In a ruling that deftly circumvented the politically sensitive issue surrounding Quebec’s controversial language law while underlining the need to respect the “boundaries” established by the nation’s highest court, the Quebec Court of Appeal overturned a lower court judgment that would have temporarily allowed ten private-school students from pursuing their studies at English-language schools.

In an 11-page ruling rendered just two days after Quebec Superior Court granted a safeguard order that allowed the children of nine families to attend government-subsidized English schools until an administrative tribunal ruled on whether they have the right to do so, Appeal Court Justice Pierre Dalphond held that granting the students an exemption would not be in the public interest because it could lead to “serious problems” on the eve of the new school year. (more…)