EMSB corrects its stance on Bill 96 language legislation

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Montreal,  September 11, 2021-  The English Montreal School Board  Council of Commissioners has corrected its stance pertaining to   Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Quebec. 

Bill 96 was introduced in the National Assembly on May 13, 2021. On September 1, 2021, the EMSB adopted a resolution calling on the Quebec government to withdraw Bill 96 in its present form and for the federal government to refer Bill 96 to the Supreme Court of Canada for a ruling on its legality. In the preamble, the EMSB put forward several criticisms of Bill 96. 

The Council wishes to acknowledge that it now recognizes that some of these criticisms   were unfounded or mistaken. In particular, the EMSB does not question the fact that Quebec forms a nation.  The EMSB does agree with the importance of protecting and promoting the French language, notably on the island of Montreal, and solemnly affirms its commitment to work with all Quebecers, including the Quebec government, to pursue this objective. The  EMSB, nonetheless, remains deeply concerned with how Bill 96 will impact Quebec’s English-language community.

In a new resolution,  replacing the one adopted and on September 1 and now rescinded, the EMSB remains very critical of the attempt to shield judicial scrutiny by introducing the notwithstanding clause in Bill 96 and still calls on the Quebec government to withdraw the legislation in its present form.

Here is a recording of Mr. Ortona's press briefing.

About the English Montreal School Board

With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, the EMSB network consists of 77 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca.

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Contact:

Michael J. Cohen

Manager, Marketing and Communications

English Montreal School Board

514-483- 7200 ext. 7243


Here is the full resolution

Motion: The English Montreal School Board corrects its stance on Bill 96

WHEREAS Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec, was 

introduced in the National Assembly on May 13, 2021;

WHEREAS on September 1, 2021, the English Montreal School Board adopted a resolution calling on the 

Quebec Government to withdraw Bill 96 in its present form and calling on the federal government to 

refer Bill 96 to the Supreme Court of Canada for a ruling on the legality of Bill 96;

WHEREAS in the preamble to its resolution of September 1, 2021, the English Montreal School Board 

put forward several criticisms of Bill 96;

WHEREAS the English Montreal School Board recognizes that some of these criticisms of Bill 96 were 

unfounded or mistaken and wishes to correct its stance on Bill 96;

WHEREAS, in particular, the English Montreal School Board does not question the fact that Quebec 

forms a nation;

WHEREAS, in particular, the English Montreal School Board agrees with the importance of protecting 

and promoting the French language, notably on the island of Montreal, and solemnly affirms its 

commitment to work with all Quebecers, including the Quebec Government to pursue this objective;

WHEREAS the English Montreal School Board remains deeply concerned with how Bill 96 will impact 

Quebec’s English-language community;

WHEREAS the English Montreal School Board remains very critical of the attempt to shield judicial 

scrutiny by introducing the notwithstanding clause in Bill 96;

WHEREAS the earliest the present resolution can be voted on is Saturday, September 11, 2021 

pursuant to the English Montreal School Board’s by-laws;

IT WAS MOVED BY JOE ORTONA AND RESOLVED THAT the present resolution replaces Resolution 

#21-09-01-11 in terms of representing the English Montreal School Board’s stance on Bill 96;

IT WAS FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the English Montreal School Board calls on the Quebec government to 

withdraw Bill 96 in its present form;

IT WAS STILL FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this resolution be forwarded to the following:

- Premier François Legault, Simon Jolin-Barrette, Minister Responsible for the French Language, and 

MNA Christopher Skeete, parliamentary assistant to Premier François Legault for relations with 

English-speaking Quebecers;

-    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Melanie Joly, Federal Minister of Official Languages;

-     Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA).

IT   WAS   STILL   FURTHER   RESOLVED   THAT   Resolution   #21-09-01-11,   adopted on

September 1, 2021 be rescinded.





 


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