Montreal, October 24, 2025 – The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) has decided to withdraw its request for an injunction or stay of the 2025-2026 budget rules, following a series of significant concessions by Minister of Education Sonia Lebel. These changes provide critical relief for staffing, student services and school board operations.
In June, the Ministry of Education (MEQ) announced severe funding cuts and restrictions that threatened services to students across the province. In response, QESBA and its nine member boards filed for a stay to protect educational services and school communities.
“We are encouraged by the government’s decision to correct course and by the new Minister’s openness to dialogue,” said QESBA President Joe Ortona. “Our educators and administrators deserve stability and the resources to meet the needs of all students.”
The gains achieved through QESBA’s legal challenge have also benefitted the Francophone network, whose school service centres, replacing school boards in 2020, lack elected governance and independent advocacy.
“These changes will help restore vital services, but it should not have taken this level of disruption for our voices to be heard,” added Ortona. “Much of the hardship could have been avoided through earlier, meaningful consultation with those who understand the day-to-day realities of education. There is also still work to do to ensure that each of our school boards benefits from the announced changes, and we hope the Ministry will work with us to make sure our students receive the services they need.”
QESBA continues to seek a meeting with Minister Lebel to share recommendations on how to build a more predictable, transparent, and student-centered approach across Quebec’s education network.
QESBA is the voice of English public education in Québec and represents 100,000 students in over 300 elementary, high schools, and adult and vocational centres across Québec.
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