Government Fails to Provide English School Board Proper Social Services for Montreal North

For the past three years, there’s been no social worker at two English schools in Montréal Nord.

Social workers are integral to the well-being of families in our public school system. They fill a variety of roles: helping find resources for families like legal aid, financial aid, housing, medical treatment, or diagnoses. This can range from helping them receive diagnoses from autism to anxiety disorders, or a variety of other mental illnesses that can affect their schooling. Without a diagnosis, these children won’t have access to the resources that they require. 

Social workers also investigate allegations of abuse or neglect, and they are the advocate and voice for a school community in order to provide them with necessary services.

The Rover recently learned that Lester B Pearson and Gerald McShane haven’t had access to someone in this position for three years. This is one of the poorest areas in the city, with elevated rates of crime and little access to social services.

Michael Cohen, Communication Manager for the English Montreal School Board (EMSB), confirmed that Lester B. Pearson High School does not have a social worker assigned to it by the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS). The CIUSSS has a mandate to provide social workers to every school. 

Cohen said “In the particular case of (Lester B. Pearson), they had a social worker who was assigned to (the) high school. She went on sick leave three years ago, and it’s been three years since they’ve been unable to find someone… The CIUSSS said that they’re having a great problem. It’s probably not only Lester B. Pearson high school. According to my department, they’ve been trying to find somebody but it hasn’t been successful.”

At the time of writing, the CIUSSS has no job posting for a social worker. When asked about the issue, a spokesperson claimed that a social worker was already assigned to the school.

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Béatrice Gougeon, media relations consultant for the CIUSSS, says that “The CIUSSS Nord-de-l’île-de-Montréal has one English-speaking elementary school… and one English-speaking high school, and the designated social worker for both is bilingual.”

If a student wishes to have a conversation with an English-speaking social worker, they are put on a list for one in a different district. This can take between six and 12 months. Prior to their meeting, they will not have the opportunity to meet or interact with this person. 

“It’s extremely important to have a social worker available,” says Élodie Marion, a professor at Université de Montréal’s faculty of education.  “They’re the link between the school system and the community… They know the resources that are available in the community… When there’s no one available, students become uncomfortable asking for help. It contributes to a failing confidence in the system. They are a preventative measure to help marginalised or (troubled) kids.”

When made aware of the situation, Québec Solidaire MNA Guillaume Cliche-Rivard stood behind the EMSB.

“I’m requesting Minister (Lionel) Carmant to get involved in the file to sort it out and make sure those kids get the services they need,” said Cliche-Rivard, Québec Solidaire’s critic for social services. “It is something of high concern… It should be a priority. I can’t understand how three years can go by without this being solved.” 

All of this is coming to light during the election for chair of the school board. 

The EMSB has been in conflict with the Coalition Avenir Québec government since it first formed a government in 2018. The CAQ was elected on a promise to eliminate school boards, which sparked a bitter legal battle between the EMSB and Quebec. The courts upheld the EMSB’s authority, citing a Constitutional obligation for the provinces to allow linguistic minorities to control their own education.

These courtroom battles have carried over into debates over how the Bill 21 secularism law and the CAQ’s French language protection law (Bill 96) would be applied to the EMSB. 

“Without a social worker, people will be less comfortable asking for help… and lose faith in these systems,” said Marion, “But with a social worker they can have a link to (many services), and will feel comfortable asking for help… With a social worker… they can get involved in (a variety) of activities and find common interests with others in the community.”

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