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West Island Health Authority informs patients of language rights

Local Journalism Initiative / The Suburban / December 24, 2024 / Bill 101, Chelsey St-Pierre, English, West Island CIUSSS

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The West Island CIUSSS has placed posters throughout the healthcare institutions it manages to inform patients on their right to be served in English. Why does the health authority feel the need to do this initiative?

The answer lies in the highly criticized 31-page document issued by the CAQ government last July to apply Bill 96 language laws, created to “preserve the French language” and “strengthen” Bill 101, now in health care.

The controversial application of the law to healthcare could restrict complete access to healthcare services for Anglophones and impede on their rights under the Canada Health Act. “The CAQ government is prepared to sacrifice fundamental constitutional rights to life, liberty and security of the person to fulfill its language goals,” Montreal lawyer Julius Grey has stated.

Effective communication is essential in ensuring the safety of patients. Restricting a means of communication in healthcare can be potentially dangerous or life threatening. The CAQ government argues that the law is exempt in emergency situations, however without effective communication a situation that may be urgent, yet unapparent, could be overlooked without a means of communication. Cutting the line between patients and healthcare professionals and/or professionals within the institution is dangerous.

The immediate reactions of elected officials at every level of government, healthcare professionals and the general public generated a “revised” statement by Quebec’s French Language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge in less than a month, but not a retraction.

While the threat of impact on the Anglophone community looms in “revision”, the health authority has taken it upon itself to clarify their basic rights to be served in English.

The Suburban reached out to the CIUSSS-ODIM for comment. The authority’s representatives did not respond by press time. n

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“Divisive politics have no place in healthcare!”:Kelley

Local Journalism Initiative / The Suburban / November 27, 2024 / Chelsey St-Pierre, English, Gregory Kelley, National Assembly

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The National Assembly has unanimously adopted a Liberal motion, supported by Québec Solidaire, emphasizing that English-speaking Quebecers do not need to obtain a certificate of eligibility to access health and social services in English in Québec.

In speaking to The Suburban, Gregory Kelley, the Official Opposition critic for relations with English-speaking Quebecers stated that, “No confusion should ever exist in the health network where a person feels they need to prove their right to have access to healthcare. When a patient shows up to a hospital, it is for a medical test and not a language test.”

The motion, tabled by André Fortin, Liberal MNA for Pontiac, requires the government to ensure that any directives given to the health and social services network are clear and explicit on this matter.

In recent months, complete confusion has arisen following the publication of a government directive on the use of languages other than French in the health and social services network. Many citizens have expressed concern that they would not be able to receive health care in English.

According to Kelley, it was imperative to remind the government of its responsibilities, particularly with the presentation of this motion. ‘’The CAQ has finally understood the importance of ensuring that every individual in Quebec, without exception, can access health care, and that language should never serve as an obstacle. They created a 31-page document to explain why and how they are applying language laws to healthcare. Lucien Bouchard (the former Premier of Quebec) said, “When you go to a hospital you may need a blood test but you don’t need a language test.’ Bottom line is that divisive politics do not have a place in the healthcare system.”

When asked for an “on the ground” example of what the confusion relayed to him directly looked like, Kelley told The Suburban about an elderly constituent whose spouse was concerned about bringing him to the hospital as he lost his bilingual capabilities due to dementia. “The senior community, in particular, has been really shaken up by this. It affects everyone. It is wrong. Period.” n

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