A Liberal government won't abolish Anglo school boards, Couillard vows

As a battle looms for the votes of English-speaking Quebecers,Premier PhilippeCouillardis pledging a Liberal government will never abolish the community's school boards.

In making the pre-campaign promise,Couillardalso challenged his main rival Coalition Avenir Qubec Leader FranoisLegault to make the same commitment.

"Next time you talk with Mr. Legault, ask him what he thinks about your school boards," Couillardsaid in an interview Thursday with CBC's Debra Arbec.

Legault's party, which is leading in most recent opinion polls, has made severalovertures to Quebec anglophonesas it readies for the fall election campaign.

In past contests, when the Liberals' main opponent was the sovereignist Parti Qubcois, English speakers overwhelmingly votedred.

Legaultcalls himself a nationalistand is hoping that third-way position will appeal to Anglos frustrated with the Liberals.

'We've always been there': Couillard

But one of Legault'skey policy proposals is to do away with school boards, which he considers too bureaucratic.

For many Anglos, however, school boards play an important role in the defence ofminority language rights. Couillard appealed to that sentiment in Thursday's interview with CBC News.

"We're protecting institutions that are close to English-speaking Quebecers, like school boards," he said. "We will neverabolishschool boards.Let's be very clear about this."

While Couillard's promise appeared unequivocal, the future of school boards both French andEnglish have been uncertain for much of his tenure as premier.

Shortly after winning the 2014 election, the Liberals mused openly about eliminating them, too.

The following year, the Couillard governmenttabled a bill that would have abolished school-board elections. Bill 86 was met with fierceopposition fromEnglish school boards, as well as from other anglophonegroups.

The plan was ultimately abandoned, shortly after Sbastien Proulxtook over as education minister in 2016.

Along with his promise to defend school boards, Couillardstands by his government's record, saying the Liberals have protected access to English-language health services and created asecretariat for anglophone issues.

"We've always been there for [anglophones]," he told CBCNews."Not only this month or last month, but during the last years."