READY TO RUMBLE
Jennings fighting for anglos
As 2020 comes to a close, the Montreal Gazette looks at people who will make an impact in the year ahead. T'cha Dunlevy talks to them about what's on their mind in these challenging times.
“It's been non-stop busy,” said Marlene Jennings, looking back on 2020. “I'm still trying to catch my breath; and I haven't been able to do that yet.”
In September, she ended a whirlwind, one-year stint as trustee of the English Montreal School Board. In that time, she pulled the EMSB out its dysfunctional state, and helped it transform into an entity equipped to face the future.
“It was a great experience,” Jennings said. “A lot of people came on board, and we were able to develop an action plan for an organizational and cultural transformation of the EMSB. We modified and updated a lot of bylaws, based on good government practices and proper delegation of power. We did a lot, and I'm quite proud of it.”
The former Liberal MP believes her previous careers as a politician and a lawyer helped her negotiate compromises with seemingly disparate factions. But her upbringing may have also played a part.
“Growing up as one of eight children, I had to learn to talk to my siblings without always getting into arguments,” she said. “I'm of a generation where arguments would degenerate into physical fights.”
In March, Jennings — a former member of the Quebec Police Commission, and former deputy commissioner of police ethics — was named to Quebec's Comité consultatif sur la réalité policière.
And since 2015, she has served as vice-president of the board of directors of the Centre- Sud health authority, known as the CIUSSS.
“I have a real interest in our policing services as one of the major areas, beyond health and social services, where ordinary citizens look for services and protection,” she said. “But if there are problems, they need to be addressed.”
In November, Jennings was named president of another troubled organization, the Quebec Community Groups Network, an umbrella group that advocates for the rights of English-speaking Quebecers.
“Over this past year, the English-speaking minority in Quebec has been under siege,” Jennings said. “This whole French-language debate being waged in the province, but now also federally, seems to exclude the interests of our community.
“Too often, we're being portrayed as the reason why the French language is vulnerable and needs support in Quebec. But we're not the reason; we're actually allies.”
Jennings describes her priorities for the QCGN in 2021 as threefold.
“One, to lead the battle to ensure that yes, the French language in and outside of Quebec is enhanced, but that doesn't mean suppressing or diminishing the English community in Quebec.
“Two, ensuring our access to justice, health and social services in English. And three, to lead this whole process to restructure the QCGN so it can meet the ongoing needs coming up in the third millennium.
“And that's just the entrée.”
This whole Frenchlanguage debate being waged in the province, but now also federally, seems to exclude the interests of our community.