The Liberal MPs who have spoken out against mention of the Charter of the French Language in Bill C-13 have undeservedly raised the ire of many in the French-language media, writes former QCGN president Marlene Jennings. Rather than accusing these MPs of spreading disinformation, critics “should focus their attention on the issues being raised.”
Marlene Jennings, former QCGN president and board member of the Red Coalition, is one of three new columnists being welcomed by the Montreal Gazette. “Jennings will be bringing her extraordinary professional and personal experience to bear on, among other things, the once-again tumultuous issue of language in Quebec,” writes Bert Archer, editor in chief of the Gazette.
Marlene Jennings has announced that she is stepping down as president of the Quebec Community Groups Network, the English-language advocacy group that has been in the spotlight for the past year speaking out against the newly passed language law Bill 96.
“Thank you for your Herculean efforts these past 18 months,” the group said in a tweet.
Changes are coming to Quebec Community Groups Network, an English-language support group in Montreal.
QCGN president Marlene Jennings has decided not to seek another mandate after serving in the post for two years.
“I would like to express our community’s deep disappointment with the federal government’s recognition of the Charter of the French Language as amended by Bill 96 in the Official Languages Bill,” QCGN President Marlene Jennings said in committee on Monday.
Montrealers came out Thursday at Place du Canada to rally against Bill 96, Quebec’s French language reform. The bill was officially adopted at the National Assembly on Tuesday – and leaders of the province’s English-speaking community say they will continue to be vocal against it.
“We have a long way to go, but we’re on it and court challenges are in the works,” shouted Marlene Jennings, the president of Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), over the crowd of demonstrators.
Around 500 people led a protest Thursday against Bill 96 — the province’s new language reform law that brings sweeping new changes that some say it not reflective of an inclusive Quebec.
“Premier Legault and the CAQ has completely re-ordered the societal democracy that we have built,” says QCGN President Marlene Jennings, “And when I say ‘we’ I mean all Quebecers.”
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 a statement.
The QCGN is funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage.
