School board elections will no longer be held in Quebec, Education Minister François Blais said Tuesday.
Blais cited voter apathy for the decision, which will open the door to a new form of regional governance. The government said it will instead appoint people from a variety of backgrounds onto the boards.
On average only about one of 20 eligible voters cast ballots in 2014, although the English Montreal School board saw 21 percent of eligible voters last November, up from 17 percent seven years earlier.
Overall in Quebec 4.29 percent of eligible voters at French school board voted, while 17 percent of English school board voters cast ballots.
Blais also said that he intends to merge many school boards.
Blais’ predecessor Yves Bolduc hinted at the changes following the vote held last November.
Blais made the comments on a French language radio talk show Tuesday morning.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
