Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said he is working towards hiring someone to his office who will inform his government about anglophone affairs.
“I’ve been discussing this with community groups,” he said.
After an early November meeting with Quebec’s biggest English language umbrella group – the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), it seems Couillard is strongly considering the possibility of hiring an official liaison between his government and the English community.
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“Someone in my staff that would act as a point, a contact person for the English community rather than them having to knock on all the doors in order to get the results that they want,” Couillard explained.
“So the government doesn’t come up with something that doesn’t respect our communities’ histories and needs,” QCGN vice-president Geoffrey Chambers explained.
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The premier hasn’t announced a hire yet and isn’t dropping any hints about who this new English liaison might be.
“A lot of people are interested – interestingly enough – to play that role,” Couillard said.
He’s making it clear, however, that another suggestion by members from the English-speaking community, to create an anglophone affairs office, is off the table – at least for now.
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“For the moment, I don’t see the necessity of doing this. They are first-class Quebecers and I want them to feel that way,” Couillard said.
“I don’t think we want to complain today about not getting steps four, five or six when step one seems to be right there on the table where we want it,” Chambers said.
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The premier is expected to shuffle his cabinet in the new year.
QCGN said, however, that they weren’t holding out hope he would appoint an anglophone affairs minister. Instead, they said their top priority is that he hire this liaison before the new session reconvenes next year.