Budgetary restrictions for CEGEPs and universities | “It’s a shock wave,” says the Fédération des cégeps

Quebec is forcing CEGEPs to cut spending on the renovation and expansion of their buildings. The directive, announced in the middle of summer, also caught universities off guard, many of which were forced to cancel their calls for tenders for various projects.

The measure was announced in a letter sent to all CEGEPs in the province on July 31, one month after the start of the fiscal year.

The Ministry of Higher Education forced institutions to radically reduce their investment budget, even though it had been approved by their board of directors.

“The CEGEPs were imposed budgetary limits in the middle of summer, without consultation,” denounces the president of the Fédération des cégeps, Marie Montpetit. “It’s a shock wave.”

Many renovation and expansion projects have already been put on hold because of the new directive, she says.

Meanwhile, the majority of CEGEPs are in poor condition or full to bursting.

“Common sense suggests that the work should be stepped up, and this decision goes in the opposite direction,” denounces M.^me Montpetit, who fears “serious consequences” for the years to come.

CEGEP directors from all regions met on Wednesday in preparation for a meeting scheduled for Thursday with the Ministry of Higher Education for this purpose.

“We invite the government to review this decision which seems improvised,” pleads Marie Montpetit.

“If a toilet breaks, you don’t change it”

Budget restrictions vary from one institution to another. At Cégep de l’Outaouais, the investment budget will have to be reduced by 54% for the current year.

“I understand that this situation may raise concerns and uncertainties,” the establishment’s general management indicated in an email sent to staff and consulted by The Press.

“Rest assured that we will do everything possible to minimize the impact of these reductions on our educational mission and on the quality of our services,” she continued.

At the Cégep du Vieux Montréal, employees were informed of the new cuts during a meeting with management on Tuesday.

“All college departments have been asked to stop all purchases,” says François Fillion-Girard, president of the Cégep du Vieux Montréal employees’ union.

This includes purchasing books for the library or tools for technicians.

“If a toilet breaks, we don’t change it,” management is even said to have said during the meeting, according to two people who were present.

By email, the Cégep du Vieux Montréal indicated that it was currently analyzing the new directive measure “to fully understand [ses] effects.” “In the meantime, we are being cautious in the spending that is authorized,” he continued.

The same thing happens at Collège Montmorency, which anticipates “major impacts on several current and future projects.”

Budgetary restrictions, he laments, ” [vont] against the recommendations of the Auditor General of Quebec”, who recently estimated that two thirds of CEGEPs were dilapidated.

“Although we understand that the government is facing financial constraints, this situation is deplorable,” says the establishment, which has a space deficit of 15,000 square meters.

“It’s the return of austerity,” says Benoît Lacoursière, president of the National Federation of Teachers of Quebec.

In a government document explaining this new way of doing things to educational institutions, Quebec writes that “the current budgetary situation suggests that the level of investment in infrastructure will be limited for the coming years.”

Cancelled calls for tenders

CEGEPs are not the only establishments targeted.

In recent weeks, HEC Montréal was forced to cancel two calls for tenders “due to retroactive budgetary restrictions imposed by the Quebec government this summer.”

“It is important to emphasize that this work in no way affects the safety of our student community and staff,” the establishment said, without specifying the nature of the work in question.

The university says it is in discussions with the Ministry “to to minimise the direct effects of these restrictions and continue the work”.

For its part, the University of Quebec in Montreal believes that the new ministerial demands force it “to review its entire real estate planning over a 10-year horizon.”

“In recent years, the University has made considerable investments to enhance research infrastructure, improve study and living environments and generally support the maintenance of its buildings, and it must be able to continue to do so to meet the needs of its community,” said its spokesperson, Jenny Desrochers.

The same thing is happening at Concordia, which is also suffering this year from a significant drop in registrations due to the increase in tuition fees imposed on non-Quebec students.

“We have cancelled projects that were in the planning or design phase while we wait to better understand the short- and long-term impact of the government’s decision,” the institution said. “For all suspended projects, we are talking about postponement, not cancellation of the project,” it said.

The office of the Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, assures that it will demonstrate “flexibility so that establishments are able to honor their contractual commitments.”

“The Ministry is working hard to support the networks during this transition period and to closely support each of the establishments in prioritizing their projects.”