A month ago, Quebec dropped a bombshell on English-speaking universities. By attempting to tackle two issues at the same time, namely French and university funding, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) completely missed its target. In the end there will only be damage.
Published at 1:08 am. Updated at 5:00 am.
Luckily, it’s not too late to adjust your recording. And there is an honorable and respectable alternative that would achieve the government’s goals without causing harm.
So please, Quebec must put aside this harmful idea of doubling tuition fees for students outside Quebec, which would rise from $9,000 to $17,000 per year.
The aim is to recover the surplus in order to redistribute the prize pool to French-speaking universities. Except that in practice, such prohibitive fees will drive students away… leaving not much left to redistribute.
“Students will make decisions. They will go somewhere else,” said Graham Carr, rector of Concordia University, who fears losing up to 90% of students outside Quebec. “The big winner from all this will be Ontario, universities like Queen’s and the University of Toronto,” he added in an editorial interview with La Presse, along with the heads of the other two English-speaking universities.
In perspective, a nice mess.
The problem is that the CAQ’s decision is based on the false assumption that Quebec is being deceived by funding the studies of young people from other provinces.
But it goes both ways. We cannot hide the fact that Quebecers also study elsewhere in the country.
By closing the door to the 10,671 students from other provinces, Quebec risks reprisals from other provinces that might decide to increase the bill for the 7,617 Quebecers studying there.
“I’m worried. We could find ourselves in a situation where opportunities to study elsewhere in Canada become unaffordable,” warns Sébastien Lebel-Grenier, rector of Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, whose existence is completely in question.
But the most striking evidence that the CAQ’s plan is unsound is the fact that even French-speaking universities, which should normally benefit from compensation, said in an open letter that they do not see the change with “good eyes”1. University of Quebec President Alexandre Cloutier, who was the only one not to sign, nevertheless told Radio-Canada that he “never asked Quebec2 that.”
So why should Quebec push forward with a measure that no one wants?
The English-speaking universities are high-ranking research and innovation sites and flagship institutions in Quebec and are not enemies to be defeated. Students from outside Quebec are an asset that needs to be nurtured. Their presence brings $427 million into Quebec’s economy3.
Quick, let’s turn around.
As we said from the start, there is an elegant transition for everyone, a two-pronged solution that addresses the CAQ’s concerns.
First, let’s talk about financing.
Instead of doubling fees for all students from other provinces, Quebec could introduce differentiated pricing by program, as is already the case in other provinces.
In this way, Quebec would respect the fundamental principle of reciprocity with the other provinces without compromising the attractiveness of Quebec’s universities. The prices would simply reflect market logic.
So Quebec could maintain its current rate of $9,000 across a range of programs, but require, for example, $12,000 for engineering, $14,000 for administration, or even $25,000 for medicine and law.
The surplus would be redistributed to French-speaking universities. Let’s put it this way: Quebec is absolutely right to introduce equalization, as French-speaking universities do not have the same customer base as English-speaking universities, which creates an imbalance in funding.
Now let’s talk about French.
Instead of a punitive approach that would empty the city center of English-speaking students, it would be preferable to adopt a positive approach based on an ambitious francization plan that ensures the vitality of our language in downtown Montreal, a major concern. legit.
English-speaking universities are already committed to this, committing to offering more compulsory French courses, French internships and even activities to promote Quebec culture. McGill wanted to launch a 50 million plan just before the CAQ dropped its bombshell.
“What we need is a change in culture,” agrees Fabrice Lebeau, first associate associate principal at McGill.
There is a lot of talk about teaching French. But it’s not just that. The key for us is to truly integrate into Quebec culture.
Fabrice Lebeau, first associate associate principal at McGill
Montreal is a student city par excellence. Let us not tarnish this enviable reputation by sending the message that English-speaking students are no longer welcome in Quebec. As a nation, let us keep our doors open.
François Legault was open enough to meet the rectors of English-speaking universities on Monday. That is his achievement. We can only encourage the Prime Minister to adapt his original plan, which struck like a bolt from the blue.
The position of La Presse
Quebec should implement a strategy based on two pillars. First: a modulation of prices for students from other federal states depending on the program. Second: an ambitious plan to francize foreign students.