On October 29, 2025, Ombudsperson Marc-André Dowd sent a letter to Marc Tanguay, chair of the Commission de la culture et de l’éducation, in which he commented on Bill 109 – An Act to affirm the cultural sovereignty of Québec and to enact the Act respecting the discoverability of French-language cultural content in the digital environment.
Mr. Dowd agrees with the objective of this bill, which is to ensure the long-term survival of the French language and Québec culture.
If the bill is passed, a Bureau de la découvrabilité des contenus culturels will be created within the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications. Should the Bureau be created, the Protecteur du citoyen believes that citizens and others should be able to report any problematic situation falling under the Bureau’s jurisdiction. The Bureau could then determine whether to intervene.
Furthermore, the bill stipulates that the Bureau cannot be compelled to disclose the information it holds. No exceptions are provided for. Mr. Dowd is concerned about this clause, which would prevent his institution from exercising its jurisdiction over the Bureau. The Protecteur du citoyen has the necessary powers to obtain, as required, any document or information it deems necessary for its investigations. The Ministère de la Culture et des Communications is one of the agencies over which the Protecteur du citoyen has jurisdiction. Since the Bureau will be part of the department, it should be no exception. The Protecteur du citoyen makes a recommendation to prevent this problem.
