Minister Roberge to meet with English-speaking community amid concerns over health directives
Posted August 1, 2024 11:58 am.
Quebec’s French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge is slated to meet with representatives of Quebec’s English-speaking community to listen to their concerns over a linguistic directive regulating the use of English and other mother tongues in healthcare.
New French-language directives in the province’s health care network, released on July 18, have raised concerns among anglophones and allophones now worried they won’t be able to access healthcare in the language of their choice.
According to a report published by the Montreal Gazette, “historic anglophones” may need an Education Ministry eligibility certificate to reeceive exclusive English communications in health care.
Recent government directives meant to spell out incidents where English would be allowed have only added to the confusion.
Responding to the uproar, Minister Roberge posted a lengthy explanation on social media, where he insisted the directive allows all people who wish to receive health care in a language other than French.
“Regardless of what has been said in recent days, the directive issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Services is clear: it allows all people who wish to receive health care in a language other than French,” he wrote on X.
“The MSSS directive, like the Charter of the French Language, clearly expresses that ‘an organization may deviate from the obligation to use French exclusively when health, public safety or the principles of justice natural demands.’ We will never deviate from this principle, it is written in black and white in the law!”
He then added, however, that with the exception of members of the historic English-speaking community, the directive provides that communications of an administrative nature or which do not compromise the health of the user must be in French.
“We’re not talking about health care delivery here. Our priority is to care for people, regardless of their language,” he added.
Advocates for the English-speaking community maintain that the new directives are causing confusion and could lead to dangerous situations for patients or more medical staff leaving the sector.
“A meeting will be held shortly with representatives of the English-speaking community to hear their concerns and provide any necessary clarifications,” Roberge said.
