Quebec Clarifies Health Care Language Rights for Anglophones

New directive confirms English speakers' right to services without identity proof, replacing July's controversial guidelines.

Quebec's updated directive ensures anglophones can access health and social services in English without needing to prove their identity.
The new guidelines replace a July directive that caused confusion and criticism from English-speaking groups and some federal MPs.
Health Minister Christian Dubé emphasized that the government never intended to restrict access based on language.
Health-care workers are allowed to use languages other than French if patients request it or don't understand French.
Written and oral communications in other languages are permitted alongside French, especially if recognized by Quebec's language watchdog.