National

Parents take Quebec to court for online learning

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Sep, 2020 06:35 PM

A lawyer representing a group of Quebec parents is in court today trying to compel the province's Education Department to provide an online learning option for all families who want it.

Only children with serious medical conditions or who live with someone at risk of severe complications from COVID-19 are able to get an exemption from physically attending elementary and high school classes.

Human rights lawyer Julius Grey told Quebec Superior Court Justice Frederic Bachand the decision to send one's child to class during the COVID-19 pandemic is an extremely private and personal one.

He's asking for a safeguard order allowing parents access to online courses for their children immediately, before the case is argued on its merits at a later date.

Grey says the measure would not be difficult to implement, since the government is already offering online courses for students with a medical exemption.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault responded to the lawsuit today, saying the province is facing a teacher shortage and doesn't have enough educators to offer online learning for all those who want that service.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Champagne pushes Lebanon, China on first trip

Canada's foreign minister was bound for London for private talks with a trusted ally after butting heads with leading figures from Lebanon and China, capping a bubble-bursting, four-country tour amid an unprecedented global pandemic.

Champagne pushes Lebanon, China on first trip

Tories ask speaking agency to deliver WE docs

The federal Conservatives are calling on a speaking agency through which WE Charity paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to members of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's family to hand over all documents about the arrangements.

Tories ask speaking agency to deliver WE docs

Macklem to central bankers: Speak simply

The head of the Bank of Canada made an international pitch to his fellow central bankers on Thursday to forge closer ties with average citizens to manage economic expectations through the pandemic, or risk losing public trust and face an existential crisis.

Macklem to central bankers: Speak simply

Elections Canada braces for pandemic vote

Elections Canada is bracing for an explosive increase in the number of Canadians who vote by mail should the country be plunged into an election during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elections Canada braces for pandemic vote

Back-to-school day for many Quebec students

There was a mixture of anxiety and regular back-to-school excitement this morning as tens of thousands of Montreal-area children returned to class for the first time since the emergence of COVID-19.

Back-to-school day for many Quebec students

Alberta expects deficit of more than $24B

The double blow of collapsing oil prices and the COVID-19 crisis has pushed Alberta into a historic deficit of $24.2 billion — more than triple what the United Conservative government projected in its February budget.