QUEBEC CITY – First it was the language law, then the Charter of Quebec Values. Now the Marois government is picking another fight, this time suggesting school boards make major changes or risk getting wiped out.
Premier Pauline Marois said she’s only doing what the Liberals didn’t have the courage to do: demanding that school boards trim the fat.
Earlier this year, the PQ government slashed payments by $200 million but allowed the boards to turn around and raise school taxes by as much as 30% in some areas.
Now, in a new turn of events, the Premier is chiding the boards for hiking taxes and demanding they pay Quebecers back.
“We think we need to review the system,” Marois told reporters.
The boards say they can’t. David D’Aoust is the President of the Quebec English School Boards Association. “If this continues, we’re going to have to cut services to students, there’s no other way,” he said.
Marois is threatening to abolish French and English boards.
She has created a committee to look at financing and governance.
“We would feel comfortable with such a committee if in effect we had the right to appoint a representative,” responded D’Aoust.
On Wednesday, the debate dominated Question Period. Opposition parties joined forces to denounce Marois’ mismanagement of the file.
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“They decided to cut, they didn’t think, they didn’t want to think about it and then they say it’s not our responsibility, it’s the school boards’ responsibility,” argued Liberal MNA Francine Charbonneau.
The Liberal opposition leader added: “It’s not the first time that she divides Quebecers, she creates crises but that’s enough. It may not be the first time, but now it’s enough.”
Parties said it’s now crystal clear Marois is preparing to launch an election.
“I think the government is thinking of the best way to go in an election and to have, I suppose, a majority,” said Françoise David of Quebec Solidaire.
According to Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) leader François Legault, abolishing school boards was originally a CAQ proposal.
He suggested that the fact Marois is their idea may be a sign that she’s trying to win votes in municipalities south of Montreal.
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