EMSB PROCEEDING WITH PLANS FOR BY-ELECTION IN CÔTE SAINT-LUC-HAMPSTEAD

  

MONTREAL, NOVEMBER 13, 2015- English Montreal School Board Director General Ann  Marie Matheson has instructed staff to proceed with plans for the December 13 commissioner by-election in the Côte Saint-Luc-Hampstead district.

On November 11 Quebec Minister of Education François Blais tabled a bill aimed at halting commissioner by-elections like the one being held at the EMSB in Cote St Luc – Hampstead in December.  But the bill was neither passed nor defeated.  Everyone is just waiting for a decision.

“With advance polling scheduled for December 6, we don’t have time for any delays,” said Ms. Matheson.  “Until we are told otherwise, we must presume that the election will take place.”

EMSB Chairman Angela Mancini said it is unclear whether this bill will be adopted before the National Assembly concludes its fall session. “It is absolutely unfair for the candidates to be left hanging like this,” she said. “We certainly owe it to them and to the electorate to ensure that democratic and legal process takes place. At this point, neither the Education Ministry nor the Director General of Elections has told us to halt this process.  So our administration will follow the law as it stands.”

The candidates are Michèle Cohen, Bernard Praw and Charlotte Sarah Smoley. 

Any parent who has a child registered in an EMSB youth sector school as of September 30, 2015 is automatically on the electoral list.  Any elector in the EMSB territory who registered on the EMSB electoral list as of November 2007 is also still on the list.  For more information about the official electoral list, please call 514- 483 7200 ext. 8800 (EMSB election office).  Note: The sign-up form is available online at www.emsb.qc.ca.

There will be two revision offices open where electors may sign up.  One at the school board located at 6000 Fielding Avenue, and the other in the former Wager High School building located at 5785 Parkhaven in Côte Saint-Luc. The revision period is: November 18 (10 am to 1 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm), November 19 (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm and 7 pm to 10 pm) and Tuesday, November 24 (10 am to 1 pm, 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm and 7 pm to 10 pm).

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Contact:

Michael J. Cohen

Communications and Marketing Specialist

English Montreal School Board

(514) 483-7200, ext. 7243