Anglophone group calls on Quebec for more 'equitable' funding in spring budget
CTV
A group representing English-speaking Quebecers is asking for the province to provide more funding to 'significantly underfunded' community groups serving anglophones.
A group representing English-speaking Quebecers is asking for the province to provide more funding to "significantly underfunded" community groups serving anglophones.
In a pre-budget consultation brief prepared by the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), community groups dedicated to English speakers are said to be struggling to provide essential services.
The QCGN presented the eight-page brief to Finance Minister Éric Girard Tuesday during the annual pre-budget consultation process. The group also met with the minister for the first time since he was appointed to his new role as minister responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers.
The organization wants a greater portion of the $1.1 billion Quebec provides to community groups that serve in areas such as youth, seniors and employment. An estimate cited in the brief said English groups have previously received as little as three per cent of the total share.
The QCGN said that the figure should be increased to 15 per cent to reflect the share of anglophones in the Quebec population.
The most recent federal census said the proportion of people in Quebec whose first official language is English rose from 12 per cent in 2016 to 13 per cent in 2021, after the number of English speakers topped one million for the first time.
"We believe we should have an equitable share of funding to serve our group," said Sylvia M. Laforge, the QCGN's director general, in an interview with CTV News on Tuesday.
