Western Quebec anglophones welcome English debate

Monday night's English-language Quebec election debate the first in modern history is proving to be highly anticipated amonganglophones in the Outaouais.

Liberal Party Leader PhilippeCouillard, the CoalitionAvenirQubec'sFranoisLegault,PartiQubcoisLeaderJean-FranoisLiseand the co-spokesperson ofQubecSolidaire,ManonMass, will all answer questions submitted by members of the public.

• Here's how to watch Monday night's historic English-language debate
• What each party would do for Quebec's anglophone community

But in an election where identity politics, immigration and the protection of the French language has loomed large, they'llhaveto make their pitchto English-speaking and allophone voters while knowing that francophonesare listening.

'The trap'

"The English language debate I would call it 'the trap,'" said ChristianBourque, executive vice-president with LgerMarketing.

Bourquesaid the stakes are probably highest for Legault, who's leadingthe polls amongFrench speakers.

"Franois Legault needs to remember that while he'll be talking in English in an English-language debate, really, who's paying attention behind all of this is the French-language voter who's going to read the press, who's going listen to the pundits," he said.

"And it could have an impact on the race."

Community feels 'ignored'

For English speakers in western Quebec, the debate is a long time coming and reason to celebrate.

"This is really exciting for us," said Linton Garner, who'shelpingorganize a viewing party at the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, Que.,Monday night.

The viewing partywill be followed by a second English debate featuring localcandidates.

"The [English-speaking] community has felt somewhat ignored," saidGarner, executive director of the Regional Association of WestQuebecers.

Their concerns have receivedless attention from people in power, Garner said, "so the fact they've consented to [the debate] shows that they'repaying attention to the presence of the English community."

And there's a lot at stake for the English community in this campaign, said Garner, from accessto improved English-language health and mental-health services to civil service jobs.

He said they also worry about whether a recently-createdsecretariat on relations with English-speaking Quebecers which has only been in place since2017 will remain under a new government.

Another concern, Garner said, is the threat by the Coalition Avenir Qubecto do away with elected school boards one of the only institutions in Quebec that English-speakers get to choosethemselves.

"[The debate] makes a huge difference for our readers, absolutely" said Lily Ryan, co-publisher of a trio of English-language newspapers in the Outaouais.

"They'll be watching, and finally understanding the fine points of the different platforms."

Ryan said her readers have been looking forward to hearing election promises debated in their own language.

She said she'll be watchingto see what sort of impact the debate has onvoter turnout which has been traditionally been low.

English vote an opportunity

Winning over non-francophone voters from the Liberal Party, which traditionally has a lock on some 70 per cent of that electorate, will be a challenge, Bourque said.

• So you want the anglophone vote, do you?

But it could be worth it, especially for Legault, he added, as gaining some of that support may make a big difference in the number of ridings the CAQwins.

Still, some of the CAQ'srecent nationalist rhetoric could repel non-francophones, including promises to slash immigration and refuse newcomers if they don't show enough proficiency in the French language, according to Thomas Collombat, professor of political science at l'Universit du Qubec en Outaouais.

"If they have the ambition to become a majority government," saidCollombat, "they need to go beyond that [French-speaking]electorate."

PQ leader strongest in English?

Legault'slanguage skillscould prove another challenge.

"FrancoisLegault'sEnglish is really rough around the edges," saidBourque, notingthat could posea problem if he wants to use nuanced language on hot button issues like immigration and language politics.

Bourque said viewers should expect Couillardto take advantage of that weakness.

"He'll try to tell anglophone voters, while you may be flirting with theCAQ, you should consider the consequences," said Bourque.

Parti Qubcoisleader Jean-FranoisLise is likely the strongest in English, as he was theminister responsible for the Quebec's anglophone community during the brief 18-month PQ minority government that ended in 2014.

Lise and other leaders have been cautioned by le Mouvement Qubecfranais, a French-language rights group, to steer clear of the debate to avoid the suggestion Quebec is officiallybilingual.

• Party leaders face pushback for agreeing to English-language debate

On the other hand, Bourque said, French speakersalso valueleaders who can speak fluentEnglish as they'reexpected to stand up for Quebec rights in Ottawa.

ManonMass, the co-spokesperson for Qubecsolidaire, is the least bilingual of the four, according to Bourque. But the stakes for her are lower, he said, and she'll likely gain points for her courage.

CBC Quebec is presenting the debateinpartnership with CTV, Global, CJAD, Citytv and the Montreal Gazette.

In Ottawa, the debate will also be carried online on the CBCOttawa website and heard on CBCRadio in the Ottawa listening area, startingat 5:30 p.m.