Quebec’s Language Minister has delivered a knock-out blow to the Central Quebec School Board. The board’s representatives were before a National Assembly committee arguing in favour of keeping the exemption that allows military children to attend English school. Diane de Courcy argued back that the military should not be getting any special treatment.
“This exemption is for the children so that when they are transferred they are better equipped for the new environment they’re going to live in,” explains CQSB Chair Stephen Burke.
On the fourth day of public hearings into Bill 14, the Language Minister pulled out a surprise document, an impact study prepared by her ministry, which says schools that accommodate the military are in fact “bridge schools” that bypass Bill 101 and offer a segment of the population unfair preferential treatment. “It’s an objective fact, they are bridging schools,” says de Courcy.
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The minister told the parliamentary committee the temporary exemption offered to the military isn’t so “temporary” after all: approximately 84 percent of children who benefit from the exemption are born in Quebec and will finish all of their schooling here in the province. Since 2010, 376 requests have been made to transform the temporary exemption into a permanent right to go to English school. The new status then applies to brothers and sisters, and all of their descendants. De Courcy says it’s unacceptable that francophone children be taught in English. She says the Central Quebec School Board may lose hundreds of students as a result of Bill 14, but she’ll offer compensation so that schools won’t close.
Commissioners are astounded.
“Do you really think people join the military to bypass Bill 101? I don’t think so,” says Burke.
Jean Robert is the CQSB vice-president. He was visibly shaken when the minister started poking holes in CQSB arguments. “When she says the ministry mentions schools will not close, well I’m sorry, that is just not true.”
CAQ MNA Eric Caire says it was a cheap shot to surprise the Central Quebec School Board with a never-before-seen study. “It’s unfair, we’re here to make a real debate on the situation and I have the confirmation now that the government wants to target the military because it is a symbol,” says Caire.
The Central Quebec School Board says it will continue to protest against Bill 14. Hearings continue on Friday.
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