Quebec banning use of gender-neutral inclusive language in all official communications

Quebec is banning the use of gender-neutral inclusive language in all official communications.

French-language Minister Jean-François Roberge will present legislation at the National Assembly to this effect Wednesday.

He said newly emerging gender-neutral words, which are often used by transgender and non-binary people, create “incoherence” in Quebec’s official language.

Because nouns are gendered, Roberge’s rules also prohibit writing in a way that neutralizes them. Newer neutral pronouns like “iel” – which is used similarly to “they” in English – won’t be allowed either.

Other gender-neutral alternatives to names, pronouns and titles like “celleux,” (those), mix (Mx.) and froeur (sibling) will also be out of use.

“It is what it is, so we have to be sure that our grammar is applied and that new words are not incompatible with the grammar,” Roberge told journalists at a news scrum.

Following OQLF rules

Quebec’s French-language watchdog (OQLF) provides guidelines on gender-neutral writing, which Roberge said the government will follow.

On its website, the OQLF says gender-neutral language “allows women and men to be represented in a balanced manner, or to refer to people regardless of their gender” rather than default to the masculine form.

The watchdog favours the use of doublets (“lecteurs et lectrices”), neutral designations (researchers, resource person, readership), and various strategies for creating inclusive sentences.

Roberge’s new rules restrict the use of abbreviated doublets, only allowing the use of brackets when space is limited.

Terms like “conseiller(-ère)” would be allowed, but not “l’administrateur/trice,” or “les agent•e•s."

Many proponents of inclusive writing push back against the use of bracket as it can make other genders seem like a second-thought.

“From what we saw, there’s a lot of confusion,” Roberge said. “Without rules, everyone — with good intentions and in good faith — are using words that are causing significant problems in the French language. We can’t conjugate properly, so we’re going to impose some rules.”

He added that many Quebecers already struggle with French grammar and the government wants to make it more “uniform.”

The guidelines will only apply to state communications with the public for the time being.

That includes all government ministries, organizations, and municipalities. They will also apply to the education network – including CEGEP and universities – and the health-care system.

Roberge said the ministers responsible for each sector will legislate accordingly.

The guidelines will not affect personal or internal communications, including addressing students and patients by gender-neutral pronouns.

Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon welcomed the move.

He told journalists that inclusive language has created “complications and confusion” and was “imposed without any debate.”

Trans community feels targeted

It’s unclear how these rules would affect students and teachers who use gender-neutral pronouns or patients in the health-care system with an X gender marker on their RAMQ card.

Roberge said the government will “readjust as necessary.”

The move comes after Quebec faced strong criticism from the LGBTQ+ community over its bathroom policy in schools and the release of a controversial report by a gender identity committee.

• READ MORE: Quebec schools must have designated boys and girls bathrooms: education minister

Roberge insists the rule isn’t meant to exclude people based on their gender.

“I don’t want to exclude anybody. We are open-minded, we want people to be happy, it’s important to comfort them. Some people are gender-fluid, they are who they are and who they want to be and this won’t change,” he said.

He stressed Quebec is following countries like France, Belgium and Switzerland, which have similar rules in place.

But trans activist Celeste Trianon isn’t convinced.

“It’s a kind of policy which serves absolutely no purpose except to exclude people and appeal to other people’s bigotry,” she said, adding she doesn’t want to see Quebec follow Alberta’s lead on anti-trans legislation.

“Why should they target inclusive language amongst all things, something which is literally harmless,” she said.

A ‘distraction’

Trianon accused Quebec of trying to “artificially freeze” the French language to prevent it from evolving and of imposing censorship. The language has already evolved to create feminine titles for women, she pointed out.

She said the government should have other priorities — deficits, the failed Northvolt and SAAQclic projects, housing, policing — and is clinging to divisive policy to try and win its base back.

Manon Massé of Québec Solidaire agrees with her.

“Can someone tell me why the CAQ is so afraid? No one asked for this,” she said in an Instagram post. “Their days in power are numbered and this is their priority?”

Transition Montréal, a new municipal party hoping to be elected in the November election, condemned the CAQ for “politicizing inclusive writing for partisan purposes” and imposing it on cities.

“It is unfortunately clear that they are afraid of losing all their seats in the next election. They are seeking to distract the Quebec population from the major housing and homelessness crises for which they are responsible,” said Transition Montréal leader Craig Sauvé.