of Bill 21, have concerned the community at large commented QCGN President Geoffrey Chambers.
The QCGN is funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage.
