North

Supreme Court to hear Yukon French school board case

The Supreme Court of Canada announced Thursday it will hear a dispute between Yukon's francophone school board and the Yukon government over funding and control.

Dispute over money and control over staff, programs and enrolment

Supreme Court to hear Yukon French school board case

10 years ago
Duration 0:53
Supreme Court to hear Yukon French school board case

The Supreme Court of Canada announced Thursday it will hear a dispute between Yukon's francophone school board and the Yukon government over funding and control.

Back in 2009. the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon claimed the territorial government was withholding money and not giving it full control over its staff, school programs and enrolment. The board won its initial case but it lost in the court of appeal.

Ecole Emilie Tremblay in Whitehorse is Yukon's only francophone school. The Supreme Court of Canada announced Thursday it will hear a dispute between Yukon's francophone school board and the Yukon government over funding and control. (Google Street View)

Ludovic Gouaillier, president of the French school board, says the board is happy the Supreme Court of Canada will hear the case.

"The board was not satisfied with the decision of appeal court of Yukon which was basically sending the parties back to the start in terms of the issues that had been raised in the first trial," he said.

"The board considers that this is a step forward and hopefully seeing all of these issues clarified."

Gouaillier says the case hinges on the ability of the board to control the delivery of education to Whitehorse francophone students. No date has been set for the Supreme Court to hear the case.