Achi news desk-
The minister responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers is on the defensive.
Eric Girard faces questions about the CAQ policy and its impact on Anglophones. It comes as part of an annual review of government spending following the unveiling of the provincial budget last month.
Greg Kelly, the Liberal Party of Quebec’s auditor for relations with English-speaking Quebecers, spoke to CTV News about how the CAQ handled the English case and what lies ahead for his opposition party.
This article has been edited for length and clarity. Watch the video above for the full interview.
CTV: So you questioned Eric Girard yesterday at a parliamentary committee meeting about the decision to raise tuition fees for out-of-province students, and he admitted that there is dissatisfaction with English universities here in Montreal, and in the English community in general. But he says the government has made compromises, for example, by reducing increases and a special exemption for Bishop’s University. What is your response to this?
Kelly: The minister compromised with himself because obviously, you know, the institutions of McGill and Concordia are not happy because they are going to court. I don’t think anyone in the English-speaking community is happy with this so-called compromise.
Let’s be frank; When I brought up this whole idea of ​​will it cover the costs of the underfunded French universities? Of course, the answer is no. Every time you bring it up with the government, they still fall short. So the whole basic purpose of this policy is to try to create a more equal system. This is simply not the case. By taking McGill, they did nothing to really help the French network. In all honesty, we know that both need to be supported because all of our higher education institutions serve all Quebecers. It’s not really a question of linguistics, in my opinion. We just need to invest in higher education. So I did not receive the minister’s response that it was a compromise. Far from it.
CTV: We reported extensively on this information session for English parents of children with special needs that was held in French. Only the slides were presented in English and questions in English were taken after the presentation. This raises concerns about the impact of Bill 96. What will the Liberal Party do to make sure English-speaking Quebecers have access to services in English?
KELLY: This is one case, again, where the government clearly had no idea what they were supposed to do and how they were supposed to manage it, which is why they seem to have gone back a little bit and said the presentation should have been made available in English. And it can be.
And the one I brought up yesterday was that story of someone who was dealing with a Ministry of Natural Resources land transfer, who had to get a death certificate from one of his family members, issued by the English Quebec government, then. Translated in French to respect Bill 96. And they had to pay for it.
Such cases continue to multiply and accumulate. And that is not really what is necessarily written in Bill 96. Or, again, how can the government better implement regulations to ensure that this does not happen? So as the opposition, we have a duty to the community to go out there and stand up to the minister. If it’s Mr. Girard or if it’s Mr. Roberge, yes, the law is followed, but at the same time with the feeling that people or any service or access to services from the government are not being restricted.
CTV: I guess you could say for the Liberal Party, right now, you don’t have a permanent leader. The leader will be elected only next year. If you focus too much on Anglophone rights, could it alienate the Francophone vote you need to win more ridings at the next general election in 2026. Looks like you have to walk a fine line here.
Kelly: I believe it is always important to stand up and speak for the rights of all Quebecers, and that will always include the English-speaking community. I’m really important to remind all your viewers that despite the clause suspending everyone’s rights. No one in Quebec can go to court to challenge some of the effects of Bill 96 on business, whether you are francophone or anglophone.
That we have such a message, that we are here for the rights of all Quebecers, that we believe that the English-speaking community has a place here, they should feel welcome. They are equal to all other citizens. This is something that has always been part of the liberal DNA. This is something we have always talked about, and I expect the next leader of our party to get the same message.
We always have to be conscientious about protecting and promoting the French language and I always think that the best way to make sure that our French language and culture is strong here in this province is to invest in our education system and make sure that our children learn French, master French as well as possible and also get to know the wonderful French culture that we have here in Quebec.
There are recipes for success in these debates around language, and it doesn’t always have to be a zero-sum game or division, as we’ve seen from the CAQ and of course, as the PQ and Quebec Solidaire often make it out to be. file.
