Court rejects government appeal, Bill 40 remains suspended for Quebec English school boards

Appeals court rules to protect minority language rights while legal challenge continues

The Quebec Court of Appeal has decided that Bill 40, the province’s educational reform legislation, will not impact English school boards during the current legal conflict. Critics perceived the legislation, which intends to substitute school boards with service centers and eliminate elections in the French system, as a danger to the rights of minority languages.

The court determined that safeguarding the rights of the English-speaking community in Quebec took precedence over the swift enforcement of the law. This decision reinforces Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which ensures educational rights for minority language communities.

The choice was applauded by the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) along with various other organizations. The government has stated it will review the decision before providing any additional remarks.