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French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge is meeting with stakeholders of Quebec’s English-speaking community on Tuesday to clarify a directive limiting the use of English in the health network.
But some groups that have been vocal critics of the directive — the Townshippers’ Association and the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) — say they were excluded from the discussion.
“The directive is creating confusion,” said Denis Kotsoros, executive director of the Townshippers’ Association. “This process of consultation is just adding more confusion to the matter.”
The meeting comes days after Liberal MP Anna Gainey called for detailed explanations on the Health Ministry directive, saying constituents worry it will interfere with their ability to get care in English.
Quebec Liberal MPs take aim at provincial directive on language in health care
Sent by the Health Ministry in July, the directive outlines when written and oral communications can be transmitted to clientele in a language other than French. The order aligns with Quebec’s revised Charter of the French language, commonly known as Bill 96.
The law requires provincial and municipal government bodies, including health and social services, to communicate in writing and orally with the public in French by default.
Some exceptions exist, allowing government bodies to serve someone in English if they hold a certificate of eligibility for instruction in English, if they are First Nations or Inuit, if they immigrated to Quebec in the last six months or if they had an English-only file with that specific government body before May 13, 2021.
An organization may deviate from the requirement to use French exclusively when “health care, public safety or the principles of natural justice are so required,” according to the directive. “If it finds that the health-care objectives cannot be achieved through the exclusive use of French, the body can, when health care requires it, use another language.”
Health minister skips meeting
Since the Montreal Gazette first reported on the directive, Roberge has tried to assuage concerns over the ability for patients to access health care in a language other than French.
He published an open letter on Aug. 9, attempting to reassure Quebecers that anyone seeking health care in English would receive it.
In an interview with CBC Montreal’s Daybreak on the same day, he said “no question will be asked, no document will have to be shown,” if someone goes to the hospital and requires health care in English.
However, Kotsoros said Tuesday Roberge’s words “don’t help a community that has a lot of anxiety right now.”
The letter was also signed by Health Minister Christian Dubé and Eric Girard, the minister responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers. However, they did not participate in Tuesday’s meeting.
A government directive that says people will have to have a special document to get some health care services in English is causing outrage and confusion. The province says it’s not what it looks like.
A spokesperson for Dubé said in an email he is currently touring Abitibi-Témiscamingue, but he would be briefed following the meeting with English-speaking groups.
In an email sent Tuesday, Girard’s spokesperson said he would be available later this week “if deemed necessary.”
The QCGN said in a statement published Monday that it was “not surprised” to have been left out and asked for the three ministers to “live up to the promise” in their letter by meeting with the organization.
Then on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the QCGN said the government invited the group to the meeting, but the group declined because Dubé would be absent.
Earlier, it noted that some groups which had been invited to Tuesday’s meeting chose not to attend, because, like the QCGN, they think Dubé should have been present.
“We have made it clear from the outset the importance of meeting with Christian Dubé,” the statement read. “This is a health issue, plain and simple.”
Source: cbc
