Quebec French language minister holds meeting on health-care rules — without vocal critics

French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge is meeting with stakeholders of Quebec's English-speaking community on Tuesday to clarify a directive limiting the use of English in the health network.

But some groups that have been vocal critics of the directive — the Townshippers' Association and the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) — say they were excluded from the discussion.

«The directive is creating confusion,» said Denis Kotsoros, executive director of the Townshippers' Association. «This process of consultation is just adding more confusion to the matter.»

The meeting comes days after Liberal MP Anna Gainey called for detailed explanations on the Health Ministry directive, saying constituents worry it will interfere with their ability to get care in English.

Sent by the Health Ministry in July, the directive outlines when written and oral communications can be transmitted to clientele in a language other than French. The order aligns with Quebec's revised Charter of the French language, commonly known as Bill 96.

The law requires provincial and municipal government bodies, including health and social services, to communicate in writing and orally with the public in French by default.

Some exceptions exist, allowing government bodies to serve someone in English if they hold a certificate of eligibility for instruction in English, if they are First Nations or Inuit, if they immigrated to Quebec in the last six months or if they had an English-only file with that specific government body before May 13, 2021.

An organization may deviate from the requirement to use French exclusively when «health care, public safety or the principles of natural justice are so required,» according to the directive. «If it finds that