Letters

Quebec government must investigate QESBA finances

DEAR EDITOR;

The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) must be investigated for its complete lack of openness regarding its finances. This demand is based on the following facts.

Eastern Townships School Board Chairman Mike Murray revealed in a Sherbrooke Record article that the QESBA is considering hiring a consultant. ("ETSB says welcome back," Aug. 24)

The consultant would cost the taxpayer $66,000 to develop a strategic plan for the QESBA.

"To me it sounds like an association that has lost its way and looking for a purpose," said Mr. Murray.

Following up on that telling observation, I attended the Council meetings of the Lester B. Pearson School Board held on August 28, and the English Montreal School Board on Aug. 30.

I was the only 'Public' at both Question Periods of both boards.

They webcast and archive their meetings. Visit: www.lbpsb.qc.ca ; www. emsb.qc.ca

These are my observations / mini-report:

Most commissioners have no real idea what the QESBA does, and even less how it operates financially. (Thanks to the 'Record', now they do)

The QESBA is a secret society. Regarding the 'consultant / $66,000' bit , I was given different answers - all contradictory. (Does this organization keep minutes?)

According to the LBPSB chair , there was no meeting ; it was an email exchange. The other chair suggested there was a meeting(?) or something held in spring, but here is the kicker.

According to the EMSB vice-chair, a QESBA executive committee member, the Minister of Education said the government would pick up the tab ($66,000) for this pretentious group. Can you imagine.

I also learned the QESBA is planning to raise its membership fees. Let's not forget QESBA has repeatedly refused to divulge its budget.

This brings to mind the Liberal Party convention held at the Palais des congrès de Montréal last April. I went to complain about the QESBA and the fact that it refuses to release the figures behind its finances.

I spoke to six MNAS, one of which was David Birnbaum, who used to be the former Executive Director of the QESBA. He told me that when he worked for the organization, he would annually put out a budget.

I have no reason to disbelief him as I did see printed reports years back. Why not now?

Incidentally, MNA Birnbaum wrote an opinion piece for the Montreal Gazette on Dec 16, 2015: "Bill 86' school board reforms are no threat to the anglophone community."

Recall, it was written to contrast the QESBA'S self-serving costly fight to scrap Bill 86, which they won by badmouthing the government across Canada to preserve their jobs.

The QESBA is an education scam - a con job.

For the Liberal government, to ignore the organization's actions and inactions, it is being complicit, in my view, to QESBA'S lack of accountability and ethical business misconduct.

CHRIS EUSTACE MONTREAL, QC