The Quebec government appears to be moving away from a polarizing language directive that has sparked fears it could restrict access to health care in English and could potentially violate the Canada Health Act. The 31-page directive, which took effect July 18, sparked anger and confusion in the province, prompting a rebuke from at least two Liberal MPs from Montreal and a response from the federal Minister of Health. “The reaction was shock and disbelief and a sense of real betrayal.” That’s according to McGill law professor Pearl Eliadis in an interview with Global News on Friday. 1:57 Quebec’s English-speaking community still waiting for answers on accessibility to health care Faced with growing backlash, three Quebec ministers wrote an open letter saying they were prepared to make changes to the directive, which sets out specific examples of situations in which English can be used in hospitals, clinics and health-care facilities. The story continues below the advertisement One of its most controversial sections states that a patient must present a certificate of eligibility proving that they are entitled to receive health care in English because of their English-speaking roots. “It would be absurd and maybe funny if it weren’t for the fact that people’s health, people’s lives and vulnerable people’s access to social services are not being called into question,” Eliadis said. 2:15 Fears grow: Quebec English speakers may need additional paperwork to access health care In the open letter released Friday, Quebec ministers insist the province is not limiting the availability of health services in English, adding that there will be no language requirements in Quebec to treat patients. The latest health and medical news I send it to you by email every Sunday. Get weekly health news Get the latest medical news and health information delivered to your inbox every Sunday. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and Conditions And Privacy Policy. Quebec French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge told Global News that he would not be asked “any questions.” English speakers in health facilities and they will not be required to present documents such as a certificate of eligibility. The story continues below the advertisement “This will not impact how you talk to health care professionals. Let’s be clear. That was never our intention,” Roberge said. How Ottawa reacts to the controversial directive It is unclear how Quebec might change the directive and whether the federal government will step in if the guidelines are not rewritten. Health Minister Mark Holland’s office says the Canada Health Act contains “general principles” that provincial governments must follow. “We expect provinces and territories not to make decisions that would hinder Canadians’ access to health care in the official language of their choice,” Holland’s spokesman Matthew Kronberg said in a statement Friday. 2:30 New rules announced for commercial signs in Quebec will mean more French people Current trend Montreal flooded by record rains as remnants of Tropical Storm Debby hit Canada ‘A slap in the face’: tenants evicted for demolition, homes advertised for higher rent The comments come as Liberal MP Anna Gainey, who represents the predominantly English-speaking Montreal riding of Notre Dame de Grâce-Westmount, said this week she had raised “serious concerns” with Mr. Holland. The story continues below the advertisement Anthony Housefather, another Montreal MP, also criticized the guidelines, posting on social media site X on Thursday that “when it comes to health care, the patient’s preferred language is everything.” On Friday, Housefather said he was “pleased to see the letter” from provincial ministers that “English health care will be available to all,” but added that the directive should be scrapped altogether. “The next step would be to withdraw the directive that says none of this and come up with something as clear as their letter,” Housefather said. Eliadis also called the provincial government’s actions “contradictory.” “I think the government has discredited itself.” Could there be “consequences” — and why now? Eliadis says the Quebec government was “probably counting on the federal government” not doing “anything,” which has been the case with other controversial rules stemming from Bill 96. The story continues below the advertisement Quebec Premier François Legault presented the bill as an overhaul of the Charter of the French Language, which imposes new language requirements on businesses, educational institutions and health care organizations in the province. “The question will be what the consequences will be for Quebec. Will there be a holdback on transfers?” said Mr. Eliadis. Under the Canada Health Act, Ottawa can withhold transfers of funds from provinces that contravene the conditions of access to care set out in its standards. Last December, Angus Reid ranked Legault as Canada’s least popular prime minister, according to responses from people surveyed by the institute. Since last fall, his party – the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) – has been losing popularity, with the sovereignist Parti Québécois (PQ) leading in the polls. “I think the CAQ is trying to ‘dethrone’ the PQ,” Eliadis said. “I think they are trying to establish their credibility in this area to divert votes from the PQ..” © 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link

Inasmuch as the petition is in progress to finish pet restrictions In the area of ​​rental housing, some organizations representing landlords in Canada are warning against the cancellation of such clauses in the federal bill. tenants The declaration of rights could create conflicts. Last month, Humane Canada launched a parliamentary petition calling on the House of Commons to include a specific provision for tenants with pets in the proposed bill of rights, asking that “no pets” clauses be struck down “so that tenants with pets are no longer excluded from rental housing.” Cameron Choquette, CEO of the Saskatchewan Landlord Association, said in an interview with Global News that landlords recognize that pets are increasing in the rental space and can be important to people, but they said there needs to be flexibility to rental accommodation suppliers. “If the buildings currently have tenants with allergies or it’s a small building, this flexibility would allow a rental housing provider to have a pet-free building or a pet-free clause in their rental agreement,” he said. The story continues below the advertisement He notes that factors such as tenants’ allergies or the potential damage a pet could cause could explain why landlords don’t want pets. Kevin Russell, executive director of the Investment Property Owners Association of Nova Scotia (IPOANS), said in a statement that tenants want the choice of pet-free buildings for their own safety and have “as much right to have a pet-free home as those who do.” He said scrapping ‘no pets’ clauses nationwide would be an “unfair” move by the government. The email you need for the day The top news from Canada and around the world. Receive daily national news Get the day’s top political, business and current affairs news delivered to your inbox once a day. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and Conditions And Privacy Policy. “Banning pet-free buildings would worsen the housing crisis by increasing conflict between tenants who own pets and those who don’t,” he said. “Unfortunately, rental housing providers would find themselves caught in the middle of such conflicts.” He added that increasing the supply of rental housing is the best way to provide rental housing for pet owners. The rules regarding pets in rental properties are fairly consistent across Canada, stating that landlords can choose not to allow an animal in their property, with a few exceptions, such as service animals. 2:26 Tenant doesn’t pay $41,000 in rent for Toronto condo, but landlord can’t evict her yet The situation is different in Ontario, however. The story continues below the advertisement According to Oduraa Legal Services, a landlord can choose not to rent to someone because they have a pet, but once a rental agreement is signed, a tenant can move in with their pet and cannot be evicted. However, the law also allows for the removal of the animal if it causes a serious allergic reaction, damage to the unit or unreasonable noise. Current trend New Tenants’ Bill of Rights Should Eliminate ‘No Pets’ Clauses, Petition Says Tropical Storm Debby’s final throes will hit Canada. Here’s where There are some exceptions to the Ontario rule regarding condominiums where a ban on pets is permitted if it is provided for in the condominium’s governing documents. “Whether you are renting or owning, you need to understand before you move in that you are choosing to be part of a community that is self-governing and has the ability to make decisions that are tailored to its needs, including when it comes to pets,” the Condominium Authority of Ontario told Global News in a statement. Having such clauses overturned has been “incredibly frustrating” for landlords, but Kevin Costain, a board member of Small Ownership Landlords of Ontario (SOLO), said it’s not always known, so some SOLO members only find out after trying to impose such a restriction. “It’s just a conflict environment,” he said. 1:58 Sackville, New Brunswick tenant shocked to see his old apartment for rent at a higher price When it comes to having an animal on a property, he said people need to find a balance. The story continues below the advertisement “It’s about balancing that idea of ​​having a companion and having a pet with you in a property and balancing that with the responsibility of having a pet,” he said. Costain and Choquette said it could be difficult to overturn “no pets” clauses nationwide and that while consistency is a good thing, a “one-size-fits-all approach” is not the right answer. “Pets can absolutely be allowed in rental properties, but there are also buildings that, for one reason or another, don’t require pets,” Choquette said. — with information from Saba Aziz of Global News © 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link

Parliament of Canada ethics commissioner said it has launched a third preliminary investigation into the business dealings of Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault. Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein said he wrote a letter to Boissonnault on Wednesday saying he was “concerned” about new text messages that had surfaced in which Boissonnault’s former business partner cited consulting with a person named “Randy” about a 2022 trade deal. Stephen Anderson, who co-founded a medical supply company with Boissonnault, mentions the name “Randy” nine times in text messages sent to a customer on Sept. 6 and 8, 2022, a year after Boissonnault announced his resignation from the company. Edmonton-Centre MP Boissonnault was Minister of Tourism at the time. Federal ethics laws prohibit cabinet members from operating or managing businesses while in office. Boissonnault was a partner at Global Health Imports (GHI) until September 2021, when he won back his Edmonton Centre seat and was appointed to cabinet. He then resigned, as required by law for public office holders, but remained a 50 per cent shareholder until recently. Ministers are allowed to own stakes in private companies. The story continues below the advertisement The commissioner first examined Boissonnault after Global News reported in May that he remained on GHI’s director list Boissonnault said he thought Anderson would update the company records after he resigned, but that was not the case. The second preliminary investigation took place a month later when Global News has revealed Anderson’s texts sent to a customer on September 8th showing someone referred to only as “Randy” requesting a “partner call.” In both cases, von Finckenstein decided not to launch a formal investigation. The email you need for the day The top news from Canada and around the world. Receive daily national news Get the day’s top political, business and current affairs news delivered to your inbox once a day. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and conditions And Privacy Policy. The minister has repeatedly said he is not the “Randy” of text messages. Last month, Global News has obtained new texts from September 6Two days earlier, that show showed Anderson informing someone named “Randy” of the status of the trade deal ahead of schedule. The story continues below the advertisement Anderson was discussing the sale of a large shipment of medical gloves to the Ghaoui Group, a California-based company. In text messages sent to Malvina Ghaoui, a director at the Ghaoui Group, Anderson mentions that “Randy” is involved in a “partner vote” on the deal. Another text places “Randy” in Vancouver at the very time that Boissonnault was there for a cabinet retreat. “I have Randy and the others, I need to give an update,” Anderson wrote to Ghaoui on September 6, 2022, followed by: “I’m asking because the west coast is closing in 7 minutes and Randy is in the Vancouver office.” Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett questioned Anderson about the new rules during his testimony before the ethics committee in July. Fashionable now Tropical Storm Debby’s final throes will hit Canada. Here’s where Paris Mayor Launches Series of Criticisms Against Olympic Opening Ceremony Anderson said the nine references to “Randy” were the result of “autocorrect” and declined to publicly disclose the identity of the person he meant to refer to. The story continues below the advertisement Von Finckenstein announced the investigation during his testimony at a public accounts committee meeting Thursday. The committee was discussing the ArriveCAN investigation, but Barrett asked the commissioner if he had watched Anderson’s testimony and was aware of the new text messages. “Does this new information require further examination of the matter on your part?” Barrett asked. Von Finckenstein responded that he was convinced that the minister had not been in contact with Anderson on September 8. “We looked at all of that evidence and there was absolutely no way of knowing whether there was any contact between him and Mr. Anderson. And now new information has come to light,” Mr. Von Finckenstein said. Credits: (left) Instagram/Stephen Anderson, (right) The Canadian Press/Justin Tang He said he asked Boissonnault to send him phone records and screenshots of communications from various messaging apps for September 6 and 7, 2022. The story continues below the advertisement The commissioner said that as part of the initial investigation, Boissonnault only provided him with these documents by September 8, 2022. “When I have that, I will determine whether Mr. Anderson is using (Boissonnault’s) name in vain or whether there were genuine conversations.” Boissonnault’s communications director, Alice Hansen, said in a statement that the minister would provide all documents requested by the commissioner. “The Ethics Commissioner has twice reviewed Minister Boissonnault’s past dealings and has concluded both times that there was no cause for concern,” Hansen wrote. “Minister Boissonnault was not involved in any of the text conversations that were reported and we are pleased to demonstrate this again to the Ethics Commissioner.” Boissonnault has been called to testify again before the ethics committee in September, when the House resumes. © 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link