English school boards want firm commitment on library funding
Officials at two anglophone school boards say renewed support for libraries from the education minister won't accomplish much if it isn't backed up with increased funding.
- Quebec school boards’ budgets shrinking
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Yves Bolduc, education minister, says schools have enough books
On Tuesday, Education Minister Yves Bolduc apologized for saying that “no child has never died” because of a lack of books.
He retracted his comments, and now he’s asking school boards to re-establish their budgets for libraries.
Suanne Stein Day, chair of the Lester B. Pearson School Board, said she wants Bolduc to backs up that plan with real cash.
“I think it’s wonderful news, but we haven’t had a memo that says ‘We’re giving you back the money,’” Day told CBC's Daybreak.
The Lester B. Pearson School Board’s new budget includes a 37 per cent cut to libraries.
“I have very little faith that there will be more money coming,” Day said.
“I think what [Bolduc is] going to do is ask us to find money in our already very thin administrative budgets and that just may not be possible.”
But Quebec's education ministry said it never specifically asked schools to cut their school library budgets, and it won't be reversing previously announced cuts to school board budgets.
The English Montreal School Board is facing an $3.8 million in cuts for the upcoming year.
Chair Angela Mancini said it's a challenge to find places to trim.
“Our administrative costs are some of the lowest in the province, especially within the English boards, so I don’t know where else you can cut."