Advance polling occurs on Sunday, Oct. 27, while election day is Sunday, Nov. 3.
Anglophone Quebecers are being urged to turn out in large numbers for school board elections, with voting scheduled for the next two Sundays.
Advance polling occurs on Sunday, Oct. 27, while election day is Sunday, Nov. 3.
“There is a ‘use it or lose it’ undercurrent to school board elections, given the Quebec government’s desire to do away with elected boards and replace them with centralized service centres,” Eva Ludwig, president of the Quebec Community Groups Network, said this week.
“To the extent that higher voter turnout can demonstrate the value, indeed the necessity, of school boards, it is important for our community to get out … and vote.”
The QCGN is a coalition of anglophone groups.
Citing low turnout rates, Premier François Legault’s government in 2020 aimed to eliminate all elected school boards and centralize control of the school system within the provincial government.
French boards were abolished but English boards went to court, arguing the plan was unconstitutional because it infringed on the anglophone community’s right to manage and control its schools.
“You have to fight for the schools you have, the school boards that you have,” Raymond Théberge said last month.
The English Montreal School Board, the province’s largest anglophone board, is the only board where all positions are being contested.
Here’s what you need to know about the elections.
Who can vote
When to vote
Advance polls: Sunday, Oct. 27, between noon and 8 p.m.
Election day: Sunday, Nov. 3, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Where to vote
What you need to vote
A piece of ID is required. It can be a Quebec driver’s licence, a health insurance card, a Canadian passport, an Indian status card or a Canadian Forces ID card.
Who’s running
EMSB
At the EMSB, two candidates are running for each of the 11 positions up for grabs: board chair and 10 commissioners.
Two slates are on the ballot.
Korakakis has been president of the English Parents Committee Association of Quebec since 2019. She is also vice-president of the QCGN. Korakakis is as well the entrepreneurship manager at ProMontreal Entrepreneurs. The program for early-stage businesses is operated by Federation CJA, a Jewish community organization.
Both slates have websites where they present their platforms and candidate profiles.
More information
The nine English boards are:
- Central Quebec School Board
- Eastern Shores School Board
- Eastern Townships School Board
- English Montreal School Board
- Lester B. Pearson School Board
- New Frontiers School Board
- Riverside School Board
- Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board
- Western Quebec School Board