Shutdown of Riverdale destabilizing and ill-advised: QCGN

MONTREAL, Jan. 28, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - A steady stream of assurances that the government of Quebec Premier François Legault is taking the interests of Quebec's English-speaking community into account has been contradicted by its actions – this time with the abrupt elimination of Riverdale High School from our English-language school system.

"While the Quebec government talks quite positively and in an often encouraging way about respecting community interests, to all appearances they don't understand minority-language rights. Or they simply don't care," Geoffrey Chambers, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network, declared following today's announcement.

The immensely disruptive process to force dispersal of Riverdale's 450 English-language students across the remainder of the Lester B. Pearson School Board network, before the next school years begins, is clearly improper, Chambers added: "It disregards long-accepted school-shutdown policy, which for good reason requires public consultation as part of a thoughtful, judicious 18-month process.  For the Quebec government to sidestep the rules in its own education act by exercising an extraordinary power (invoking Art. 477.1.1 of La Loi sur l'instruction publique) is dangerously destabilizing and ill-advised."

"The government is using a hammer here, and we have to wonder where and how they will next grab it," Chambers said: "Riverdale may mean there will be more pre-emptive exercise of ministerial power, despite all their soft words. It certainly suggests the so-called new service centres to replace school boards will be unable to protect community interests."

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The Quebec Community Groups Network (www.qcgn.ca) is a not-for-profit organization bringing together 59 English-language community organizations across Quebec. Its mission is to identify, explore and address strategic issues affecting the development and vitality of English-speaking Quebec and to encourage dialogue and collaboration.

SOURCE Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN)

Katia Toimil-Bramhall, Communications Officer, [email protected], Telephone: [phone], ext. 227, cellular: 514-531-1142