Alliance Quebec

Linguistic School Boards

Your Vote and Your Taxes

Voting and Taxes

Linguistic school boards will become operative on July 1, 1998.

Very important information is highlighted in blue. If you do NOT have a child registered in a school presently, you must act to protect your rights and determine what school board you wish to pay tax to and vote in.

Who can vote ?

All persons 18 or. older who are Canadian citizens and have lived in Quebec for six months qualify as electors.

Where does one vote ?

An elector who has, as of March 1, 1998, a child enrolled in a school in a school board having jurisdiction over the territory in which the elector lives, votes in the elections of that school board.

An elector who does not have a child enrolled in a school in a school board having jurisdiction over the territory in which the elector lives, may choose to vote in the elections of the English school board covering the territory in which the elector lives.

The chief electoral officer is charged with taking all measures required to inform the electors of the manner in which they may exercise their right to vote. In particular, this officer will send a notice to each address. This notice will inform electors on the choice to vote in the English-language school board elections and on the manner in which they may exercise this choice.

Where does one pay taxes ?

School taxes will go to the school board in which an elector is registered to vote. Montreal is an exception to this rule. For the 2 English and 3 French school boards covering the Montreal territory (including Eastern Harwood and lle Bizard), the Montreal Island School Council collects all taxes and redistributes them to these boards on a per capita basis. The Council retains an amount to meet exceptional needs including those of disadvantaged sectors of Montreal.

Electoral Lists

School board elections will be overseen by Quebec's chief electoral officer.

  1. School boards will submit to the chief electoral officer the lists of parents having enrolled their children in English Schools as of March 1, 1998 for the 1998-1999 school year.

  2. Electors who have a child enrolled in the English school board having jurisdiction over their territory will be placed on the electoral list of that English school board.

  3. All other electors initially will be on the electoral list of the French school board of their territory.

  4. The chief electoral officer will send a notice to each address. This notice will include:

    • names of electors at that address entered on the list of electors;

    • information for those who are entitled to choose to be placed on the electoral list for the English school board;

    • a response coupon for those who may exercise a choice;

    • information on forwarding your response to the returning officer of the English school board.

  5. The returning officer of the English school board will have those who so choose (and who qualify as electors) placed on the English board electoral list

  6. Be sure that you are on the electoral list of your choice. If you have any doubts, contact your school board

  7. There will be a revision period. If you are not on the electoral list of your choice, contact your school board to obtain information on the revision period.

Categories of Electors

Most electors fall into one of the following categories:

Category 1

You have as of March 1, 1998 a child enrolled in a school attached to the English or French school board which has jurisdiction over the territory in which you live.

Category 2

You have as of March 1, 1998 a child enrolled in a private school.

Category 3

You have as of March 1, 1998 a child enrolled in a school attached to a school board which DOES NOT have jurisdiction over the territory in which you live.

Category 4

You do not as of March 1, 1998 have a child enrolled in school.

Important

If you are a category 1 elector, you vote in the school board to which your child's school is attached.

If you belong to categories 2, 3 or 4, you have the choice between the English board and the French board having jurisdiction over the territory in which you live.

Questions and Answers:

  • I fall into Category I and 2. Were do I vote ?

    You will be considered as a category I elector for the purpose of school board elections.

  • I have one child and he is in Dawson College. Where do I vote ?

    When we speak of a child in school, we are referring only to kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools. You are therefore a category 4 elector.

  • How can one be a category 3 elector ?

    You may have only one child and he has special needs. The school board of your jurisdiction doesn't offer the required service and has entered into an agreement with a neighbouring school board to have your child attend one of its schools. You vote in the elections of the school board covering your territory and not in the board of attendance of your child. Harwood West is another example. A number of children from here will attend "Lower Canada" (50-08) school board schools by agreement with the New Frontiers school board which covers the territory where the children live. The parents of these children vote in New Frontiers (50-09).

  • My children are in private schools. Where do I vote?

  • You may choose to be placed on the electoral list of the English school board or remain on the list of the French board.

  • I am a senior citizen with no children in school. May I vote ?

    Yes. You are encouraged to vote and support the school system of your choice. Please read the information on 'electoral lists".

    If you have any questions, please call Alliance Quebec at
    514-875-2771 or 800-363-3870

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