I would have to agree with you. My understanding is that immigrants (and that even includes Brits) moving to Quebec do not get an exemption. In the long run it may not be such a bad thing as the kids end up learning French at school and English at home. This gives them an edge, albeit an unfair one, as compared to the home grown francos who never get to be taught proper English at school. This is all part of the absurd 'Quebec Francais' mentality which ever so ironically penalises the French and helps the immigrants.

I guess it would to asking to much to make schools functionally bilingual so all students end up with a decent grasp of both languages. The earlier they teach English to French kids the better. But there is a paranoia at play that extra step may somehow pollute or hinder their grasp of French.

I am a prime example of the benefits of early language instruction: Having been educated in England, France, Switzerland and India. Thus I ended up speaking all three languages plus I learnt German from my Gran.

At age 16 I was comfortable in 4 languages.

You may be right in present terms, but back in 1986 when I first moved there, only one parent was English educated and it wasn't in Canada. My Father was a New Zealand born immigrant speaking predominant English, my mother was a french Canadian edcuated in Frenxh with English as a second language. My parents DID have to fight a bit to get their kids into English schooling back in 1986, but from my experience living in Montreal for 16 years hence, anglophone rights groups in Quebec have enabled English Speaking foreigners to have more rights then *we* were entitled to bacj in 1986. Don't know to what effect these new 'rights' have actually improved the current immigrant education system, but I have a sneaky suspicion your representation may be slightly off.

I must sa, you have been infected and should now be classed a Quebecer thru & thru (spelt wrong on purpose)

I had heard of cases where the powers-that-be made concessions. This was done in your case after your parents took issue. Mu understanding is that exemptions are rare nowadays though.

The exemptions are clearly explained on the education ministry's website. In essence though, Brits emigrating to Quebec on a permanent basis would have almost no chance of getting a public English education for their kids.

Unless they marry a "Born" Canadian, i believe only 1 parent has to qualify. Also i think Loi 101 was amended to include the whole of Canada, not just quebec-born citizens? (The supreme court ruling...?)

Anyone else notice that this thread seems to have amalgemated another older thread into it? Did a double take the other day as I read through and felt like I was going a bit nuts, I didn't type those posts a couple days ago, those were done months back! *lol*

I think it's that one parent needs to be Canadian and educated mainly in English. Few immigrant families will meet those criteria.

One parent is enough. I think you're correct - in the original version, one parent had to be a Canadian citizen educated in English in Quebec. That was later extended to cases where parent was a Canadian citizen educated in English in Canada.

Nothing will change further unless Quebec francophones start demanding better English education in the state system (eg "English immersion"). In the meantime, those who immigrate to Quebec as permanent residents do normally have to send children to French speaking schools until age 16. If affected, check what policies the school has to deal with children who don't have French as their first language.

The other work-around is expensive and difficult - choose a private school that does not receive any government funding.

was goign to add a note of something really significant... then lost all cohesion and decided its time for sleep for me *lol*


P.S Feel really quite flattered that JAJ a mod from Aus has actually joined in a Canadian exps thread... how cool is that?

I don't know we are speculating about English education rules. They are set out very clearly here:
http://www.mels.gouv.qc.ca

He does that all the time.
Must have even less of a life than the rest of us

thanks for the feedback, all of you. some great stuff there. more questions than answers now though to be honest, and plenty for me to investigate.

how much, typically, would one year of schooling cost at a private school. it may be best for me to send my oldest to that for one year until she has learned french, then she could consider going back to state funded schooling.

Not sure about the cost but I would not imagine it to be cheap. My stepson attends private school in Quebec and it is cheap (less than $4,000 per year) because it is subsidised by the provincial government. He only gets the subsidy because he was born in Quebec.

One thing you may want to consider. I think you mentioned in an earlier post the possibility of working in Montreal's west end. You would not be far from Ontario. Cornwall (pop 45,000) would be under an hour away.

i only ever mentioned a job in bromont, which puts serious limitations on my prospects, from what i have read from the numerous replies. i am currently checking out the possibility of other jobs in the non-french provinces. i really need to combine the family life with the career so it may prove difficult to pursue the bromont option, much as it looked to be a great place to live. my daughter and i enjoy winter sports and i'd hoped to persuade my wife and obviously my son who is just too young at the minute. there is plenty of that in canada though so it shouldn't be a major problem as long as i can find relevant employment.