A Quebec Superior Court ruling that ordered Élections Québec to prepare voting reminder cards in both French and English has been extended.
Last Wednesday’s ruling by Justice Sylvain Lussier suspended provisions of Quebec’s Charter of the French language for 10 days – until Sept. 26 – so that the provincial agency overseeing the elections could prepare the reminder cards in both languages.
On Monday morning, Lussier stayed the application of the Charter until 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 5 – the day Quebecers go to the polls in the provincial election.
The three-page “safeguard order” ruling also ordered Élections Québec to mail the reminder cards once prepared.
The latest Quebec language controversy was triggered by the adoption of legislation in 2022 that requires public institutions to communicate with citizens in French, with few exceptions.
Élections Québec said at the beginning of the election campaign it was forced to send out voter guides in French only to comply with that legislation.
The agency noted it added a QR code as an option for those who wanted to access information in English.
But the QR codes were heavily criticized, with anglophone advocacy group TALQ saying it infringed on the right to vote. The lead plaintiff in the case, who is also TALQ’s former president, argued many people – including seniors or anyone without cellphones or reliable internet – could not access them.
In last week’s decision, Justice Lussier agreed there was concern of “irreparable prejudice” against Quebecers who do not understand French.
Quebecers go to the polls Oct. 5.
–With files from The Canadian Press
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