The evolution of professionalism - Centre for Policy Studies in ...

ecumenical program offering an overview of Christian traditions or a local
program on ethics and religion. In the second cycle of secondary school, a
program on ethics and religion was obligatory (two units instead of four).
The Catholic and Protestant committees were replaced by a committee on
religious affairs that would maintain relations with the churches and approve
the content of programs on Catholic, Protestant, and ecumenical teachings.
In July 2002, the new Basic School Regulation for Pre-school, Elementary and
Secondary Education, which had been modifi ed in accordance with the provisions
of Bill 118, came into effect. The time accorded to religious and moral education
was cut in half. In 2003-04, moral and religious teaching programs for the third year
of secondary school were replaced by art education. On January 13, 2003, Minister
Simard noted that the province had had to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause of
the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in order to maintain Catholic and
Protestant teaching in the public schools, and that the protection that action had
afforded the schools would expire in 2005, as such waivers last only fi ve years.
The Language of Instruction and Acknowledgment of Cultural Diversity
Throughout the period studied, the rules surrounding the language of instruction,
stemming from successive changes to Bill 101, were as follows
• French is the common language of instruction in kindergarten, elementary,
and secondary schools, and of private schools receiving government
funding;
• The English language minority residing in Quebec in 1997 retains the right
to receive instruction in English. With few exceptions, new arrivals to
Quebec must attend a French language elementary or secondary school;
• Article 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives a child
who has received most of his or her schooling in English in the rest of
Canada the right to attend an English language school in Quebec. As
well, any child who has a parent who received the majority of his or her
elementary school education in English in Canada or any child born to
Canadian citizens whose brother or sister received elementary school
education in English in Canada is also admissible.
In January 1993, Minister Robillard created the Commission on English Language
Education, which developed several recommendations regarding language learning
in English schools, the potential benefi ts to the English school system, restructuring
along linguistic lines, etc. In 1998, Minister Marois tabled the document Policy
Statement on Educational Integration and Intercultural Education, which outlined
three fundamental objectives: equal opportunity; education for citizenship in a
democratic, pluralistic society; and profi ciency in French, the language of public life.
As for Cree or Inuit children, the Bay James and Northern Quebec Convention,
signed in 1975, and the 1978 North-East Quebec Convention led to the creation,
in 1978, of the Cree and Kativik school boards, serving Cree and Inuit students
respectively. In December 1984, the Act Regulating Language of Instruction for
Children Living on an Indian Reserve was promulgated, thus giving to Cree and
Inuit children the right to receive elementary school education in their mother
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