Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette has decided against instructing Élections Québec to send voter information materials in English before the upcoming Oct. 5 provincial election. This decision follows Élections Québec’s announcement that they will only mail voter information documents in French to adhere to the French Language Charter, also known as Bill 96, which designates French as the exclusive language for public institutions.
In response to criticism from various quarters, including other party leaders, groups advocating for English-speaking Quebecers, and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Fréchette mentioned that discussions were ongoing with Quebec’s chief electoral officer to determine the next steps. Despite this, during a news briefing, she emphasized that the plan to distribute information solely in French does not hinder English speakers from accessing the necessary information. Fréchette explained that English speakers can access the information online through QR codes included in the French documents or by visiting the agency’s website.
This election marks the first instance where Élections Québec will exclusively send out voter information documents in French during a general election. The agency had attempted to persuade the government to allow them to provide basic voting information in both English and French during the election period but was unsuccessful.
Legal action is being pursued by lawyer Eric Maldoff over the decision to only offer materials in French. Maldoff argues that requiring English speakers to search online for information that should be universally provided poses a problem as it may not be easily accessible to everyone. Fréchette refuted these claims, asserting that the English-speaking community’s rights are being respected, with bilingual ballots remaining unchanged.
Civil rights lawyer Julius Gray criticized the move, highlighting that nothing in Bill 96 prohibits the availability of an English manual, a measure he believes even a reasonable Quebec nationalist would support. Gray expressed concerns over what he perceives as a trend of linguistic rigidity and identity politics in the province, cautioning against everyday language controversies. The possibility of legal challenges impacting the election itself was also raised.
Élections Québec stated that they had raised concerns about the French-only mailouts with the French language commissioner as early as 2023 and in multiple meetings in 2025. The agency reiterated that it was too late to include both languages in the documents for the upcoming election and emphasized that there would be no reversal of the decision at this stage.
Gray and Maldoff maintained that implementing an English version of the materials and sending them out promptly would be a straightforward process, contrary to claims of logistical impossibility. They called for a return to the principles of equal treatment for all individuals, as enshrined in the Charter.
Overall, the controversy surrounding the distribution of voter information documents has sparked debate and legal challenges, underscoring the tension between language laws and accessibility for all voters in Quebec.
