SJQS Committee Report
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APPENDIX H
Assembly of Quebec bishops Telephone: (514) 274-4323
1225 Saint Joseph Blvd East Fax: (514) 274-4383
Montreal, Quebec
H2J 1L7
Montreal, September 30, 1997
The Honourable Stéphane Dion
President of the Queen’s Privy Council
For Canada and Minister of
Intergovernmental Affairs
OTTAWA, ON K1A 1K2
Dear Sir:
The Assembly of Quebec bishops has expressed itself on several occasions on the issue of the status of school boards.
As you noted in your letter, Mgr André Gaumond, then head of the Assembly, specified on March 26, 1997, that "the bishops reiterate that they do not oppose the establishment of such linguistic school boards as could keep parents’ rights to denominational schools intact." The bishops also clearly stated their position in their submission to the Commission of the Estates General on Education, on August 8, 1995: "As far back as 1982, the Assembly of Quebec bishops expressed its approval of the establishment of linguistic school boards. In the light of the reform of the Education Act and legal clarifications by the Supreme Court in 1993, we believe that this transformation would be desirable throughout Quebec, including the cities of Montreal and Quebec City." (P 21).
Nevertheless, we have not expressed ourselves on the means to use to effect this change. Current discussions address amendments to section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867. It must be specified at this point that our Assembly has never argued in favour of repealing section 93. We know that means other than involving section 93 could have been used to effect the desired change. Nevertheless, our assembly did not oppose the choice to amend section 93. It has always been our conviction that the choice of means is the responsibility of the political authorities.
Our approval for changing the status of school boards has always been accompanied by one condition: that the denominational guarantees established by Bill 107 be maintained. The rights clearly recognized under that legislation are at the heart of our historic heritage.
I trust these clarifications will be to your satisfaction.
Yours sincerely,
Pierre Morissette
Bishop of Baie-Comeau
Head of the Assembly of Quebec bishops
(Original at Clerk's office)