By Trevor Greenway
Editor-in-Chief
Less than a year ago, Gatineau MNA Robert Bussière told the Low Down that English health care rights would be “grandfathered in” for those who were born in Quebec and for those who were Quebec residents before the CAQ government adopted the Bill 15 health reform in December of 2023.
And two years ago, just before the CAQ adopted Bill 96 – the province’s overhaul of the Charter of the French Language – Premier François Legault told reporters that his government “will not refuse to treat patients in English if it’s needed.”
However, earlier this month, this same government announced a 31-page directive spelling out the “exceptional” circumstances in which English is permitted to be spoken in hospitals and other medical facilities.
Inspectors with the province’s language police, the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) have expanded their inspections to hospitals and clinics, pulling workers from important duties to ensure they are speaking French to all patients. The new health directives include a number of imagined linguistic scenarios in hospitals and medical clinics that are outlined in painstaking detail.
Directives to health care on the use of English (SUBHEAD)
In light of the new directives that healthcare professionals are to adhere to regarding the use of English in healthcare settings, we are republishing some quotes from politicians who have, in the past, promised that English rights will be protected under Bill 96 and Bill 15.
But these promises made by ruling politicians seem to be out of line with the new directives. Legault went as far as saying that Bill 96 “changes nothing” for English patients, but the new directives clearly change how English patients will be treated. One directive speaks to a 14-year-old girl who is having an abortion. If she’s brought in by her aunt, who can’t speak French, an exception would be made and English would be permitted.
“A 14-year-old girl (the legal age for making decisions without parental consent) goes to the youth clinic of a local community service centre to have an abortion. She is accompanied by her aunt or friend, who will be responsible for following the instructions after the procedure. Since this person does not understand French, it is permissible to give her the checklist in another language,” the directive reads. See some of the directives on this page, along with reactions from critics and what the politicians promised us when adopting Bills 96 and 15.
“An anglophone father arrives at the hospital with his 10-year-old son, who can speak French. The child’s condition is serious and will require immediate medical intervention. If the health professional is able to, they can use English to obtain the father’s consent without delay.”
“An operator at the 811 health hotline receives a call from an adolescent who is in a state of psychosis and who is speaking in English. The operator is able to communicate in English too.”
“A patient shows signs that his or her health and safety may be compromised in the short term (because of suicidal signs, worrisome or threatening attitudes or behaviour, etc.). Staff may use a language other than French to ensure prompt and appropriate care.”
“It is possible to use another language, in addition to French, when the exclusive use of French is not possible and the communication is (needed) to repatriate a (dead) body.”
What the critics say (SUBHED)
“It’s appalling….The premiere and every one of his ministers told us, ‘don’t worry, be happy – nothing will change.’ Well, that’s not true. How can anyone say ‘don’t worry’ when they are imposing these directives on the healthcare sector?”
– Sylvia Martin-Laforge, Director-general of the Quebec Community Groups Network
“If you go into the emergency and if somebody had to interpret whether or not they can speak in the language of your choice, then there is another delay in care. If you are having a heart attack, it’s not good. Every minute counts… “This is another example of where the Language Act oversteps its boundaries.”
– Marcel Chartrand,
Vigi Santé spokesperson
What the politicians told us about protecting English healthcare (SUBHED)
“If you go to the hospital and you were born in Quebec, you’re entitled to your service in English, and that will continue forever. If you are here at the time when we adopt [Bill 15], you’re allowed to have your services, and we will continue giving them to you.”
– MNA Robert Bussière, CAQ party, 2023
“I want to reassure anyone speaking English, including immigrants that we will not refuse to treat patients in English if it’s needed. I want to be very clear: there is no change at all in the actual situation of services given to anglophones and immigrants in English in our healthcare system.”
– François Legault, CAQ premier of Quebec, 2022
“There will be no changes in services for anglos or in the status of their hospitals. I just want to be clear on that.”
– Christian Dubé,
CAQ Quebec Health Minister, 2023
“When you go to the hospital and you’re in pain, you may need a blood test, but you certainly don’t need a language test.”
– Lucien Bouchard, Parti Québécois premier, 1996
“As a doctor, my mandate is to help the person that is in front of me and in order to help that person, the best way I can communicate is the best way to help them. So, if that person has trouble speaking French, I will speak English to them.”
– Dr. Peter Bonneville, ER doctor in Gatineau