Trudeau's language flap puts access to English-language health services in Quebec under microscope

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decisionto answer a question about access to mental health services in French at a town hall event in Sherbrooke, Que., pushed a thorny, longstanding concern of anglophone Quebecers back into the spotlight.

Judy Ross,the woman who asked the question, wanted to know what was being done to ensure anglophonescan get the services they require in their own language. She didn'tget the reply she was hoping for.

"I didn't want it to be about the language issue, I wanted to draw attention to mental health services," said Ross, one of the founders of Mental HealthEstrie,after seeing the flurry ofcoverage surroundingTrudeau'sFrench-only response to her question.

A report last fallby the regional health authorityin the Eastern Townships, the CIUSSSde l'Estrie CHUS, found anglophone residentsface barriers to service, including doctors whoonly speak French and documents that are only available in French.

'Increasingly complex' health care system

That report makes a number of recommendations, whichincludetraining health professionals to provide better servicesin English and supporting more health researchand increased access tohealth care inthe region'slinguistic and cultural communities.

• Anglophones, immigrants in worse health than francophones in the Eastern Townships

''It's normal for anglophones to prefer, especially in matters of mental health, speaking to a health professional who is comfortable in English,'' Dr. Mlissa Gnreux, public health director for theregion, said at the time.

''Having morewebsites translated would also be a plus, especially with a health care system that's becoming more and more complex.''

Another report, from2011, found that "communicating in a second language adds to the stress experienced by those suffering from a physical or mental illness."

Political fallout?

Trudeau's insistence on using French in Sherbrooke angeredgroups representing the region's anglophone minority, which makes up about six per cent of the population.

Rachel Hunting, the executive director of the Townshippers Association, an advocacy group for the region's anglophones,said based on what she saw Tuesday, she doesn't think better access to English-languagehealth services are in the works.

"Itreally feels like our highest level of government in Canada is perpetuating the notion that it's OK to not speak English to an English speaker in Quebec," Hunting said.

• ANALYSIS |Justin Trudeau's language blunder in Sherbrooke could have political fallout