EMSB unveils strategy on key issues for election campaign
Montreal, September 6, 2022- On the eve of a provincial election, which will take place on October 3, the English Montreal School Board will be engaging with candidates to bring forward important issues related to public education.
As
a pedagogical exercise, the EMSB will organize a bilingual virtual information
session for Tuesday afternoon, September 20 at 1 pm that will be streamed live into
classrooms across the school board. Representatives from each political party
will be invited to participate. EMSB
Chair Joe Ortona and Director General Nick Katalifos will give opening remarks.
Two members of the English Montreal Student Advisory Council (EMSAC) will serve
as moderators. The session will be broadcast live on YouTube, with students
being able to ask questions via the chat function.
In
addition, some schools will also organize in-person or virtual sessions with
their local candidates. These meetings are apolitical and are intended to
provide a method for students to learn more about the democratic electoral
process and how the government of Quebec functions. Finally, Mr. Ortona will
also continue to take the lead in meetings with different candidates in order
to engage in dialogue on issues which are important to the EMSB agenda. These
efforts began in June, when Mr. Ortona and Mr. Katalifos held a virtual meeting
with Quebec Conservative Party leader Eric Duhaime and other such meetings have continued in the
early days of the election campaign.
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Incumbent Liberal MNA for St. Léonard Filomena Rotiroti met with EMSB representatives after visiting Honoré-Mercier Elementary School. |
INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION
What investments would your party make in education over the
next four years?
AIR VENTILATION AND AIR QUALITY IN
SCHOOLS
The issue of air ventilation and air quality is an important
issue for parents, students, and staff. What will your party do to ensure good
air quality in our classrooms? Will you invest in air purifiers? Will you
reimburse the school boards who purchased them with their own funds?
TEACHER SHORTAGES
How does your party intend to tackle the issue of teacher
shortages we are experiencing in both the French and English sectors?
LANGUAGE ISSUES
·
According
to paragraph 23(1)(a) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
parents whose first language learned and still understood (or mother tongue) is
that of the English or French linguistic minority of the province in which the
parent resides , they have the right to
have their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in that
language. However, due to section 59 of the Constitution Act, 1982,
paragraph 23(1)(a) does not apply to Quebec. Do you believe that paragraph
23(1)(a) should apply to anglophone Quebecers, as it does to francophones in
the rest of Canada?
·
What is
your position on Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common
language of Québec? Would you keep the law as is? Would your party amend it
in any way? Would you repeal part or all of this law?
·
If any
part of Bill 96 is declared unconstitutional by the Superior Court judge, will
your party appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal?
BILL 21
·
What is
your position on Bill 21, An Act respecting the laicity of the State?
Would you keep the law as is? Would your party amend it in any way? Would you
repeal part or all of this law?
·
The
Court of Appeal will hear the case in November. If the judges confirm that Bill
21 is unconstitutional because it violates section 23 of the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is inapplicable to English language
school boards in Quebec, would your party accept this decision or would it
appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada?
·
If the
judges decide that Bill 21 is unconstitutional because it violates section 28
of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is of no force and
effect (struck down entirely), would your party accept this decision or would
it appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada?
BILL 40
·
What is
your position on Bill 40, An Act to amend mainly the Education Act with
regard to school organization and governance?
· It is possible that the Superior Court will render a decision on Bill 40 before October 3, 2022. If the judge rules that all or part of Bill 40 is unconstitutional because it violates section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is inapplicable to English language school boards in Quebec, would your party accept this decision or would it appeal to the Court of Appeal?
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
514.826.0383