Mr. Legault, here is an honorable solution

A month ago, Quebec dropped a bomb on English-speaking universities. By wanting to tackle two issues at once, French and university funding, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) completely missed its target. In the end there will only be damage.

Fortunately, it is not too late to adjust your shot. And there is an honorable and respectable alternative that would meet the government’s objectives without causing damage.

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 objective is to recover the surplus to redistribute the prize pool to French-speaking universities. Except that in practice, such prohibitive fees will drive away students… and there will not be much left to redistribute.

“Students will make choices. They will go elsewhere,” says Concordia University rector Graham Carr, 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 The Press in the company of the leaders of the two other English-speaking universities.

A nice mess in perspective.

The problem is that the CAQ’s decision is based on the false premise that Quebec is being fooled by financing the studies of young people from other provinces.

But it goes both ways. We cannot hide the fact that Quebecers also go to study elsewhere in the country.

By closing the door to the 10,671 students from other provinces, Quebec risks attracting reprisals from the other provinces who could decide to increase the bill for the 7,617 Quebecers who study there.

” I’m worried. We could find ourselves in a situation where the options for studying elsewhere in Canada become prohibitive,” warns Sébastien Lebel-Grenier, principal of Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, whose existence is squarely called into question.

But the most striking proof that the CAQ’s plan does not hold water is that even French-speaking universities, which should normally benefit from equalization, explained in an open letter that they do not see the change in ‘a good eye¹. The president of the University of Quebec Alexandre Cloutier, the only one not to have signed it, still told Radio-Canada that he had “never asked that” from Quebec².

So why would Quebec move forward with a measure that no one wants?

High places of research and innovation, English-speaking universities are flagship institutions of Quebec, not enemies to be defeated. Students from outside Quebec are a wealth that must be cultivated. Their presence brings 427 million dollars into the Quebec economy³.

Quick, let’s turn around.

As we said from the outset, there is an elegant passageway for everyone, a two-pillar solution that would respond to the CAQ’s concerns.

Let’s talk about financing first.

Instead of doubling fees for all students from other provinces, Quebec could adopt differentiated pricing based on programs, as is already the case in other provinces.

In this way, Quebec would respect the fundamental principle of reciprocity with the other provinces, without harming the attractiveness of Quebec universities. Prices would simply reflect market logic.

Thus, Quebec could maintain its current rate of $9,000 in a good number of programs, but require $12,000 in engineering, $14,000 in administration or even $25,000 in medicine and law, for example.

The surplus would be redistributed to French-speaking universities. Let’s say it: Quebec is perfectly justified in establishing equalization since French-speaking universities do not have the same customer base as English-speaking ones, which creates an imbalance in funding.

Now let’s discuss 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. legitimate.

On this, English-speaking universities are already reaching out, committing to increasing compulsory French courses, French internships and even activities to promote Quebec culture. McGill was going to launch a 50 million plan, just before the CAQ dropped its bomb.

“What we need is a change in culture,” agrees Fabrice Lebeau, first associate executive vice-principal at McGill.

Montreal is a student city par excellence. Let’s not spoil this enviable reputation by sending the message that English-speaking students are no longer welcome in Quebec. As a nation, let’s keep our doors open.

François Legault was open enough to meet the rectors of English-speaking universities on Monday. This is to his credit. We can only encourage the Prime Minister to adjust his initial plan which fell like lightning in a blue sky.