Too many requests at the same time are forcing Quebec to put renovation and expansion projects in the college network on hold, despite the very dilapidated state of its real estate. “We find ourselves in a bottleneck,” Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry defended herself on Thursday.
“All the projects arrive at the same time. At some point, we have to prioritize certain projects,” she explained in a press scrum in Rimouski, on the sidelines of the CAQ caucus meeting to prepare for the parliamentary session next week.
Asked about the new budgetary restrictions imposed on CEGEPs and universities, she argued that these were not cuts, but rather “sound management of public finances.”
In a letter sent in mid-summer, Quebec required institutions to slash their investment budgets, earmarked for the renovation and expansion of their buildings or the purchase of equipment. In some CEGEPs, it will have to be reduced by more than half.
The directive was strongly denounced by the Fédération des cégeps, which claims that many projects have already been put on hold because of it. “We’re talking about adding classes, purchasing equipment, building laboratories for health programs,” the president of the federation, Marie Montpetit, had listed in The Press.
Universities have also confirmed that they have been forced to cancel tenders after being caught off guard by the new ministerial demands.
This is because the directive was sent to management on July 31, one month after the start of the financial year. However, their investment budget had already been approved by their board of directors, and several establishments had already exceeded the ceiling set by Quebec.
“I understand that this raises concerns,” acknowledged Pascale Déry. For establishments that have signed contracts and hired contractors, she promises that the ministry “will honour these agreements.” “We will ensure that the projects in progress will continue,” she indicated.
While the majority of CEGEPs lack space or are in poor condition, the Fédération des cégeps could not explain this decision on Wednesday, which it says goes against “common sense.”
“The investments are colossal. […] But the needs are also colossal,” retorted Mr.me Déry, recalling that the amounts provided for in the Quebec Infrastructure Plan for the college and university networks “have never been so high.”