Quebec’s recent amendments to the French-language law have caused confusion among English-speaking residents seeking services, as highlighted in a recent report by Canada’s commissioner of official languages. Raymond Théberge pointed out that health-care workers, in particular, are still grappling with determining when they can provide services in English under Law 14, also known as Bill 96. Similar difficulties are being experienced in Quebec’s education and business sectors.
During a presentation of his findings on the 2023-2028 action plan in Dieppe, N.B., Théberge emphasized the importance of Ottawa ensuring that federal budget cuts do not infringe on Canadians’ language rights. The action plan allocates $4.1 billion for official languages programs. The federal Liberal government’s fall budget outlined a plan to trim program spending and administrative costs by approximately $60 billion over five years and reduce 40,000 public service positions by 2029. Théberge noted that previous budget reductions have already impacted language programs, including training, research, and service provision.
Eva Ludvig, president of Talking. Advocating. Living in Quebec (TALQ), a group advocating for the English-speaking community in the province, echoed the commissioner’s concerns in a news release, stating that federal programs that operate smoothly elsewhere in Canada encounter obstacles or disappear when reaching Quebec’s English-speaking communities.
TALQ raised apprehensions regarding Quebec’s Bill M-30, which it claims further hinders or delays federal funding to English-speaking community organizations. The bill stipulates that any organization receiving more than 50% of its funding from the province falls under provincial jurisdiction and cannot engage in federal agreements without approval from the Quebec minister responsible for Canadian relations. The delayed implementation of crucial programs following the bill’s announcement almost two years ago was emphasized in the commissioner’s report, raising concerns about the community’s sustainability.
TALQ called on Ottawa to take tangible actions to enhance services for English-speaking Quebecers before the current action plan concludes and to integrate fairness into the subsequent plan. The commissioner of official languages stressed the importance of safeguarding language rights amidst federal spending cutbacks.