The scene outside École Saint-Albert-le-Grand yesterday afternoon painted a vivid picture of growing parental frustration across Montreal. As temperatures dipped and light snow dusted the ground, more than 70 parents and children gathered, their collective breath visible in the cold air as they chanted “Éducation en danger!” and “Nos enfants méritent mieux!“
This wasn’t just another community gathering. These were parents pushed to their breaking point by what they describe as “devastating” budget cuts to Montreal’s education system. Their homemade signs told a story of classrooms losing support staff, special programs disappearing, and children caught in the middle of political decisions.
“My daughter’s class lost their reading specialist last month,” explained Catherine Tremblay, mother of two and organizer of the protest. “Now 27 students, including four with learning disabilities, are expected to progress with just one teacher. C’est impossible.”
According to data from the Quebec Federation of Parents’ Committees, Montreal schools face approximately $100 million in budget reductions this academic year. The Ministry of Education has framed these adjustments as “necessary rebalancing measures,” but for parents on the ground, the impact feels anything but balanced.
Marie-Claude Picard, whose son attends a specialized program for students with ADHD, fought back tears while describing recent changes. “They’ve combined two classes and eliminated an aide position. My son came home last week saying he couldn’t focus all day. We fought so hard to get him proper support, and now it’s just… gone.”
The protest brought together families from diverse backgrounds across Montreal’s neighborhoods – a notable coalition in a city often divided by language and geography. English and French chants alternated through megaphones, with signs in both languages demanding “Reinvestment Now” and “L’éducation n’est pas un luxe.”
School board representatives have acknowledged the challenging situation. Jean Bernier, commissioner for the Centre de services scolaire de Montréal, attended the rally in solidarity. “We’re caught between government mandates and the real needs of our schools,” Bernier admitted. “The current funding formula doesn’t account for the unique challenges faced by urban schools with diverse populations.”
Education advocacy group Je protège mon école publique released findings last week showing that 83% of Montreal schools have reduced special education services this year, while 71% report larger class sizes. These statistics give weight to what parents are witnessing firsthand.
Yesterday’s demonstration follows similar actions in Laval and Quebec City earlier this month. Parent organizers say they’re coordinating efforts to pressure the government ahead of provincial budget announcements expected in March.
For Sophie Lemieux, whose twins attend third grade at École Saint-Albert-le-Grand, the protest represents more than opposition to budget cuts. “This is about what kind of society we want to be,” she said, adjusting her children’s scarves against the cold. “Do we value our children’s futures or not? Because right now, it feels like education is being treated as an expense rather than an investment.”
The Ministry of Education responded to requests for comment with a statement emphasizing that Quebec’s education spending has increased overall in the past five years. However, critics point out that these increases haven’t kept pace with inflation or the growing needs of diverse student populations.
Parent protesters are calling for immediate restoration of cut positions, a comprehensive review of the education funding formula, and meaningful consultation with families before future decisions are made.
As the afternoon waned and families began dispersing, the mood remained determined rather than defeated. Parents exchanged contact information, planned future actions, and promised to continue advocating for their children’s educational needs.
“We’re not going away,” Tremblay stated firmly as she collected signs. “If anything, we’re just getting started. Nos enfants méritent mieux – our children deserve better.”
For Montreal families watching their children’s education resources diminish, this protest represents a growing movement unwilling to accept budget mathematics at the expense of educational quality. As winter settles over the city, their determination appears only to be warming up.
