Mr. Minister of Justice, we affirm – researchers, professionals and stakeholders involved with immigrants and refugees – that Bill 96, the Act respecting the official and common language of Quebec, French, will undermine the accessibility and quality of essential public services for residents of Quebec who do not speak French, especially immigrants and refugees.
Bill 96 proposes to prohibit public sector employees from communicating with individuals to whom they provide services in languages other than French, with certain exceptions. These exceptions include people who attended elementary school in English in Canada, Aboriginals and immigrants during the first six months after their arrival in Quebec.
The Quebec state has a duty to promote the use of French in order to ensure that it is the common public language of Quebec. But it also has a duty to ensure that anyone who resides in Quebec, regardless of their level of knowledge of French, has equitable access to public services which are essential to their health and well-being.
If the bill is adopted, public sector employees would be prohibited from communicating with immigrants and refugees settled in Quebec for more than six months in a language other than French (or English, in recognized bilingual institutions). , under penalty of disciplinary sanctions.
Even the use of interpreters paid for by the state would be prohibited. These provisions would apply to the entire public sector, including the health and social services network, the school network, the municipalities and the public service. Only exceptional circumstances would allow the use of other languages.
It is unrealistic to assume that in six months newcomers will learn enough French to communicate about complex and important topics such as their children’s education, health care, or eligibility for a safety program. returned. Few of them can take full-time francization courses because they have to work and take care of their families, so learning French can easily take several years. This can be even longer for the elderly, with little education or those who bear the consequences of bereavement or trauma. Deliberately establishing language barriers will accentuate social inequalities and risk compromising the social, economic and health rights of vulnerable people.
Newborn health
For example, a refugee who has been in Quebec for more than six months meets the CLSC nurse for postnatal follow-up for her newborn. The nurse would not have the right to use an interpreter to explain the importance of having the baby vaccinated. Even if the woman speaks enough French to get by on a daily basis, it is quite possible that she does not have a sufficient command of French for such a complex and sensitive conversation. If the nurse cannot communicate adequately with the mother, the health of the baby is at risk.
The list of situations where the quality of public services, user safety and informed consent depend on overcoming the language barrier is long. Let us think, for example, of the assessment of the educational needs of young people, parenting skills or health and safety issues at work and more generally of the accompaniment and support of vulnerable immigrants (problems of deprivation, mental health, etc. .).
In our opinion, public sector workers should have the leeway to assess the person’s situation to decide whether it is appropriate to communicate with them in a language other than French and, if necessary, to use an interpreter. subsidized by the state.
Therefore, we are asking for two amendments:
- First, exempt essential public services (health and social services, education, legal aid, occupational health and safety, income security, etc.) from provisions prohibiting communication in languages other than French (or English in bilingual institutions).
- Second, considerably lengthen the period during which immigrants can receive services in languages other than French (or English in bilingual institutions).
To support newcomers in their integration journey, it is important that they feel welcomed and respected. Research has shown that coercive linguistic approaches hamper the learning of a second language and the feeling of belonging to a new society, in addition to contributing to direct and indirect discrimination. Providing essential services in a language that the user understands does not in any way interfere with their francization. On the contrary, access to public services aimed at ensuring basic economic security, good health and the educational success of children will promote the integration of immigrants and refugees as full members of Quebec society.
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