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The case against voter info mailouts being sent out only in French ahead of Quebec’s Oct. 5 general election is being heard at the Montreal courthouse today.
Geoffrey Chambers is the plaintiff in the case. He’s the former president of the Quebec Community Groups Network, known today as the TALQ.
Chambers filed the lawsuit after Élections Québec announced last week that, for the first time in a general election, it would send out voter information cards solely in French.
The non-partisan body has said the decision was made in order to comply with the provincial government’s French Language Charter, also known as Bill 96. The law makes French the sole language of communication for public institutions.
Chambers’ lawyers were in court Thursday arguing that this decision should be reversed. His legal team is seeking a provisional interlocutory injunction, which would require Élections Québec to distribute voter information documents in English “on an urgent basis … no later than the date on which French versions are mailed, or as soon as practicable thereafter.”
His lawyer, Doug Mitchell, referred to a letter by the chief electoral officer Jean-Francois Blanchet sent to Jean-François Roberge, the minister responsible for the French language, where he argued that complying with the new language Charter puts the integrity of the election in jeopardy.
Mitchell also pointed out how unusual this case is, given Élections Québec’s position. The agency previously told CBC that it had presented its concerns over French-only mailouts to the commissioner of the French language “as early as 2023,” and during multiple meetings in 2025.
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Decision looms in court case over French-only voter info mailouts
Plaintiff Geoffrey Chambers wants English voter info issued before Quebec’s Oct. 5 election. After the case was heard in Montreal court on Thursday, the judge didn’t say when he would render his decision but recognized the urgency of the matter.Not too late for reminder cards, Élections Québec says
Élections Québec presented its arguments Thursday afternoon to Justice Sylvain Lussier, former prosecutor at the Charbonneau commission, who is hearing the case.
Henrick Lavoie, who represents Quebec’s chief electoral officer, said it is now too late to provide English versions of two documents that will soon be sent to voters, with 4.8 million envelopes to voters having already been produced.
However, Lavoie said it’s not too late for the reminder card to be sent out in English — if a decision on the injunction is rendered by Sept. 16.
Justice Lussier says he doesn’t want to rush a decision that would bind other judges, while noting he also understands the urgency of the matter.
Government lawyer Eric Cantin presented his arguments before the lunch break, saying that voters can call a hotline (1-888-ÉLECTION) to receive the information needed in English. There are also QR codes that will be included on the French-only voter mailouts that will direct English-speakers to a website with the information in their language.
He also said that the chief electoral officer is subject to the law, and the law must be respected.
On Thursday morning, Christine Fréchette, the Coalition Avenir Québec leader and premier, was in Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, Que., where she was once again asked about whether she’d be willing to reverse course on the government’s decision on this issue.
“Let’s see what the court will decide later today,” Fréchette replied.
“We have respected the rules we have in terms of linguistic policies. If the court decides it has to go differently, we will do so.”
Thursday’s hearing finished shortly after 3 p.m. without a decision.