The Ministry of Education’s budget cuts to francization are causing dismay in Montreal’s northern suburbs, which are experiencing an immigration boom. At the Centre de services scolaire (CSS) des Mille-Îles, 90% of adult francization courses have been cancelled and about twenty positions have been eliminated. As for students, they don’t know who or what to turn to.
Since last week, “there has been panic” at the ABL Immigration organization, explains its interim director, Alain Marginean.
The Saint-Eustache organization has been inundated with calls since the CSS des Mille-Îles cancelled almost all of its adult French language courses for the start of the school year. Only three classes, instead of 14, were opened, and that was only for half the year.
“They’ve been calling non-stop since last Thursday,” says Mr. Marginean, a retired college network executive.
ABL Immigration organizes socialization activities for newcomers and offers various support services — such as helping people register for French language courses offered by the CSS.
Director Marginean feels like he’s going backwards. “It’s beyond my understanding. I’ve seen some crap, but this is beyond my understanding,” he says about the cuts imposed by Quebec in francization. Because this year, the Ministries of Education and Immigration decided to limit the budgets for francization courses given by the CSS.
Slowed pathways and integration
Sehriban Naman and her husband — two Kurdish refugees — were about to start their level 5 French language class (there are 12) when they heard the news. They are discouraged. “My husband can’t find a job because he doesn’t have the language,” the woman explains.
The couple has lived in Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac since 2023. In their home country of Turkey, both taught. Mme Naman now hopes to take up childcare; her husband wants to become a plumber. “To find a good jobI have to take French at level 5, 6 or 7. But now I can’t,” she says.
The CSS des Mille-Îles confirms that it had to eliminate 21 francization teaching positions this fall. “We have an obligation to govern ourselves with the 2024-2025 budget rules of the Ministry of Education,” its spokesperson indicated in writing. “Each of these people was contacted by the management team […] and a second follow-up was made by the human resources team in order to offer them another position.”
In an open letter to the Dutyprofessors speak of “wild, unjustifiable and incoherent” restrictions ordered by the Legault government. “About 250 newcomers will not be francized this year in our region. They will have to return to the interminable waiting lists of Francisation Québec,” they lament. “If we rely on the various measures and laws put in place to protect the values, language and culture here by this same government, it is counterproductive.”
The reductions decreed by Quebec affect all CSSs, but the effect on the supply of French language courses varies depending on the location. Further north in the Laurentians, in Saint-Jérôme, the CSS de la Rivière-du-Nord reports no change in the supply. The same goes for the CSS des Laurentides, based in Saint-Agathe-des-Monts.
But in Repentigny, in Lanaudière, the CSS des Affluents had to reduce its French language course offering by 50%, thus depriving 200 students of courses and 20 teachers of their positions. At the CSS des Patriotes, based in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, the number of courses offered went from twenty last year to seven this fall.
Several CSS managements that say they have maintained their course offerings, however, state that they will take on few or no new groups. This is the case, among others, of CSS Marguerite-Bourgeoys (in Montreal), Navigateurs (in Quebec City), Chênes (in Drummondville) and Hauts-Cantons (in Estrie).
Others, like the CSS of Sherbrooke, are counting on a resolution of the problem this fall, at the risk of having to close classes later this year.
Limited alternatives
From the beginning, the Legault government has defended its decision by arguing that the demand for francization is too high. In just two months this spring, the number of adults registered for francization in the Quebec network reached 26,656, while there were 34,060 for the entire 2023-2024 fiscal year.
But Mr Marginean argues that regions like his suffer much more than others.
It’s only been a few years since French language courses were offered locally in Saint-Eustache and Saint-Thérèse, he says, and they had to be fought for. “We won that three years ago. We’re not interested in sending people to Laval or Saint-Jérôme.”
The Immigration Ministry had told the Duty in mid-August that the new organization Francisation Québec (FQ) was directing rejected students towards alternative solutions. “The FQ team […] closely monitors the capacities of all partners, including CSSs. When a centre reports that it has reached its capacity, the team refers students to other partners with capacity, whether CSSs, CEGEPs, universities or non-profit organizations.
“Let us remember that FQ services also rely on courses offered online,” it was also reported.
Sehriban Naman looked at the courses offered in Laval, but doubted he would be able to enroll. “It’s very far away and I have to have my children looked after close by.”
Another student from Saint-Eustache with whom The Duty Enrique (who asked that we use a pseudonym, for fear of damaging his immigration application) spoke to us about trying online courses without much enthusiasm. “Nobody likes it,” he says. “Francification is not just about the language: it’s about getting to know people, being immersed.”
In recent months, the Nicaraguan-born man has started working in the evenings as a machine operator in a nearby company, while taking French language courses during the day. “It’s important to continue the courses,” he says, “because there are many things I don’t understand at work.”