Milliard tells Fréchette: Stop putting French language politics before democracy

Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard has accused Premier Christine Fréchette of an “unjustifiable attack” on English-speaking Quebecers’ voting rights.

In a letter addressed to the Coalition Avenir Québec leader on Thursday, Milliard demanded that she reverse her government’s refusal to let Élections Québec continue mailing voting information in both French and English.

“Let us place our democracy above all other considerations,” he wrote.

In June, the premier called for a change in tone between her government and the English-speaking community, but by blocking bilingual election mailouts is in “direct contradiction” of that promise, said Milliard.

“This decision breaks with traditional practice and unacceptably compromises the electoral participation of a segment of the population,” he wrote.

For the first time, voting guides and other information will be mailed only in French before the Oct. 5 election, a change forced by the CAQ’s sweeping overhaul of Quebec’s language laws to enforce French into daily life, Élections Québec said.

Instead, English versions will be available online through a web address and QR code printed on the French documents. But it’s a move that critics say could pose difficulties for thousands of English-speaking Quebecers who either do not own the technology or need help using it.

Fréchette briefly appeared to leave the door open to a reversal. On Wednesday, she said that discussions were taking place. But on Thursday, she remained firm on the mailouts being French-only.

“We have adopted rules, and French is the official and common language of Quebec,” she said at a campaign stop in Roxton Pond. “We are applying the rules we have.”

The premier insisted that no one was being denied information or the right to vote.

Milliard argued that a QR code was no substitute for mailed information, particularly for seniors who do not own smartphones or struggle to use digital technology.

Around one in five Quebecers 75 and older do not own a smartphone, computer or tablet, according to a recent study.

He said the policy represented “a significant step backward” and risked undermining efforts to increase voter participation.

The Liberal leader also challenged Fréchette’s attempt to frame the dispute as a defence of French.

“The democratic rights of English-speaking Quebecers should not be pitted against the promotion of French,” he wrote, arguing that bilingual election information would pose no threat to the language but would instead prevent “damaging resentment.”

It comes as lawyers prepare to take the Quebec government to court. Eric Maldoff, a lawyer and former president of Alliance Quebec, said a legal challenge could be filed as early as next week.

Canada’s commissioner of official languages also told The Gazette that it has received three complaints about the change. The office is still determining whether they fall within its jurisdiction.

What do you think? Write to me: hnorth@postmedia.com

The Gazette’s On Quebec Politics newsletter by Andy Riga breaks down key election issues, from polling shifts to legislative manoeuvring to ideas circulating in francophone commentary that don’t make it into English-language coverage.