Quebec’s next budget to address needs of anglophones: Weil
Quebec’s minister responsible for anglophone issues is raising hopes that the concerns and needs of the province’s English-speaking communities will be tackled in a concrete way in Quebec’s next budget.
Kathleen Weil held an all-day forum at Concordia University Friday to hear from about 40 leaders of groups and institutions that serve anglophone communities across Quebec.
At the end of the day she told them the Liberal government intends to present a costed-out, five-year action plan on issues they have brought to her attention in online consultations and in her provincewide tour, which is ongoing.
“It’s essential for Quebec to make sure that English-speaking Quebecers feel that this is their home,” Weil told reporters following the forum. “They have deep roots here. We want them to stay, to have the choice to stay and not feel they need to go. Quebec cannot move forward without the input and the strength of the Englishspeaking community.”
She said Quebec’s minister of finance intends to hold “pre-budget consultations” with anglophone community leaders to help orient spending on programs and measures to tackle their concerns.
“My colleague Carlos Leitão is preparing his budget,” Weil said.
“He is trilingual, he studied at McGill, he understands the community very well( as he) represents an English-speaking riding. More than that he is just very passionate about inclusiveness. ... He has offered to do a pre-budget consultation with the English-speaking community so we can bring a lot of these great ideas forward.”
We ila ls os aid the Liberalsecretariat dedicated to anglo phone issues—announced last June and given a $1-million budget — will be a permanent part of the Quebec government.
“The secretariat is here to stay and will grow. This whole venture is in startup mode but it will grow ... and be really integrated into the government apparatus. We are very serious and the naming of a minister responsible and the creation of a secretariat is a signal .”
While better access to health and social services in English has been the top concern raised, Weil said her consultations have highlighted other concerns such as:
-a “brain drain” of young, educated and bilingual anglophones out of the province,
-poverty in English-speaking communities across Quebec, especially in rural areas
-the need for more English education programs in skilled trades
-the need to increase anglophone hires in the civil service
Some who attended Friday’s forum said recent efforts by the Liberal government to give more priority to the concerns of their community are encouraging.
“I’m elated quite frankly with the announcement that we will be involved in the budget,” said Jim Shea, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network. “It’s not patronizing ... I don’t see it as a political ploy at all, I see it as a real, true agreement to engage the English-speaking community.”
Sharlene Sullivan, executive director of the Neighbours Regional Association of Rouyn-Noranda, said she is concerned about a “backlash” against the new-found attention anglophones are getting from the government.
“As happy as I am with the progress that’s been happening here — and I find it historic that for the first time in 30 years I feel like we are moving ahead and not just peddling in the mud — but there is a backlash in the regions.”
She asked the secretariat to make efforts to explain very publicly to the French-speaking majority “why we deserve this, why we need this and the fact that we are getting it doesn’t take anything away from the majority.”