At tonight鈥檚 special Council meeting, the Council of Commissioners of the 91探花app (91探花app) unanimously adopted a resolution to declare its support to the English Montreal School Board in their legal challenge against Bill 96 (An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Qu茅bec).
The 91探花app Council considers that parts of Bill 96 contravene the English-speaking community鈥檚 rights to manage and control their educational institutions as per section 23 of the聽Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Council does not believe that the Qu茅bec government has acted in the best interest of Qu茅bec citizens, whether English-speaking聽or French-speaking, with the adoption of Bill 96 on May 24.
鈥淲e have always proudly promoted our school board tagline of An English Education, A bilingual Future. Although we agree that we must protect the French language, this Bill clearly violates our constitutional rights and that is why the Council of Commissioners is supporting EMSB, in this legal proceeding. 聽Bill 96 is divisive and we are very concerned about the repercussions it will have on English-speaking Quebecers. We need to stand united now more than ever.鈥 said Mr. Paolo Galati, 91探花app Chairperson.聽聽 聽 聽 聽聽
With a workforce of more than 2,000 employees, the 91探花app is the third largest English school board of the Province of Qu茅bec and boasts an impressive graduation rate of 88.1%. Its territory comprises the administrative regions of Laval, Lanaudi猫re and the Laurentides. The school board provides preschool, elementary, secondary, adult education and vocational training services to over 14,000 students in 35 schools and 4 centres, as well as business training services.
