By Ruby Pratka
Local Journalism Initiative
Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) officials are warning English-speaking families to get eligibility certificates for their children as soon as possible before the end of their children’s school days, even if their children study in the French system or attend private school.
According to the Charter of the French Language, an eligibility certificate is required to attend English public school; when applying for a certificate, a young person or their family must prove that one of their parents or siblings completed part of their primary or secondary education in English in Canada, or that there are extenuating circumstances (for example, a short stay in the province or a learning disability which makes mastering a second language unrealistic). The children of eligibility certificate holders (known as ayants-droit or rightsholders) can apply for certificates in turn. Although English school boards work with families to gather the necessary documentation, the certificates are issued by the Ministry of Education.
Under Bill 96, the legislation passed in May 22 aimed at shoring up French in the province, students who have eligibility certificates, even if they did not attend English public school, have easier access to English CEGEPs and face less onerous French language exam requirements.
ETSB chair Michael Murray said the school board has been receiving reports that the ministry is refusing eligibility certificates to young adults who meet eligibility requirements.
“It’s entirely arbitrary of the ministry to refuse [eligibility certificate applications] but technically, the certificates should be issued to youth,” he said. “Many parents send their kids to French elementary school, which is laudable for parents who want their kids to become bilingual, but they’re the ones being penalized now for their conformity to making French the official language of Quebec.”
Murray acknowledged that certificates are issued at the ministry’s discretion. “We don’t adjudicate eligibility, and they could have been declined for any number of reasons.” However, for Murray, the refusals of eligibility certificates “are just one more facet of the relentless attack on English – Bill 96, Bill 40 [which abolishes elected school boards], Bill 21 [which bars people who wear visible religious symbols from most public sector jobs], the fee rise [for out-of-province students] – it’s all part and parcel of an attempt to discourage and eliminate Englishness.” He said that as far as he knew, such denials “were not a problem” before Bill 96.
Murray encouraged families to apply for their children’s eligibility certificates as soon as possible. “The obvious message to parents with children under 18 is to get [their applications] in as soon as possible, but it’s totally unexpected and unacceptable that otherwise eligible people are being declined. If that becomes common, we’ll have to take it up with the ministry.”
The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) and the Ministry of Education and Higher Learning were not able to respond to requests for comment by press time.