The Legault government’s intention to double tuition fees for students from other provinces to preserve French in Quebec could result in 700 job losses at McGill University.
University chancellor and vice-chancellor Deep Saini described the government move as “a threat to the very culture of McGill University” in a message to students and staff on Thursday.
Canadian students outside of Quebec pay about $9,000 per session for their studies, which is expected to rise to $17,000. English-speaking universities therefore expect a drop in the number of enrolments.
On the McGill side, we estimate a 20 to 80% drop in the number of Canadian students outside of Quebec, which translates into a shortfall of $17.6 to $69.8 million.
“Considering the financial turmoil caused by the announced changes in tuition fees, measures including freezing of hiring, reducing the number of jobs by 650 to 700, deferring planned expenditure and reducing non-wage expenditure should be taken. ,” said Mr. Saini explained.
Faculties and teams at risk
Without Canadian students outside of Quebec, the university landscape is about to change. According to the manager, the survival of the Schulich School of Music is at stake, while some faculties such as Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Educational Sciences will be greatly affected.
Since about a third of the members of McGill’s sports teams — the Redbirds and Martlets — come from outside the province, they will also be affected, and some may be disbanded, Deep Saini said.
“McGill University is committed to collaborating with the Government of Quebec, which will allow the latter to achieve its objectives, namely to promote and protect the French language while consolidating the provincial university network,” the president promised.
Quebec plans to increase tuition fees for Canadian students outside of Quebec starting in the fall of 2024. The government wants to fight the decline of the French language, according to the CAQ, a funding disparity between French-speaking and English-speaking university networks.
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