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.
- 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.
- 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.
- All other electors initially will be on the electoral list of the French
school board of their territory.
- 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.
- 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
- Be sure that you are on the electoral list of your choice. If you have any
doubts, contact your school board
- 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