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In a new resolution, replacing the one adopted and on September 1 and now rescinded, the EMSB remains very critical of the attempt to shield judicial scrutiny by introducing the notwithstanding clause in Bill 96 and still calls on the Quebec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