Quebec to replace directive on language in health care after original sparked confusion

French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge says his ministry will produce new documents to ensure a directive on the use of language in the health network is well understood. 

Roberge met with stakeholders of Quebec’s English-speaking community on Tuesday to hear concerns about how the province’s language law would be applied in a health-care setting.

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.

Following what Roberge called a “pretty cordial” meeting with six health and social services groups, he told CBC News that the government started clarifying the directive a few days ago. He would not provide a time frame for when the revised instructions would be published. 

“It’s important to precise in pretty clear words that no documents are needed — at all — to access health care or social services in English,” Roberge said. “I don’t think we will backtrack and not have any directives, but it will be a new one with some adjustments.” 

He added that “it was never our intention to change access to health and social services to the English-speaking community.” 

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 the health-care objectives cannot be achieved through the exclusive use of French, the body can, when health care requires it, use another language.”

Directive created ‘confusion,’ says English advocacy group

Since the Montreal Gazette first reported on the directive, Roberge has tried to assuage concerns over the ability for patients to access health care in a language other than French. 

He published an open letter on Aug. 9, attempting to reassure Quebecers that anyone seeking health care in English would receive it. 

In an interview with CBC Montreal’s Daybreak on the same day, he said “no question will be asked, no document will have to be shown,” if someone goes to the hospital and requires health care in English. 

Prior to Roberge’s announcement, Denis Kotsoros, executive director of the Townshippers’ Association, said “the directive is creating confusion.”

He said the minister’s words don’t help the English-speaking community, which “has a lot of anxiety right now.”

“This process of consultation is just adding more confusion to the matter,” said Kotsoros, who did not attend the meeting. 

Later on Tuesday, he noted the association had not expected an invitation.

Health minister skips meeting

The open letter was also signed by Health Minister Christian Dubé and Eric Girard, the minister responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers. However, they did not participate in Tuesday’s meeting. 

A spokesperson for Dubé said in an email he is currently touring Abitibi-Témiscamingue, but he would be briefed following the meeting with English-speaking groups. 

In an email sent Tuesday, Girard’s spokesperson said he would be available later this week “if deemed necessary.” 

The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) said in a statement published Monday that it was “not surprised” to have been left out of the consultation and asked for the three ministers to “live up to the promise” in their letter by meeting with the organization.

Then on Tuesday, the government and a spokesperson for the QCGN confirmed that the group had been invited to a separate, 15-minute meeting with Roberge to discuss the directive. The QCGN declined because Dubé would not join. 

The QCGN noted that some groups which had been invited to Tuesday’s meeting chose not to attend, because, like the QCGN, they think Dubé should have been present.  

“We have made it clear from the outset the importance of meeting with Christian Dubé,” the statement read. “This is a health issue, plain and simple.”