Zainab Al-Mehdar
Pontiac November 3, 2021
After comments made by Premier François Legault on Oct. 19 about “historic anglophones” and the plan to limit government services in the English language for community members who are eligible to attend English schools, the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) decided to take action on Oct. 28 and published an open letter to the premier.
It “struck a chord and people are very upset,” Rita Legault, Director of Communications for the QCGN told THE EQUITY.
The letter highlights some of the concerns of English-speaking Quebecers and is asking the premier and the minister in charge to withdraw Bill 96, but they have “indicated they’re not going to do that,” QCGN director Legault said. One of the major concerns is how the bill defines an English-speaking Quebecer.
The “use of the ‘English-school-eligible’ category is grossly under-inclusive,” the letter said, as well as the fact that “it removes the right to receive services, including health care, in English. The letter stated that this is “utterly divorced from our community’s self-identification”
The QCGN is calling on English-speaking Quebecers to sign the petition that has already been signed by 1500 people “and counting” said Ms. Legault. The QCGN, a not-for-profit organization, highlighted that the premier “should not be attempting to define our community or limiting our access to government services, whether for critical health and social services or the right to pay our taxes in English.”
To read the full letter, see page four.
