Community organizations respond to approval of Regional Access Plans ensuring availability of health and social services in the English-language

Quebec City, on June 5, 2023- Research has shown that linguistic minorities have poorer health outcomes and face higher barriers to entry for health care services (Bouchard and Desmeules, 2011). The importance of being able to receive health and social services in English in the province of Quebec is a priority for the English-speaking population. Regional Access Plans are essential for determining which services in all public health institutions are available in English and it also guides community resources and individuals on how they can access those services. These plans are required by the Health and Social Services Act to ensure that the right to receive services in English is ensured by all health institutions.

The Community Health and Social Services Network (CHSSN) is very pleased that the Regional Access Plans that govern the availability of health and social services in English at each CISSS/CIUSSS have been approved by Cabinet on Wednesday May 31^st, 2023, just before the implementation of Bill 15 on June 1^st. “The approval process for these programs was indeed too long, but I am very pleased that they have been approved. We look forward to the plans being made public to ensure that they have not been modified from what each of the Regional Access Committee approved when they were submitted” says the Executive Director of CHSSN, Jennifer Johnson. “Since the passing of Bill 96, the community has been assured by public statements of Minister Girard and the Premier that Bill 96 would not affect our ability to access English language health services. I believe that passing these access plans without modifications is an excellent step in assuring this access.”

“The adoption of the Access Program is very welcomed as it is an important and long-awaited final step in a complex process towards ensuring that the English-speaking community has access to health and social services in English. As President of the Regional Access Committee in the Outaouais, I look forward to the ongoing collaboration with our regional institution for the successful implementation of the Access Program” adds Danielle Lanyi, Executive Director of the Connexions Resource Centre.

“The community sector is ready to collaborate with regional Institutions to implement the Access Plans” says Fatiha Guemiri, Executive Director of the East Island Network for English Language Service (REISA). “They are essential to linguistic community vitality.”

“The Access Plans play an integral part in the ability to offer English-language services to our community members. They allow us to work together to identify service areas, within our health system, that require a knowledge of English. They also permit us the opportunity to identify collaborative initiatives to help increase the offer of English-language services. The Access Plans are essential in ensuring ongoing access to health and social services in English in our region” explains Jessica Synnott, Executive Director, Vision Gaspé Percé Now.

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