The Language Problem and School Board Reform on the Island of Montreal

Between the mid-1960s and 1986, several attempts were made at fiscal and administrative school board reforms on the island of Montreal. Although some reforms were introduced, the issues of language and religion were left at the status quo. The author argues that linguistic boards reform failed during this period for want of a climate of trust to foster dialogue on constitutional amendments to meet the language and religious aspirations of various interest groups. (In 1997, an amendment to the Canadian Constitution allowed for the creation of linguistic school boards in Quebec, and the abolishment of religious school boards. In 2020, the Quebec Government abolished school boads in the province, replacing them with "service centres" whose unpaid representatives will have little decision-making powers. Anglophones will be allowed to vote for their representatives, Francophones will not for their representatives. )

Master's Thesis

McGill University

Montreal

1987

219p.

en