Attention News Editors
For Immediate Release
The Education For All Collective demands that the Quebec government act urgently to ensure that all non-status children can attend primary and secondary school
Collective members and allies to gather at the NDG offices of the new Quebec Minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion, Kathleen Weil
date: Tuesday, April 29
time: 10am
location: 5252, de Maisonneuve Ouest (métro Vendôme)
(at the constituency office of the new Quebec Minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion)
Linda Guerry: 514-771-1647
Jaggi Singh: 438-933-7654
e-mail: solidaritesansfrontieres@
April 29, 2014, Montreal — The Collectif éducation sans frontières (Education For All Collective) is organizing a press point and gathering today – Tuesday, April 29 at 10am – to urgently demand that all non-status children be allowed access to Quebec’s primary and secondary schools for free.
The new Cabinet ministers for the Ministry of Education (Yves Bolduc from Quebec City) and the newly named Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion (Kathleen Weil from Notre-Dame-de-Grace in Montreal) have been appointed, and the Education for All collective is demanding that they act urgently to ensure that another school year isn’t lost to non-status children.
“Quebec is a shameful exception when it comes to allowing non-status kids to attend primary and secondary school,” states Linda Guerry, a researcher and member of the Collectif éducation sans frontières.
Guerry adds: “For comparison, non-status kids in the United States, France and Canadian cities like Toronto can attend school for free.”
The Collectif éducation sans frontières asserts that the previous Quebec government neglected this issue during their mandate. When the previous Education Minister, Marie Malavoy, issued directives to school boards in June 2013, she ignored non-status children, who are required to pay upwards of $5000-6000 per year to attend school.
Anne Buisson, a Cegep professor and also a member of the Collectif éducation sans frontières, states: “The new Minister of Education, Yves Bolduc, with the support of the Minister of Immigration, can issue clear directives to all school boards to allow access to non-status children, and to end the injustice facing Quebec’s non-status families.
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Background:
The issue is explored in detail in the following document: www.solidarityacrossborders.
More detailed background information is also available here: www.solidarityacrossborders.
All Quebec members of the National Assembly have been contacted about this issue as well; you can read the letter sent to them here: www.solidarityacrossborders.
Info:
www.solidaritesansfrontieres.
438-933-7654
solidaritesansfrontieres@