The Lester B. Pearson School Board is stepping up its campaign against Bill 104, saying the law threatens the future of English schools.

Bill 104 closes a loophole that allowed people who enrolled their children in English private schools to transfer to English public schools after one year.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Bill 104 is unconstitutional and it gave Quebec time to redraft it.

But Quebec might be prepared to use its constitutional veto to let the law stand.

The Pearson board has teamed up with the English Montreal School Board and it has also started an online petition to rally support for English schools.

There's also a new umbrella parents' association, made up of parents' groups from six English schools boards in Quebec.

Stop the attacks: Tabachnick

The board says that it's been losing about 500 new registrations every year since Bill 104 was adopted.

"This is an issue that goes to the heart of our Anglophone community," board chairman Marcus Tabachnick said in a statement Friday.

"A vibrant, pertinent, supportive, leading edge school system is the cornerstone of any community. We cannot stand any further attack on the future of our community."

Notwithstanding clause

Language Minister Christine St-Pierre announced this month the government was considering using the notwithstanding clause, which says a law is valid despite the fact it violates the Canadian Charter of Human Rights.

Invoking the notwithstanding clause would allow the province to extend Bill 101 to private unsubsidized English schools.