William Dale – Local Journalism Initiative
Published online September 23, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com
MONTREAL – In a major victory for English-speaking voters across Quebec, the Quebec Supreme Court has ordered Élections Québec to issue upcoming election reminder cards in both French and English.
The decision, handed down Wednesday, September 16 by Justice Sylvain Lussier, grants a 10-day interim injunction after finding a “strong appearance” that French-only mail-outs risk infringing on the democratic rights of English-speaking Quebecers. In his judgment, Justice Lussier noted that restricting official election correspondence to French “effectively deprives approximately 12 per cent of voters the opportunity to obtain the information necessary to exercise their right to vote in English.”
The legal battle stems from recent changes under Quebec’s language legislation, Bill 96. Élections Québec announced earlier this month that, despite requesting an exception to the CAQ’s 2022 revisions to Bill 96, which restricted registration notices and general election guides exclusively to French, they were denied. English-speaking electors were directed to scan a digital QR code printed on the physical mailer to access translated voting instructions online.
The move drew immediate pushback from advocacy groups, including TALQ, an organization advocating for Anglophone rights (TALQ stands for Talking. Advocating. Living in Québec, representing roughly 1.3 million English-speaking Quebecers.) In court, representatives argued that digital workarounds like QR codes, websites, or
telephone help lines do not provide equivalent access to information mailed directly to households, creating severe practical barriers for English-speaking seniors and rural
residents with limited internet access.
Justice Lussier agreed, writing that a significant number of anglophone seniors would be left unable to exercise their franchise without clear, direct information.
While the court ruled it would be “unrealistic and extremely costly” to force Élections Québec to reprint and re-mail the general election guides that have already gone out, it ordered the agency to prepare and mail the upcoming voter reminder card in both official languages. The reminder cards, which provide essential details on local riding candidates and designated voting locations on election day, are scheduled to be printed and distributed shortly.
TALQ welcomed the decision as a critical victory for democratic access across the province.
“This is an important victory for English-speaking Quebecers and for democratic participation in Quebec,” said TALQ President Eva Ludvig. “The Court has recognized what we have said from the beginning: voters must be able to access the essential information they need to exercise their fundamental right to vote. For English-speaking Quebecers, that includes receiving that information in English.”
While TALQ had originally advocated for all election documents to arrive in both official languages as in past elections, Ludvig emphasized that ordering bilingual reminder cards sets a vital precedent for protecting minority rights.
“This case demonstrates why the practical impact of language policies matters,” Ludvig added. “Quebec can protect and promote French while respecting the rights of English-speaking Quebecers and ensuring they can participate fully in our democratic institutions.”
Pontiac electors can expect the bilingual reminder cards to arrive in their mailboxes ahead of voting day.
