Press Release: English speakers in Abitibi-Témiscamingue are mired by poverty and a dearth of job opportunities.
Montreal, January 29, 2025 – English speakers in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, a western Québec region on the border with Ontario, are being held back by poverty and language barriers, according to a new report from The Provincial Employment Roundtable (PERT).
Nearly 5.6% of English speakers live at or below the low-income cut-off—more than double the rate of the region’s French speakers. Nevertheless, the research offers a glimmer of optimism: income and employment disparities between English and French speakers have been gradually narrowing.
The report attributes the improvement to a concerted effort by companies and authorities in the region to hire English speakers to alleviate a prolonged labour shortage. The economy in the region is dominated by resource-extraction industries like logging and mining.
English speakers, however, still lag behind their French counterparts. Their median after-tax income is $3,600 less than that of French speakers, and they are also buffeted by unemployment. The report concludes that a lack of French language proficiency is one of the main barriers to employment for English speakers in the region.
English speakers are also falling behind in accessing overall educational attainment. Sharleen Sullivan, Executive Director of Neighbours Abitibi-Témiscamingue, an organization serving English speakers in the region, said that many in the community were struggling to learn a second language, in some cases due to low literacy skills or prior bad experiences in the education system. “It’s clear to us that we need to address issues related to educational opportunities before we can implement large-scale efforts to increase French-language proficiency of English speakers in the region.”
Brain-drain among English speakers is also a challenge in the region. The lack of English language CEGEPs or universities in the region, and limited vocational training opportunities available, has pushed many young English speakers to leave. For those who remain, access to educational opportunities is often limited by the distance of available English language programs and institutions. One local resident told us she is forced to travel 6 hours to attend the local English language vocational school. Amid such obstacles, talented youth are leaving, undermining the region’s economic future.
PERT and Neighbors Abitibi-Témiscamingue call for more vocational and postsecondary learning opportunities for English speakers within already existing regional schools improving access to online and distance learning.
Nicholas Salter, Executive Director of PERT, said immediate action was needed to stem the economic decline of English-speaking communities. “The report underscores the pressing need to support the economic well-being of English speakers in Abitibi-Témiscamingue so that they can fulfill their potential and become an economic motor for the region,” he said. “By implementing the report’s recommendations, we can work towards creating a more equitable and inclusive labour market.”
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About PERT
The Provincial Employment Roundtable (PERT) is a non-profit multi-stakeholder initiative focused on addressing the employment and employability challenges facing Québec’s English-speaking community. For more information about the Provincial Employment Roundtable: https://pertQuébec .ca/
About Neighbors Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Neighbours Regional Association of Abitibi-Témiscamingue is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the English-speaking community by strengthening networks within the English- and French-speaking population and encouraging community development initiatives.
For more information contact:
Chad Walcott
Director of Engagement & Communications
Provincial Employment Roundtable (PERT)
Chad@pertquebec .ca
1-855-773-7885 ext. 737