Anglo groups contest Quebec's decision to hold English school board elections during pandemic

Two English-language school and community groups are demanding the Quebec government backtrack on itsdecision to go ahead with school board elections despite the pandemic.

Last month, Quebec's premier announced the elections would be postponed, without specifying when they would take place.

The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA)and QuebecCommunity Groups Network(QCGN) both sayEducation Minister Jean-Franois Roberge sent a letter to officials Friday, announcing the election will be held on Dec. 19 and 20.

CBC obtained a copy of theletter. It says there will be two days of advanced polls and there will be some mail-in voting allowed as well.

Those eligible for mail-in voting, according to the minister's letter, include thosewith COVID-19, those showing symptoms and those recently in contact with a positive case. Those who recently returned from a trip abroad as well as people living in long-term care homes and seniors' residences can also vote by mail.

The letter says the decision to hold elections was decreed on Nov. 11.

Elections were scheduled for Nov. 1, but the majority of candidates havealready been acclaimed.However, there are a few spots that will be left up to the voters, and several others that failed to attract a candidate.

The ministry allowed acclaimed candidates to take their seat on Nov.6, and for those seats that are contested, the incumbent will remain in their position until an election is held.

But the English groups say going ahead with elections now, even with strict public health guidelines, makes no sense.

In a letter addressed to the education minister, QESBA Chair Dan Lamoureux says there is no urgency to hold the elections "since the individuals who occupied the various contested positions are still in office and there are no vacancies."

Calling the decision to hold elections "absurd," Lamoureux said the government should, at the very least, allow unlimited access to mail-in voting to protect the public.

That would "ensure the best possible opportunity for broad, meaningful voter participation," he wrote.

Jennings calls decision 'blatant' voter suppression

In an interview Saturday, QESBA's executive director Russell Copeman said his group had just met with the ministry a week before and had suggested the elections be held in June if the public health situation permitted.

That made it even more shocking to receive the letter a week later, saying the elections were coming five days before Christmas, he said.

WATCH | QESBA's executive director expresses outrage over decision:

QESBA's executive director says it makes no sense to hold school board elections in December

4 years ago

Duration 0:59

Russell Copeman, executive director of the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA), says his group suggestion elections be pushed to at least June.

"This was a bombshell yesterday and it took everybody by surprise," he told CBC News.

He said it makes no sense to bring people together for an election when the province's premier is begging people to reduce their contacts.

In a statement, Marlene Jennings, the newhead of the QCGN, calls Quebec's decision "a blatant attempt at voter suppression."

"Is the Coalition Avenir Qubec deliberately endeavouring to ensure failure for our English school boardelectionsby intentionally impeding access to the voting process for significant numbers of English-speaking Quebecers who cannot or will not be willing to get out and vote?"

A spokesperson for the education minister,Genevive Ct, said public health authorities have given the government the green light to hold elections.

"The voting system will be adapted and several health measures will be put in place to ensure that the elections areheld in the safest possible way," she said in a statement.