Minister Roberge to meet with English-speaking community over concerns about health guidelines

French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge will soon meet with representatives of Quebec’s English-speaking community. He wants to hear their concerns about a language guideline that regulates the use of English and other mother tongues in health care.

New French-language guidelines for the provincial healthcare network, issued on July 18, have raised concerns among English-speakers and non-native speakers who fear they will no longer have access to healthcare in their language of choice.

According to a report published by the Montreal Gazette, “historical English speakers” may need a certificate of eligibility from the Ministry of Education to receive exclusive English-language communications in health care.

Recent government guidance specifying incidents where English is permitted has only added to the confusion.

Minister Roberge responded to the outrage by posting a lengthy explanation on social media, stressing that the directive allows anyone who wishes to receive healthcare in a language other than French.

“Regardless of what has been said in recent days, the directive from the Ministry of Health and Social Services is clear: it allows all people who wish to receive health care in a language other than French,” he wrote on X.

“The MSSS directive, like the Charter of the French Language, clearly states that ‘an organisation may deviate from the obligation to use French exclusively when health, public safety or the principles of justice naturally require it’. We will never deviate from this principle, it is written in black and white in the law!”

He added that, with the exception of members of the historical English-speaking community, the directive stipulates that communications of an administrative nature or that do not endanger the user’s health must be in French.

“We are not talking about providing health care here. Our priority is to care for people regardless of their language,” he added.

Advocates for the English-speaking community say the new guidelines are confusing and could lead to dangerous situations for patients or more medical staff leaving the sector.

“A meeting will be held shortly with representatives of the English-speaking community to hear their concerns and provide necessary clarifications,” Roberge said.