For the first time since Bernard Landry was in power, the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) had a private meeting with a sitting premier.
The group has long been asking for the meeting, which took place late Tuesday afternoon, in order to express the needs and priorities of Quebec’s English community, which it says is often taken for granted by the Liberal government.
“We had a general message to the premier which is that we don’t feel like the English-speaking community is consulted early enough or in enough depth in regard to public policy developments, ” Geoffrey Chambers, QCGN vice-president, said.
As examples, he said, “we have serious issues with Bill 105 with the education reform that’s currently on the table. We have some concerns about the process of healthcare reform. It’s halfway through its process and it’s not working as well as it should. Access to services in English are not well-organized.”
The QCGN is a non-profit group made up of 51 English community organizations.
Representatives also met with MNAs on Tuesday.
Premier Philippe Couillard denied he takes Quebec’s anglophones for granted. He elaborated by giving the example of how the English community influenced the government to drop the school board reform legislation.
“Affirming Quebec’s identity and language should never be done at the expense of our English-speaking community,” Couillard said. “They play a very important and historic role in the development of modern Quebec as we know it today… I’m happy to meet with them, I’ve met them before. I hope it will be a first of a succession of meetings so we can talk about their concerns.”
Chambers said the premier was receptive and the meeting lasted over an hour. Chambers said he expects to have more meetings in the future.
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