Advocates Urge Unified Anglo Summit on Quebec's Constitutional Future
The Greater Quebec Movement (GQM), an organization dedicated to defending English-speaking Quebecers and promoting their full inclusion within Quebec society, has issued a call for a community summit to address the province's proposed constitution. This initiative comes as Premier François Legault's CAQ government advances legislation to create a Quebec constitution, sparking debates about identity and language rights across the province.
A Call for Collective Response
GQM directors Giuliano D'Andrea, Peter G. White, and Richard Walsh Smith are urging all community organizations, including TALQ (formerly the Quebec Community Groups Network), the Task Force on Language Policy, ethnocultural and religious groups, allophone organizations, and independent individuals to participate in convening this crucial summit. The authors emphasize that while various voices exist within the English-speaking community, presenting a unified position would create a stronger voice more likely to be heard in constitutional discussions.
"We at the GQM believe that a constitution must be a voluntary contract among all Quebecers, not something imposed from above by the government of the day," the authors state in their appeal. They argue that the drafting of any constitutional document should follow a broad consultation process where consensus is actively sought, acknowledging Quebec's diversity and the legitimacy of all its constituent communities.
Defining the Anglophone Community
The authors acknowledge the complexity of defining what constitutes an "anglophone" in contemporary Quebec. They reference Quebec nationalist Pierre Bourgault's definition of a Quebecer as "a person who wishes to be one," suggesting that similarly, an anglo-Quebecer can be anyone who chooses to identify as such. The English-speaking community encompasses a wide range of ethnicities, religions, and social realities, with members approaching language issues from different perspectives shaped by education, socio-economic position, political outlook, and regional experience.
Often, English isn't the only or even the first language spoken by those who identify with the anglophone community. This diversity has led to multiple organizations evolving over the years to express individual positions and policies. While acknowledging the value of this diversity, the authors argue that for presenting a cohesive perspective on an eventual Quebec constitution, a unified position would be preferable.
Practical Steps Toward Consensus
The proposed summit could begin with interactive hearings modeled after the successful 2021 hearings organized by the QCGN in response to Bill 96. Those hearings successfully drew participation from individuals and groups both inside and outside the organization's membership. The summit would identify areas of consensus for further advocacy and action while also recording dissenting perspectives, ensuring that any disagreement is documented rather than suppressed.
"Mature leadership is defined by engagement: seeking opportunities, articulating alternatives, and shaping outcomes," the authors note. They suggest that a constitutional consulting process could consider provisions allowing for more integrated French-English schools or provisions for greater regional autonomy—options that many Montrealers in particular might find worth exploring.
Inclusive Constitutional Vision
With every party represented in the National Assembly supporting some form of Quebec constitution, the GQM emphasizes that their support is conditional on full consultation with all Quebecers, whether they are part of the francophone majority or anglophone minority, or straddle both linguistic worlds. The authors stress that as Quebec moves toward defining its future, anglophone and allophone Quebecers must feel invited to help shape it.
A thoughtful and inclusive summit, they argue, can help ensure that the interests of these communities are reflected with care and respect in whatever constitutional vision finally emerges. The immediate challenge is to ensure that the English-speaking community's response to Bill 1 is inclusive enough to be credible while addressing what should be entrenched in any constitutional document.
