official language minority communities

Editorial: Defending Canada’s linguistic duality

January 29, 2021/in Language News/by Catheline Moreau

Like other official language minority communities, English-speaking Quebecers should be able to count on the federal government as an ally.

In its Throne Speech last fall, the Trudeau government said that “the defence of the rights of francophones outside Quebec, and the defence of the rights of the anglophone minority within Quebec, is a priority for the government.” So far, so good. But it went on say that the situation of French is unique, and that it had “the responsibility to protect and promote French not only outside of Quebec, but also within Quebec,” and that the “unique reality of French” would be taken into consideration in its modernization of the Official Languages Act.

The Future of French Education in the Supreme Court

September 26, 2019/in Press Coverage/by QCGN Communications

Supreme Court judges will hear from minority languages communities today in the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique v. British Columbia case. While the case is about language education rights for French speakers in British Columbia, the QCGN is showing solidarity with Francophone minority organizations in calling for a broad and generous interpretation of Section 23 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. QCGN will be participating in the hearings, with President Geoffrey Chambers explaining that the goal “is to remind the court that this article concerns English-speaking and French-language minorities and explains why the management and control of minority language instruction is equally important in the context of Quebec.”

Read article (In French only)

Factum of the Intervener Quebec Community groups Network

September 25, 2019/in QCGN Documents/by QCGN Communications

Read QCGN’s legal factum on the Supreme Court of Canada case of Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique v. British Columbia, at

QCGN Intervenes in B.C. School Board Case at Supreme Court of Canada

September 25, 2019/in Press Releases/by QCGN Communications

Winnipeg – September 25, 2019 – Section 23 of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms –which guarantees minority language educational rights to French-speaking communities outside Quebec and to the English-speaking minority within Quebec – requires a generous and expansive interpretation that favours all official language minorities throughout Canada.

This is what the lawyerfor the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) will plead Thursday as the Supreme Court of Canada hears arguments in the case of Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique v. British Columbia, at proceedings taking place in Winnipeg, Man.

“The QCGN is showing solidarity with Francophone minority organizations in calling for a broad and generous interpretation of Section 23,” QCGN President Geoffrey Chambers declared. “We aim to remind the court that this section applies to English-speaking as well as French-speaking minorities and explain why management and control of minority-language education is equally important in the Quebec context.”

Official Languages, a “Record Skipping” for 50 years?

September 7, 2019/in Press Coverage/by QCGN Communications

Marking the 50^th anniversary of Canada’s Official Languages Act, Radio-Canada takes an in-depth look at the vitality of Canada’s linguistic minority communities. Many issues are on the table for Quebec’s English-speaking community, says Geoffrey Chambers, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network. Among them, he adds, is the need for an administrative tribunal to give the Act additional teeth.

QCGN Welcomes Raymond Théberge, Canada’s New Commissioner of Official Languages

December 13, 2017/in QCGN News/by QCGN Communications

Download a copy of the press release in PDF

Montreal – December 13, 2017 – The Quebec Community Groups Network welcomes the appointment of Raymond Théberge as Canada’s 7th Commissioner of Official Languages whose nomination was officially endorsed by the House of Commons this afternoon.

“Commissioner Théberge takes the helm at a critical time for Canada’s Official Languages,” commented QCGN President James Shea, noting that Government of Canada will soon unveil its multi-year Action Plan on Official Languages; Treasury Board is conducting a ground-up review of Official Languages Regulations; and work to modernize the Official Languages Act, which will shortly turn 50 years old, has begun.

Théberge, who holds a doctorate in Linguistics from McGill University, has more than three decades of experience serving official language minority communities from leading positions in government, academia, and the community sector. During his confirmation process, Théberge stressed the importance of research, and a firm evidence-base upon which to protect, and build upon the language rights of Canadians. He is also committed to ensuring that the participation of English and French-speaking Canadians in the leadership of his new office, and visiting the English-speaking community of Quebec as a first order of business.

“Commissioner Théberge is now the leading advocate for Canada’s English- and French-speaking minority communities,” commented Shea, noting that the Commissioner’s job requires an equal understanding and commitment to both of Canada’s official language minority communities.

“We look forward to him visiting Quebec’s English-speaking communities and QCGN is duty-bound to helping him better understand the needs and challenges of our Community of Communities as well as the many enduring policy gaps that impact our community.”

Traditionally held alternately by a French-speaking and an English-speaking Canadian, Théberge is the third Francophone and first commissioner from outside Ontario and Quebec to be appointed to the post since it was created in 1970 to ensure the application of the Official Languages Act and to promote bilingualism and linguistic duality. The Commissioner, who reports directly to Parliament, is responsible for the full recognition and widespread use of English and French within Canadian society, as well as within federal institutions and other organizations subject to the Official Languages Act. The Commissioner of Official Languages is appointed for a seven-year mandate.

“Over the past decade, the QCGN has built a close relationship with the Commissioner of Official Languages,” remarked QCGN Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge. “This relationship was a critical part of key community victories, like the recent establishment of a Secretariat for Responsible for Relations with English-Speaking Quebecers, and helping us get access to the highest levels of the federal government to ensure English-speaking Quebec’s unique concerns and priorities are heard and understood by policy leaders.

“The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages remains a key community ally and immense source of support, and we will continue to fully support their work,” said Martin-Laforge, extending our organization’s and our community’s appreciation to Interim Commissioner Ghislaine Saikaley and her team who have held down the fort since Graham Fraser retired a year ago after more than a decade of outstanding service.

QCGN Advocates for More Flexible Regulations for Provision of Federal Minority Language Services

November 17, 2016/in Press Releases/by QCGN Communications

Montreal, November 17, 2016 – The Quebec Community Groups Network is pleased with today’s announcement by Treasury Board President Scott Brison and Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly that the government will undertake a review of the regulations pertaining to the Official Languages Act which deal with communicating to the public.

“It is particularly appropriate that representatives from Canada’s official language minority communities have been invited to today’s announcement, demonstrating the intimate links that exist between all parts of the Official Languages Act, which aims to ensure respect for English and French as the official languages of Canada, and support the development of our nation’s English and French linguistic minority communities,” commented QCGN President James Shea, who was on hand for the announcement.

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