{"id":888756,"date":"2026-09-09T03:54:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T03:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/888756\/"},"modified":"2026-09-09T03:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T03:54:09","slug":"french-only-voter-mailouts-for-quebec-election-challenged-in-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/888756\/","title":{"rendered":"French-only voter mailouts for Quebec election challenged in court"},"content":{"rendered":"

The French-only voter information documents <\/a>being mailed ahead of the Quebec provincial election are officially the subject of legal action.<\/p>\n

The issue was briefly discussed at the Montreal courthouse Tuesday afternoon, a little over a week after \u00c9lections Qu\u00e9bec announced it will send unilingual mailouts to voters. The case will return to court Thursday morning, following a request for a delay by the defendants that was granted by the judge.<\/p>\n

The legal challenge includes a request for a provisional interlocutory injunction as well as for a permanent injunction on the French-only election mailouts, with the goal of urgently reinstating the English versions of the documents ahead of the Oct. 5 vote. It was filed against \u00c9lections Qu\u00e9bec and the Quebec government. <\/p>\n

The plaintiff is Geoffrey Chambers, the former president of TALQ (known at the time as Quebec Community Groups Network), a group that advocates for the rights of English-speaking Quebecers. He was also the founding executive director of Alliance Quebec, a similar advocacy group that disbanded in 2005. Chambers declined to comment Tuesday afternoon, referring media to his lawyer.<\/p>\n

Doug Mitchell, the lawyer representing Chambers, said the issue comes down to \u201cone of the most fundamental rights in the country and the province: the right to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think what\u2019s at stake is the ability for people to properly exercise their vote as they have for 75 to 100 years in the province of Quebec as it has always been,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd something that seems, from my perspective, to be recognized by the director general of elections. That\u2019s why they thought it was important that these documents be issued in English, and unfortunately the government didn\u2019t agree.\u201d<\/p>\n

Language reforms under the Coalition Avenir Qu\u00e9bec government prompted the French-only mailouts, according to \u00c9lections Qu\u00e9bec, which said last week its request for an exemption to the language rules was denied. The mailers will include a QR code to English-language information and contact information.<\/p>\n

Quebec Premier Christine Fr\u00e9chette has held firm on the matter<\/a>, saying she would not be intervening and that French is the province\u2019s sole official language. Last Friday, she reassured reporters that the ballot would be bilingual \u2014 but \u00c9lections Qu\u00e9bec told The Gazette there isn\u2019t much to translate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The measure has sparked concerns among anglophone advocacy groups, with some worried English-speaking voters could be left behind<\/a>, especially seniors and those who don\u2019t have access to smartphones. Canada\u2019s official languages commissioner has also received complaints.<\/p>\n

Chambers is seeking to have the English versions of three documents \u2014 the provincial election guide, the notice of entry, and the reminder card \u2014 \u201csent to every elector for the general election\u201d on Oct. 5.<\/p>\n

Last week, a spokesperson for \u00c9lections Qu\u00e9bec said even if a voter requested the English version to be mailed, the election authority wouldn\u2019t be able to do so in time, which is \u201cwhy we wished to be able to have an exemption for the electoral period.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the injunction request states \u00c9lections Qu\u00e9bec can \u201crealistically and feasibly print and distribute information documents in English to all voters\u201d before polling day, adding the \u201conly prejudice that the defendants may suffer is the time and resources required to comply with\u201d the court order sought by Chambers.<\/p>\n

With less than a month to go before voters head to the polls, Mitchell said the delay in court proceedings could \u201crender practically unlikely or impossible the actual delivery of the notices.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy case is hoping to see that electors get the notices in English they\u2019re entitled to, and that may make it more difficult,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mitchell said the hearing being set for Thursday is \u201cnot ideal, but could have been worse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe delay is unfortunate, but I understand the position the judge is in. The judge was told by the Attorney General of Quebec they only got the proceeding last night,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have some evidence that they think is relevant for the judge to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

The prosecutors representing the Quebec government declined to comment Tuesday.<\/p>\n

klaframboise@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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