Anglophone community raises concerns about language rights in Quebec
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The debate surrounding Quebec’s Bill 96, formally known as the “Act respecting French, the official and common language of Quebec,” remains a heated topic, especially among the province’s anglophone community. The bill, which was passed by the National Assembly of Quebec on May 24, 2022, was intended to consolidate the status of French as Quebec’s common, official language. However, critics argue that the legislation has significant negative implications for English-speaking Quebecers, despite the government’s assurances.
To address concerns and dispel what it described as “falsehoods” about the bill, the Quebec government released a poster approximately two years ago, outlining what it claimed to be the facts about Bill 96. The poster emphasized the following points:
1. Health Services: The poster assured that English-speaking citizens would continue to have access to health services in their language, in the same way as before the adoption of Bill 96.
2. Education and Institutions: It claimed that the English-speaking communities would continue to benefit from a quality English-language school system, including colleges, universities, and hospitals, at a level unmatched by other French-speaking minorities in Canada.
3. Justice: The poster stated that English-speakers in Quebec would still benefit from the same constitutional guarantees concerning their access to justice in their language.
4. Indigenous Rights: The legislation, it said, would be applied in a manner consistent with the rights of the First Nations and Inuit communities, ensuring the preservation and development of Indigenous languages and cultures.
5. Searches and Seizures: Finally, the poster declared that the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) had never, nor would it ever, engage in arbitrary searches or seizures under Bill 96.
Despite these reassurances, Andrew Caddell, president of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy—a group established to oppose Bill 96—remains highly critical of the bill and its implications. In an interview on Aug. 7, Caddell expressed deep concerns about how the bill has been implemented, arguing that it unfairly targets Quebec’s anglophone community.
“Bill 96 is an abrogation that deliberately victimizes the anglophone community,” Caddell asserted. He pointed out that while the government promised continuity in access to services, the reality has been far more restrictive. “By suppressing another community’s access to services, you’re not promoting French or providing better services to francophones,” he said.
Caddell highlighted several examples where the bill’s application has been problematic. One of the most contentious issues, he noted, is the government’s narrow definition of an English-speaking citizen, now based on whether an individual holds a certificate proving that the majority of their education was in English in Canada. This criterion, according to Caddell, has unjustly excluded many English-speaking Quebecers from accessing services in their language.
“My father, who served our country in World War II, would not be considered an historic anglophone today because he spent seven years of his education in Scotland,” Caddell explained. He also noted that his son, who was educated partly in the United States, would likewise be ineligible under the new criteria. “You’re discriminating against 1.25 million citizens of Quebec who pay taxes and are involved in society, most of whom speak French.”
Caddell also criticized the government’s claim regarding the English-language education system. He argued that access to English-language education has become more restricted, with delays in issuing certificates preventing some students from enrolling in English schools. He cited an example involving Ukrainian students who faced significant delays in obtaining the necessary documentation to attend a specialized English-language school in Quebec.
Moreover, Caddell raised concerns about bilingual hospitals, such as Santa Cabrini and the Jewish General, which he said are now required to operate with French as the predominant language, thereby undermining their bilingual status. “Our hospitals are no longer truly bilingual,” Caddell argued. “Even the McGill University Health Centre has been instructed to conduct its board meetings in French.”
Geneviève Hébert, the local CAQ MNA and government whip, supports the legislation. In an Aug. 9 email response to The Record’s request for comment or an interview, Hébert’s office affirmed her support for Bill 96 and emphasized her sensitivity to the concerns of the English-speaking community. “She has always ensured that their interests are well represented to her government,” Hugo Dionne, press attaché, stated, highlighting that Hébert and her team maintain close ties with community actors and work collaboratively on issues affecting them.
Further addressing the ongoing debate, Quebec ministers Jean-François Roberge, Christian Dubé, and Eric Girard published an open letter on Aug. 9, aiming to clarify the government’s position, particularly in the context of health care. The ministers assured the public that the government’s intention “has never been to restrict access to health care for English speakers in Quebec.” They reiterated that every English-speaking individual in Quebec retains the right to receive health and social services in English, as enshrined in Section 15 of the Act respecting health services and social services.
The letter further clarified that the recent directive from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, which had raised concerns, “does not limit the circumstances under which users have the right to receive health and social services in English.” The ministers emphasized that no documentation or proof would be required from users to receive care in a particular language. Additionally, the letter acknowledged the special status of institutions like the Jewish General and Santa Cabrini hospitals, which the OQLF has recognized.