The True Post (Web News)The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) has announced plans to initiate another legal challenge against the Legault government’s education budget cuts.
In June, QESBA had strongly condemned the reductions in a press release, describing them as “unconstitutional and unworkable.” President Joe Ortona warned: “The government shouldn’t expect children to pay the price for seven years of mismanagement, yet that is exactly what is happening.”
Ortona added: “These reckless decisions will have devastating, long term consequences for an entire generation of students. We condemn not only the substance of the cuts but also the way they were announced.”
He cautioned that the cuts could force school boards to cancel programs, reduce special education services, or even close schools. “Education has long been chronically underfunded,” he said. “We rely on our accumulated surpluses to balance budgets and provide critical services to students.”
On July 16, following mounting public pressure and a petition, the government announced an additional C$540 million in education funding. However, this funding came with strict conditions—such as hiring freezes and caps on staffing.
Ortona noted that staff had already been hired for the upcoming school year in accordance with agreements made with unions last year. “Backing out now would be unfair,” he argued.
QESBA’s most significant grievance is the government’s refusal to allow access to accumulated budget surpluses. They intend to take legal action before the start of the school year, stating: “We hope the courts will rule the government’s stance as unnecessary, unjustified, and unfair—and allow us to inject the needed resources into education.”
QESBA has appealed to all education stakeholders, parents, and community members to unite against the cuts. “Our children’s future and the strength of our democratic institutions depend on a robust, equitable, and properly funded education system.”
Meanwhile, Steven Le Sueur, president of the English Teachers’ Union, warned that staffing reductions would compromise student support programs: “We’ll face issues supporting special-needs and vulnerable children. The government has already cut C$200 million and wants more. It’s only getting worse.”
Katherine Korakakis, president of the English Parents’ Committee Association (EPCAQ), emphasized the broader impact: “Classroom assistants help not only special needs children but benefit the entire class. Their absence affects everybody, because then the teacher must focus on just one child.”
Ortona concluded by urging vigilance. “Every decision—direct or indirect, short term or long term—leaves an impact, and we must monitor the situation closely.”