Who will challenge the status quo?

Certainly not Alliance Quebec (AQ) that sprung up shortly after the law was formulated. It was an organization funded by the federal government. Initially, led by such notables as Alec Paterson, it decided not to demand freedom of choice, but to ‘build bridges’ to the francophone

community.

Almost 30 years later Paterson now advocates sharing English schools and prefers not to speak about the language legislation that has decimated the English system.

Interestingly, at one time more militant- minded individuals took over AQ and began to initiate legal action. The federal government slashed its funding and starved it of its source of revenue the organization became defunct. No doubt its demise prevented any potential embarrassing legal issues for either level of government. I doubt a reduction of funds to francophones outside Quebec ever occurred.

Another group that should be supportive of a legal challenge is the teachers’ union. Based on its past inactions, it will not. Just after the law had passed, the provincial union solemnly proclaimed its belief in the freedom of choice, but, alas taking a cue from the initial AQ position it determined that it was not ‘the right time’ to undertake any action to support that belief.

The union’s political emasculation was best illustrated when it decided not to take a stance in the last referendum, spinelessly stating that to do so would be ‘divisive.’ As many of the old guard still linger, they are engaged in the more comfortable politically-correct campaigns dealing with issues in countries from Mali to Mongolia, but studiously avoiding events unfolding in Montreal. That is too close to home.

The political representatives for the anglophone community are unfortunately irrelevant. There is no political mileage to be gained by supporting Quebec’s anglophones at either the provincial or federal levels. Those politicians will continue to stay on as tokens.

In fact, English Quebec is the Rodney Dangerfield of minorities both in Quebec and Canada. Its voting pattern is pretty much taken for granted, and its representatives too insufficient in number or influence to sway any legislation.

The support for a legal challenge could come from the Quebec English Schools Boards Association (QESBA) The amount of money involved proportionate to their budget, would be miniscule, but the rewards could be significant. Do not let them say they do not have the funds. Let us not forget that QESBA’s predecessor, the Protestant boards association, saw its executive director jailed when he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars of their funds.

Although that smacks of both incompetence as well as gross dishonesty, it also indicates the level of revenue that was available to the school boards. If they presently have monies for publicity campaigns, travel to foreign countries, and running an annual convention in Quebec City, then one can conclude that there are funds available for a legal fight. Sadly, I wonder if they have the stomach for that. There was an effort launched by the Quebec Federation of Home and Schools Associations many years back. Judge Jules Deschenes of the Quebec Superior court ruled that their case had sufficient merit to be heard.

Unfortunately, the federal government that had initially supported the association then withdrew from funding it. Unable to raise sufficient cash, the case died. Since that time, Bill 101 has changed; it is now more stringent, and the constitution has been repatriated, hence those original arguments would need to significantly overhauled

Although it is true that education is a provincial matter, the Manitoba School Act, which discriminated against francophones, was overturned by federal action within six years, however, a repeat of that kind of intervention is highly unlikely. There appears to be little political will to slow or end the inexorable decline in the English school population, so regrettably the only avenue open would be through the courts. School commissioners are you listening?