Bill 96 sparks fears about access to health care in English

Shab Shattah recently had surgery. But with the passing of Bill 96, the experience made him fear that he and others may not always have guaranteed access to English services.

Two weeks ago Shab Shattah, 71, had bypass surgery at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.

“As nervous as I was about the surgery, I felt comfortable that people were concerned and I was able to communicate with everyone in English,” Shattah said.

But with the passing of Bill 96, the experience made him fear that he and others may not always have guaranteed access to English services during an emergency.

“When you have other people deciding your future, or your life, you want to know it exactly,” Shattah said.

Bill 96 is Quebec’s French language reform.

Many have argued that it wouldn’t change the rights of English-speaking Quebecers.

The premier’s office doubled down on that message when reached by Global News.

But Eric Maldoff, a lawyer and chair of the Coalition for Quality in Health and Social Services, says the fears anglophones feel are, in part, justified.