Four of Quebec's English school boards and some private schools have banded together to demand that the Quebec government resist the urge to further limit access to English schools.
They presented their case to the government Tuesday, asking that parents in the province retain the limited choices they still have over the language of education of their children.
The school officials say Bill 101 already forces most children to study in French.
One of its loop-holes allows for those partially educated in English in Canada to switch to English public schools.
The recently introduced Bill 104 would have eliminated that possibility, but was struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada, last year.
Ever since the court decision, the Quebec government has been studying what to do.
It is expected to present a reaction this week or next.
In the meantime, English school officials are trying to retain access to their institutions.
"Access to English school is vital if we are to maintain a healthy school system," said Angela Mancini of the English Montreal School Board." The government must ensure the long-term viability of our school system."
"Our communities are proud of what English boards are bringing forward as a viable option," says Steven Bletas of the Air Wilfred Laurier School Board. "We're preparing a qualified bilingual workforce for the Quebec of the future.
School officials were not the only ones to appeal to the government Tuesday.
Former Official Languages Commissioner Victor Goldbloom and Former Equality Party Leader Robert Libman were in attendance.
"This goes to the very heart of our community's survival," says Libman. "If there's anything that should get our community mobilized it's this type of issue."
While Education Minister Michelle Courchesne makes up her mind about what to do about 104 being ruled unconstitutional, English community members are continuing to circulate an on-line petition to try and influence her.
So far, it has garnered over 12,000 signatures.
