After analyzing the file, the Direction de la Protection de la Langue Française found that McGill’s departments communicated with their employees only in English on numerous occasions.
In addition, the university’s website is not always translated into French, particularly the equity, diversity and inclusion page.
McGill University website on equity, diversity and inclusion
Photo: Radio Canada
In the decision we obtained, we can read that the OQLF considers that the denunciation is based on Article 41 of the Charter of the French Language.
“According to this article, written communications from an employer must be at least in French. »
— A quote from the Office québécois de la langue française in its decision
In fact, the law requires an employer to use French in written communication with its staff. He can also speak English, but French is a must.
The OQLF confirms that it has communicated with McGill University in this regard. According to the decision, the point was to ask McGill to make the corrections needed to comply with the charter. The office adds that the file is still being processed.
McGill urges his departments to comply
Invited to comment, the University recognizes that, as an English-speaking institution, it must comply with the provisions applicable to it within the meaning of the Charter of the French Language.
Spokesperson Shirley Cardenas explains that management sent a message in the days following our first exchange with the Office québécois de la langue française.
“The Acting Rector and Vice-Chancellor reminded us of the legal obligations related to the language of communication of the various heads of the university and initiated a process aimed at implementing processes to ensure that our websites comply with the current provisions of the Charter of the French language . »
– A quote from Shirley Cardenas, spokeswoman for McGill University
In November 2021, Radio-Canada announced that McGill University had shut down a French program by announcing it to faculty only in English. Concerned French teachers took the announcement as a stab in the back.
“Ironic,” says a French-speaking McGill professor
It’s still ironic that the site mentions diversity and inclusion and that French is excluded, says McGill psychology professor Martin Drapeau.
He is one of the teachers who have publicly criticized the lack of status for French at the university.
“It’s still a Quebec university, located in Quebec and subject to Quebec laws. »
– A quote from Martin Drapeau, Professor of Counseling Psychology at McGill University
Even if he has a perfect command of English, the professor believes that it is a matter of principle and of the survival and defense of French.