There was much talk about how to turn English-speaking Quebecers’ generalized mistrust of the Coalition Avenir Québec government into trust during the recent study of the budgetary credits at the National Assembly.

Under questioning by Liberal MNA Gregory Kelley, Eric Girard, who is responsible for relations with the anglophone community, as well as being finance minister, even conceded a recent flashpoint was “not our finest moment.” Girard’s mea culpa was a reference to last summer’s imbroglio over a government directive that suggested an eligibility certificate for English education would be required to access English health care. The government eventually rewrote the directive.

While it’s positive that Girard said he wants to hit reset with often skeptical English-speaking Quebecers, there is another contentious issue percolating behind the scenes that could boil over.

Kelley asked Girard about a new methodology to define the English-speaking community the government is studying that could reduce its demographic weight, which was measured in the last census at about 13 per cent of the Quebec population. He warned that any such recalculation that diminishes the number of anglophones could compromise funding and the delivery of services, whether it be health care or employment assistance.

“Often the plans are based on the numbers. And it’s where the numbers warrant,” Kelley noted during the exchange. “So if the services are based on numbers, that’s the way hospitals in Quebec determine what services.”

Girard seemed caught off guard,........

© Montreal Gazette