Kathleen Weil's task is to mend disconnect between government and Anglo communities

Kathleen Weilis calling her appointment as minister responsible for relations with English-speaking Quebecers''historic."

Premier PhilippeCouillardhadalready promised to create a secretariat to deal with anglophone issues.

With thislatestcabinet shuffleand Weil'snew duties, the government will also have a minister dedicated to the task the first since the Liberal government's election in 2014.

''There's now a minister that has a responsibility to be on the ground, to listen to the concerns of the English-speaking community,'' said Weil, who lost her post as minister of immigration, diversity and inclusiveness after more than three years at that job.

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Asked if thewidespread criticism of the governmentconsultation on systemic racism contributed to her being removed from that portfolio,Weildefended her work, which she said she'd loved.

''Anyone who's dealt with the immigration file knows it's a very interesting one,'' she said, but she added she was ready to take on a new challenge.

Weil, of Scottish-Irish descent,is fully bilingual and studied at McGillUniversity.

She said her office will relaythe concerns and priorities of Quebec's English speakersdirectly to the government.

''It's not easy when you have big ministries,'' she said, adding she hopes to improve the way the government responds to the needs of anglophone communities.

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Lingering issues

Community groups say they hopethis cabinet shuffle represents afresh start in the province's approach to the English-language minority.

''This gives us a voice.It's a pipeline directly to the government,'' saidMichelleEaton-Lusignan, director of the English Community Organization ofLanaudire.

''It's notnecesarilya reflex yet to consider the anglophone community when making policy decisions,'' saidEaton-Lusignan.

She said for the roughly 14,000 English-Quebecers living in the Lanaudireregion, access to health careas well as job opportunitiesarepriorities.

TheCouncil for Anglophone Magdalen Islanders (CAMI) said the key is to adapt programs to make sure they take into accountthe realitiesof smaller communities.

Executive director Helena Burke gave the example of a town losing access to a training program because there weren't enough people signing up.

''It's harder for us because we don't have the numbers to warrant the services,'' said Burke.

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Burke said she believes this new secretariatgives Quebec'sanglophone population a level ofofficial recognition that wasn't there before.

''The fact that we don't have access to a lot of services in English makes us feel like second-class citizens,'' she said.

Burke said she was able to voice some of these concerns ina meeting with the premier in Mayand is hopeful they didn't fall on deaf ears.

Couillardreaching out to Anglos

During the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday,Couillardspecifically addressed English-speakingQuebecers, stressing thatthe creation ofthisnew position was in response to their demands.

''Let me tell you that you are not only an integral part of Quebec, this is your home,'' saidCouillard.

The premier insisted that the ''talents and presence of the anglophone community'' wereneeded in Quebec.

''I want you to know and to feel that you're all first-class citizens,'' he said.