David Birnbaum, the Liberal MNA for D’Arcy McGee, will be playing a key role with Quebec's new Minister of Education and Higher Education.
Premier Philippe Couillard has announced that Birnbaum will serve as a Parliamentary Assistant to Pierre Moreau as he navigates his way through the many challenges in this province related to primary, secondary and higher education.
"I am honored by the confidence that both the Premier and the Minister have expressed in assigning me these new and important responsibilities," Birnbaum said. "I hope that my years of experience in public education will help the Minister and our government successfully steer a course toward enhanced student welfare and success across Quebec.
In speaking to the nomination, Minister Moreau noted: "David's years of experience in advocating on behalf of English education will surely be an asset as we strive to enhance and support student success across Quebec. I look forward to involving David in working towards students’ success."
Of course the first hot potato will be upcoming hearings related to Bill 86, which if adopted will abolish future school board elections as they stand today. Elected school commissioners, just over a year into their mandate, could conceivably lose their jobs within 14 days of the passage of such a law.
Given the fact that I work for the English Montreal School Board, which has already strongly opposed the proposed law and will present a brief on February 16,I will say no more on this subject.
Good luck to David!
