The Quebec Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (AQOA) raises concerns about “Bill 96”. Speech therapists recommended amendments supported by clinical and scientific knowledge in order to avoid penalizing certain vulnerable groups in terms of access to health and education services. “Bill 96” also undermines the professional freedom of speech therapists and audiologists, especially bilingual, Aboriginal, black or racialized professionals.
From the outset, we recognize and value French as a common and public language in Quebec. However, a fear is evident for all speech therapists and audiologists, especially those who practice in a language other than French, as well as for those who, in addition to French, use other languages in their practice. These professionals are particularly affected, even penalized, by the adoption of Bill 96. The ban on requesting the intervention of an interpreter, unless their users meet the exemption criteria, is worrying. Speech therapists and audiologists will be restricted in the choice of language for assessment and intervention, which is often a crucial choice to ensure quality services.
In addition to limiting the professional acts specific to their work, “Bill 96” also limits all the human interactions inherent in the work of speech therapists and audiologists, such as giving additional explanations on the telephone, scheduling an appointment, or learning to get to know and build relationships with their users. This will affect the therapeutic alliance, the feeling of competence with the clientele and the clinical judgement.
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists will necessarily face ethical dilemmas if they cannot make the best professional decisions for the services of their users. For example, for a bilingual child, the scientific literature supports the evaluation in both languages of the child in order to have an accurate portrait of his abilities and to avoid over-identification or under-identification. Not being able to use a language other than French or not having access to an interpreter in these situations could be detrimental to users and therefore cause an ethical problem.
We are also required to present the results to users and their families. They must also consent to the services and take part in the decisions that concern them. Not being able to clearly communicate information to the client, for example by using his language, will harm him and once again will constitute an ethical dilemma.
In order to facilitate communication with these users and offer them quality services, the use of interpreters is essential. Working in partnership with an interpreter is also part of good practice in speech therapy and audiology. In addition to harming the quality and accessibility of essential services for part of the population, this limitation caused by “Bill 96” will lead to a feeling of incompetence and powerlessness among members.
The very essence of the professions of speech therapy and audiology is human communication, in the broad sense. Often, a privileged professional alliance, based on cultural security, can be created between a member and his user. This ensures quality of service on the one hand, and professional fulfillment on the other. However, with “Law 96”, a Spanish-speaking member, for example, who wishes to communicate in Spanish with a user who is also Spanish-speaking, will find it impossible to do so, which will compromise the therapeutic alliance.
We are asking for more clarity regarding the conditions of exemptions and, above all, a total exemption for all services rendered in the fields of health, social services and education. The optimal solution, in our opinion, is the withdrawal of the provisions of Bill 96 on the language of communication between the Administration and natural persons. This would make it possible to return to the existing provisions of the Charter of the French language in this area, which enshrine the primacy of French in communications with individuals while allowing the use of another language in certain circumstances, mainly when the individual does not does not understand French well enough.
The government must quickly take a position on the practice of speech therapy and audiology in connection with the implementing regulations that will result from the adoption of Bill 96. Minister Jolin-Barrette can and must specify the application of this law for professions like ours by regulation.