Law 40 Is Not An Attack On The English-speaking Community
by Brian Grindrod
Law 40 has been declared illegal, unconstitutional and hostile by self-declared representatives of the entire English-speaking community in Quebec. With the perpetual collaboration of certain English-language media outlets and opportunistic politicians, their anti-Quebec rhetoric has once again caused strategical strife between the members of both communities. Erroneously perceiving the usual suspects’ claptrap as the authoritative spokespersons for the overall English-speaking community in Montreal and across Quebec, members of the French-speaking community within the news and social media made the ever predictable knee-jerk response of negatively portraying and stereotyping Quebec Anglophones. As is often the case in political, social and linguistic issues affecting both communities, the complete reality of all citizens of Quebec is complex.
Within the intent of Law 40 lies the balance of power between the Minister of Education and the English service centers that will be governed by appointed bureaucrats alongside elected members and involved citizens. Participation of members of the English-speaking community is the most important component of the social contract to efficiently reform our English schools. After the English Montreal School Board was repeatedly warned by previous Quebec governments to structure and conduct itself in the best interests of our society, the legislative body democratically formed in 2018 had no alternative but to put the EMSB in trusteeship. The public exposure of this toxic and parasitical school commission has been the silent shame of Montreal’s English-speaking community—albeit one they allowed to prosper.
Get Involved
In order for our English schools to form part of our community’s foundation, we invite every English speaking Quebecer to participate in the democratic process and debates concerning the positions that will be decided with a ballot. We invite all Anglophones to vote en masse, but more importantly, we invite the members of the English-speaking community within Montreal and outside the city to assist the service centers in their role to prepare our students to be exemplary citizens of our society.
ABOUT ME
I am in the process of obtaining a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Concordia University while assisting the CIUSSS West-Central Montreal as a COVID-19 Beneficiary Assistant for CIUSSS West-Central Montreal. My course credits include History of the English Language, L’Histoire de la langue française au Québec, Quebec History to 1867 and Viking Prose and Poetry.