UPDATE!
Montreal, October 24, 2025 – The Québec English School Boards Association (QESBA) has decided to withdraw its request for an injunction or stay of the 2025-2026 budget rules, following a series of significant concessions by Minister of Education Sonia Lebel. These changes provide critical relief for staffing, student services and school board operations.
Riverside School Board has formally joined the Québec English School Boards Association (QESBA) in seeking a court stay against the Québec government’s 2025–2026 budgetary rules. These rules impose deep cuts and restrictive conditions (cap on hiring, flexibility in managing the schools, etc.) that jeopardize Riverside’s ability to deliver quality services to its students.
By supporting this court action, Riverside is standing up for more than fair funding—it is defending parents’ right to choose their children’s education and the principle of democratic governance. As one of the last elected institutions directly accountable to its community, Riverside is determined to ensure that local voices continue to shape the future of education.
Christopher Craig, Riverside School Board Chair
QESBA
In Québec, English-speaking school boards are standing firm to protect a fundamental right: the ability of parents to choose the kind of education they want for their children. This goes beyond language—it’s about preserving democratic governance in education, ensuring that families have a voice in where and how their children are educated. English school boards remain the only publicly elected bodies still directly accountable to their communities. Their fight is not just for minority rights, but for the principle that parents and communities should have a say in their children’s future.
