Quebec budget cuts hit English-speaking community, raising concerns over reduced services

The CAQ government’s most recent provincial budget has been met with mixed reactions, including from Quebec’s anglophone community. Yes Employment + Entrepreneurship, an organization based in Montreal that offers employment and entrepreneurship services dedicated to English speakers, had all of its provincial funding for employability services eliminated.

“Very frustrating, like I think we were in a period of shock,” said Marina Boulos-Winton, executive director of Yes Employment and Entrepreneurship.

The cuts total $466,000, which represents 17 per cent of their entire budget.

“With this funding cut, we will continue our services, but not long-term services, like those with many, many appointments. It has to be more short-term,” said Boulos-Winton.

These cuts mean that two critical programs have lost all provincial support—one providing pre-employability training and internship opportunities, and the other offering employment assistance services for youth facing multiple barriers.

“These are programs that serve people who are far from the labour market,” said Boulos-Winton. “People who need work experience, internships, and so it’s the more vulnerable people who will be affected by these job cuts.”

“I was not aware of this, so thanks for bringing it up. I’ll look into it and discuss the issue with the minister responsible, Kateri Champagne Jourdain,” said Eric Girard, Quebec’s Finance Minister.

While there were cuts, Quebec’s budget also included $10 million over five years to support English-speaking communities in accessing health, social, and mental health services, as well as maintaining access to legal information services to ensure the law is clearly communicated.

“It’s really an increase in funding,” said Girard. “Sometimes English-speaking people in the regions, outside of Montreal, are older and more isolated, and so these funds do make a difference for that.”

“We’ve been through many difficult years following Bill 96 when a lot of services and access to services were removed for the English-speaking community,” said Eva Ludvig, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN).

The QCGN, an organization that advocates for the rights of English-speaking Quebecers, welcomes this funding announcement but says more support is needed to help anglophones face their challenges in the province.

“When you are in need of health services or mental health services, we’re talking about crisis situations,” said Ludvig. “Studies have shown that even if you speak French, you need services in your own language. It’s important to have these services, and our community has had difficulties. We’ve heard lots of horror stories, especially regarding seniors, and mental health services for young people in schools, which have been limited because of budget cuts.”