At our regular meeting held on December 18th, the Council of Commissioners of the Lester B. Pearson School Board reiterated its support, in principle, of the English Montreal School Board ’s motion for a stay and the constitutional challenge to Bill 96.

The English Montreal School Board adopted a resolution on November 7, 2023, mandating it to seek a stay of certain provisions of Bill 96 and the Charter of the French Language provisions while the constitutional challenges to Bill 96 progress through the courts.

The LBPSB Council of Commissioners has been resolute from the outset that the application of Bill 96 in its current form will infringe on the minority rights and freedoms of English-speaking Quebecers and other Quebecers including Indigenous, Allophone and Francophone Quebecers.

For example, our Council adopted a resolution regarding Bill 96 in September 2022 which outlined our support, in principle, for court challenges to Bill 96, which we maintain disregards section 23 of The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and will significantly infringe on, and discriminate against, minority language rights.

Yet, in our oversight of the finances of one of the largest English-speaking school boards in Quebec, it is critical in our stewardship that we remain cautious in our management of public funds, particularly when we are in a deficit position. Our first priority must be to utilize our resources to ensure that our students, whether they are at the elementary, high school or Continuing Education/Vocational education level, receive the best quality of education possible. And, although the LBPSB Council of Commissioners wholeheartedly supports the choice of the Quebec English School Boards Association and our colleagues at the eight other English school boards to commit to legally challenging Bill 96 and an application for a stay, our position is to support these actions in principle.

Rest assured we will continue to keep the LBPSB community updated about the constitutional challenge of Bill 96 as events warrant.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family, friends and loved ones all the best for the upcoming holiday season and may 2024 be filled with much health and happiness.