Renovation of sanitary blocks, repair of the plumbing and heating system, replacement of the roof… Dozens and dozens of projects planned this year in CEGEPs and universities have been put on hold due to the new budgetary restrictions imposed by Quebec, we have learned The Press.
“The CEGEPs are at a time of choice,” illustrates the general director of the CEGEP of Saint-Félicien, Sylvie Prescott.
The institution planned to carry out work totalling more than $5 million over the course of the year. However, the Ministry of Higher Education imposed a budget cap of $900,000, as part of a new directive forcing all CEGEPs and universities in the province to reduce their capital budgets.
As a result, the CEGEP must suspend most of its renovation projects for an indefinite period. “We’re talking about renovating classrooms, bathrooms, soundproofing gymnasiums,” lists M.me Prescott.
At the Chicoutimi CEGEP, the renovation of the cafeteria is suspended. And at the Alma College, that of the documentation center.
At the Jonquière CEGEP, the plumbing in the student residence was to be completely redone this year. There too, the work has been postponed.
Our facilities are obsolete. We have to make these replacements, but we are really constrained.
Sylvie Prescott, Director General of the Saint-Félicien CEGEP
The Cégep de Lévis had already planned its annual budget and determined its priorities when the ministerial directive announcing cuts was sent in July, one month after the start of the financial year.
Just to meet its commitments, the institution estimates that it has a shortfall of $1.6 million.
Among the projects that were due to be launched this year and which will ultimately be postponed: the replacement of the heating system and certain parts of the roof of the main building.
“Every year, we already make choices that hurt. We want to be able to use the budget that the Ministry granted us to adequately carry out our mission,” emphasizes Cégep de Lévis spokesperson Catherine Guay.
The purchase of educational equipment is also affected by the new budget restrictions.
Establishments have stated that The Press having had to postpone the purchase of simulation mannequins and transport respirators for health programs or robots for engineering programs.
“We have lots of questions”
“I am very, very concerned,” said the rector of the University of Sherbrooke, Pierre Cossette.
The institution had planned to carry out $36 million worth of work during the year. However, Quebec has set a budget ceiling of $7 million in 2024-2025. This then falls to $3.8 million in 2025-2026 and $4.2 million in 2026-2027.
“The calls for tenders were all made before July 31 [date où la directive a été transmise à tous les établissements]”At the time of receiving the letter, we had more than 20 million in expenses committed,” says Mr. Cossette.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
The Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, last May
In a press scrum on Thursday morning, the Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, assured that the projects already underway could continue.
“There are agreements that have been made. We will honour these agreements,” she said, adding that she had met with the management of CEGEPs and universities and that they were “aware of all of this.”
“We have not had this confirmation,” Mr. Cossette said, however.
We have lots of questions and we need coherent answers, because this way of managing things is very worrying.
Pierre Cossette, Rector of the University of Sherbrooke
Like many higher education institutions, the University of Sherbrooke is facing an increase in its student population, which will continue to increase in the coming years with the demographic boom.
“A happy problem,” its rector emphasizes, provided there is space to accommodate them. However, budgetary restrictions threaten plans to increase the establishment’s capacity.
For example: the transformation of administrative premises into classrooms for medical students. “We were supposed to put out calls for tender at the end of the year,” says Pierre Cossette, who fears that the project will not be carried out – at least in the short term.
“We can’t do everything at the same time”
“All the projects arrive at the same time. At some point, you have to prioritize certain projects,” Pascale Déry defended herself.
Although she recognized the “colossal” needs of higher education networks, particularly the college network.
“We can’t do everything at the same time,” she argued.
We will have to regulate investments a little on an annual basis to follow the development of projects, because there are costs that are also exploding.
Pascale Déry, Minister of Higher Education
The amounts provided for in the Quebec Infrastructure Plan for the college and university networks “have never been so high,” she recalled.
A meeting is planned for next week between the directors of the 48 CEGEPs and the Ministry of Higher Education.
Work suspended
Some examples of work suspended following the announcement of budget restrictions:
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Rosemont College
Rosemont College
Replacement of various heating and ventilation systems at the end of their useful life, renovation of gymnasiums, renovation of facades
Lévis College
Replacement of the heating system, replacement of certain parts of the roof and insulation of the main building, repair of the roof of two student residences, upgrading of the fire alarm system to standards
Concordia University
Renovation of building facades, interior renovation of annexes, roofing work
HEC Montreal
Plumbing and floor covering work