News
Statement by the President of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy, Andrew Caddell on the resignation of Premier François Legault
Published on January 20, 2026
The following press release from Andrew Caddell the issues the Montreal Council of Women has fought for—for almost two centuries—and continues to defend today. From equality, access to housing, public safety, and social services, to the full participation of women in civic and political life, these struggles remain far from resolved.
The upcoming provincial election is therefore critical. Decisions made by the next council will have lasting consequences for women, families, and the most vulnerable communities in Montreal. This moment calls for vigilance, engagement, and a clear understanding of what is at stake.
We invite you to read and share this press release with that perspective in mind.
— MCW Board of Directors
Statement by the President of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy, Andrew Caddell on the resignation of Premier François Legault.
Montreal – The departure of François Legault as Premier of Quebec is a time for reflection by the English-speaking community of Quebec. It is not a moment for congratulations or sympathetic comments about his “dedication to public service.”
While I hate to sound churlish or bitter, it is hard to disagree with comments he was a divisive influence and the “worst Premier ever” for Quebec’s 1.5 million Anglophones.
Why is that? Let’s begin with his resignation speech. He said “We must stop the worrying decline of the French language, particularly in Montreal, in order to ensure the future of our nation.” Anyone who looks closely at the statistics knows there is no decline in the French language in Montreal. Mr. Legault refuses to acknowledge bilingual Anglophones and allophones who speak French are part of the Québécois “nation.”
Continuing a theme of blaming immigrants for Quebec’s ills, and his passage of Bill 21 on secularism, he said “the explosion in the number of temporary immigrants…has accelerated the decline of French.” I knew Rene Lévesque and Camille Laurin. They would never have made such a statement.
During the pandemic, “Mon oncle François " kept us in total confusion, turning curfews on and off like a tap, but still suffering the greatest mortality rate in Canada. On the economy, he overspent, managed poorly and ended with a $13 billion deficit.
Finally, there is his legacy on language. In 2018, he promised not to pass language legislation. In 2021, folding to nationalist pressure, he tabled and quickly passed Bill 96. The egregious provisions, the lack of debate and consultation on Bill 96 was an insult to our community. The result is ten legal challenges of the law, including our own.
Then there was the use of the notwithstanding clause to protect a raft of discriminatory legislation, and the perpetual attacks on our school boards and universities. And lately, all combined in Bill 1, the new “Constitution,” which refuses to acknowledge the contribution or even the existence of Anglophone Quebecers.
All that was bad enough, but he never met with us, he refused interviews with English media and he sneered about the “whiners in the West Island.” As if to send a final message to our community, he refused to utter even one word in English in his speech, and did not mention our 1.5 million citizens.
It is long past time he left.
Contact:
Andrew Caddell, President
Task Force on Linguistic Policy
(514) 869-6434