Montreal, February 8, 2020 – The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) deplores the authoritarian manner in which the CAQ Government has rammed Bill 40; An Act to amend mainly the Education Act with regard to school organization and governance through the National Assembly in the early morning hours.
The Minister added an irresponsible 24th hour amendment calling for the immediate removal of all French elected commissioners from office in an effort to stop them from challenging this legislation in court.
“It is a dark, dark day for democracy in Québec when a government regardless of the clear opposition to Bill 40, decides to cut all debate and force the adoption in the National Assembly,” said Vice-President Noel Burke.
Our community is very concerned with the contents of the Law and we are worried about holding complicated elections in November,” continued the Vice-President. “We will meet our lawyers in very short order to examine our next steps and should have more information in the coming weeks.
Quebecers of all stripes should be deeply worried about the dangerous precedent established by this government; that through the continuous and arbitrary imposition of closure; they can create laws, at will, without any public or political accountability,” concluded the Vice-President.
QESBA is the voice of English public education in Québec and represents 100,000 students in 340 elementary, high schools, and adult and vocational centres across Québec.